Krasnodar, 22 January – Yug Times. Active development of the coastline and intensive ship traffic deteriorate the state of the seawater. The scholars engaged in the ecological monitoring of the coastline fix negative changes in the marine environment. How dangerous are they? We asked to experts to answer this question.
Oleg Stepanyan, Leading Researcher of the Southern Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Science, PhD:
“No structural reorganizations are presently taking place in the Black Sea, so it would be wrong to allege that it would soon turn into a swamp. “At the same time, problems do occur in some sectors of the coast, mainly where there are big harbours, ports and cities - not only in the Russian part [of the sea], but in other countries too.
“Currently, industrial emissions and agricultural fertilizers of 20 countries flow into the Black Sea via the Danube, Dniester and Dnieper. You may add here oil contamination due to navigation and wastewaters from seaside towns and cities - and you will get a real picture of the Black Sea.
“Luckily, the situation is far from disaster. The Black Sea is a unique water reservoir. There is a system of underwater canyons that go down hundreds of metres between Gelendzhik and Novorossiysk - and everything that enters the water falls along these canyons down to the depths, full of hydrogen sulphide, methane and dissolved gases. That part of the Black Sea remains beyond the reach of inhabitants that inhale oxygen or photosynthesize. There is a peculiar ecosystem on the bottom that is filled with bacteria able to oxidize hydrogen sulphide and methane. In this environment, all pathogenic organisms perish.
“We still have a chance to improve the situation - or at least not to do more harm.
“What we need is a deep scientific approach to the control of the Black Sea’s aqueous ecosystem and especially of the recreational seaside area by different organizations. At the municipal level, it means not to discharge untreated wastewater and rainwater in the littoral zone, and to apply modern water treatment systems. At the personal level, it means not to litter in the beach, not to throw plastic bags and bottles, food leftovers, cigarette butts and glass.”
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