Scientists from different countries continue to assess the size and consequences of the Black Sea ecological disaster that followed the death of two Russian tankers “Volgoneft”.
Head of the research department of the National Nature Park “Tuzlivski Lymany” Ivan Rusev, assessing the negative consequences for the Black Sea coast of mainland Ukraine from this disaster, noted that this disaster is probably the largest in all the years of observation, since the amount of fuel oil on the bottom is unknown, and it can decompose for ten or thirty years.
Professor Rusev added, that on the mainland Ukrainian coast, fuel oil pollutes beach areas, sand embankments, which threatens all species, because pollution is transmitted through the food chain. Fuel oil was found in clots on the shore and in the water, but in the future, with warming, there is a possibility that it will dissolve.
The professor stated that, according to experts, at least 50 thousand birds of different species and several thousand dolphins have now died, while the subsequent negative impact on ecosystems will be gradual, but the isolation of the Black Sea will contribute to this impact on all links of biodiversity.
Professor Rusev also confirmed the existence of threats from the consequences of the current disaster for the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria and Romania, in particular, due to the presence of permanent sea currents, such as the Rumelian one.
He gave an example of the situation in 2022, when dolphins that died off the coast of Odessa Region from Russian military operations, sonars, acoustic injuries and phosphorus munitions were then carried by the current to the coast of Romania. But if the Rumelian Current has already brought fuel oil 630 kilometers from its source at the Kerch Strait to the Tuzlovskie Limany National Park, then this fuel oil, drifting in the form of millions of fractions, from 1 to 5 centimeters, will most likely end up on the shores of Romania and Bulgaria.
Professor Rusev noted the importance of measures that the Ukrainian authorities should take in the current situation to counter the consequences of the disaster, emphasizing that a plan for eliminating fuel oil pollution is currently being developed.
The expert insists on the need for a quick response and immediate collection of pollution with subsequent disposal, the need to implement monitoring and response plans, involving local communities, including targeted actions, in cases of detected pollution.
Commenting on the publication of our Association, regarding the Russian oil fleet, leading researcher of the Institute of Marine Biology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, oceanologist Yurii Tuchkovenko confirmed, that the issue of holding Russia accountable as a state that failed to ensure the safe operation of its oil transport fleet, which led to unprecedented pollution, is extremely urgent and requires an immediate response from Ukraine and other states of the Black Sea region.
Professor Tuchkovenko emphasized, that this is not the first such case, since a similar accident occurred in the Kerch Strait in November 2007 with a tanker of a similar type, the “Volgoneft-212”, so there is every reason to believe that such accidents with such vessels will occur systematically.
However, the expert added, as evidenced by world experience, large-scale pollution of the marine environment with fuel oil is extremely dangerous for marine ecosystems, since it has a long-term, up to tens of years, negative impact on the biotic components of the ecosystem, which devalues their recreational resource, reduces biodiversity.
Professor Tuchkovenko added that since Ukraine currently does not have direct access to the accident site and the most damaged Crimean coast, it is necessary to accumulate evidence regarding the scale and consequences of pollution.
To do this, it is necessary to actively use a combination of satellite monitoring data, mathematical modeling of the spread in the sea and monitoring of the current state of pollution in the coastal zones of the sea, including the testimony of observers and the population of coastal areas.
The combination of these three methods, the results obtained by which must coincide, will allow us to unambiguously determine the source of the oil products and calculate the scale of the damage caused, the expert stated.
Commenting on our publication, Professor Nika Chitadze of the International Black Sea University stated, that the sinking of the Russian “Volgoneft” tankers in the Kerch Strait once more points out how Russia is a dangerous country not only from the military point of view but also from the environmental point of view.
Of course, the distribution of oil in the Black Sea will create a huge danger for the flora and fauna of the Black Sea, the Georgian scientist emphasized, noting that before, we knew how deliberately Russia exploited the Kakhovka Water reservoir.
Professor Chitadze added that during the military aggression of Russia against Georgia in 2008, Russian occupants together with the bombing of Georgian cities and villages, also bombed the forest in the Borjomi Gorge of Georgia, which caused the fires and destruction of thousands of hectares of forest massifs.
In his opinion, Russia’s policy in the Black Sea can create environmental problems for all littoral states of the Black Sea, including Georgia. Georgia’s coastal line is 313 Kilometers, and 16 % of its territory is in the marine space (territorial waters of Georgia), where the flora and fauna will be in danger.
Professor Chitadze pointed out that Russia has violated the Helsinki Rules related to environmental law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and that from a legal point of view, Russia is obliged to take international legal responsibility for ecological damage and pay compensation in the form of reparation for Ukraine and Georgia.
The expert expressed hope that one day, when the Russian occupiers are withdrawn from Ukraine, the International Court of Justice will consider all damages, including environmental damage for Ukraine and Georgia.
