Building capacities of ecology experts from Bulgarian Black Sea municipalities on Cetaceans strandings

Green Balkans NGO experts in partnership with Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) and Black Sea coastal municipalities are looking for effective solutions for these situations so that the risks for the holiday-makers to be lowered and collected data to be with higher quality.

First step was conducting a training workshop for the ecology experts from the coastal municipalities at Pomorie Lake visitor centre, Pomorie in July 2013. Lectures on national and international legislation, Black Sea Cetaceans and how these to be correctly identified, what information should be recorded for each case have been presented. Wide fruitful discussion was held with participation of experts from the controlling authorities: Regional environmental inspectorates (RIOEW) – Burgas and Varna and Fisheries Executive Agency. Needs of training and basic equipment have been identified as well as possible solutions for the problem and the required permit for removal of dead Cetaceans as these are protected species.

Afterwards individual meetings were held with representatives of all municipalities along Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Mechanisms for solving the problem have been discussed and advice on how to apply for permit for removal of dead Cetaceans have been provided. To assure correct registration of strandings “Manual for data collection from stranded Cetaceans along Bulgarian Black Sea coast” was developed and published. To facilitate the work of the experts from municipalities and RIOEW special toolkits have been prepared for study of found stranded Cetaceans. The tool kits contain protection means (gloves, masks) plus measuring tape, knife, pliers, containers, spirit, disinfectant. During the past two weeks manuals and tool kits have been delivered to RIOEW Burgas as well as in all municipalities in that region: Nessebar, Pomorie, Burgas, Sozopol, Primorsko and Tsarevo. In the coming weeks dissemination at Varna and Dobrich region’s municipalities will be made.

The activities are implemented by Green Balkans NGO in partnership with MOEW within project “Building capacities of Bulgarian Black Sea municipalities on Cetaceans strandings”, supported by the ACCOBAMS Secretariat (Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic Ocean).

Contacts:
Dimitar Popov, project manager
tel: +359 (0) 32 626 977
email: dpopov@greenbalkans.org