Mission
Acting on the mandate of the Black Sea countries (Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russian Federation, Türkiye and Ukraine) which on the 21-04-1992, signed and shortly thereafter ratified the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution i The Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution was signed in Bucharest in April 1992, and ratified by all six legislative assemblies of the Black Sea countries in the beginning of 1994. Also referred to as "Bucharest Convention", it is the basic framework of agreement and three specific Protocols, which are: the control of land-based sources of pollution; dumping of waste; and joint action in the case of accidents (such as oil spills). The implementation of the provisions of the Convention is supported by the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (also referred to as the Istanbul Commission), and its Permanent Secretariat, stationed in Istanbul, Türkiye. v , the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (the Black Sea Commission) implements the provisions of the Convention and the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan i The Strategic Action Plan for the Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation of the Black Seawas adopted at the Ministerial Meeting/Diplomatic Conference held 17 April 2009 in Sofia, Bulgaria. It updates the The Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea (1996), signed in Istanbul, Turkey, on the 30 - 31 October 1996. Whereas the plan adopted in 1996 identified the main challenges and basis for cooprative action as well as making recommendations on the institutional structure needed for adressing these, the 2009 plan analyses the challenges facing the Black Sea environment from a more recent perspective and defines the main EcoQuality Objectives (EcoQO) to be achieved: EcoQO 1: Preserve commercial marine living resources. EcoQO 2: Conservation of Black Sea Biodiversity and Habitats. EcoQO 3: Reduce eutrophication. EcoQO 4: Ensure Good Water Quality for Human Health, Recreational Use and Aquatic Biota. The Plan defines management targets and indicators of achievement. v .
Main Challenges
- Combating Pollution from land-based sources and maritime transport,
- Achieving sustainable management of marine living resources,
- Pursuing sustainable human development.
Main Policy Measures
- Pollution reduction from rivers, priority pollution sources, vessels; regulatory and legal tools
- Conservation of biological diversity, expansion of protected territories, promotion of responsible fisheries
- Introduction of ICZM, promotion of EIA environmental audit, ecologically sound technologies, public involvement in environmental decision making, green tourism and sustainable livelihood