ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY AND MARINE ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION: ADDRESSING REGULATORY AMBIGUITIES IN BULGARIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.68302/std2026.vol1.151Keywords:
Black Sea, environmental security, marine environment, risk managementAbstract
This report focuses on mechanisms to ensure environmental security and in particular protection of the marine environment from pollution, including the impact from incidents, disasters, accidents and other emergency situations. The presented analysis at the complex of measures and activities implemented in Bulgaria for prevention and response to pollution of the marine environment which reveals a number of gaps both in regulatory and organizational aspects. It has been demonstrated that an objective necessity to expanded the scope of mechanisms for ensuring environmental security in coastal waters, territorial sea and exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Bulgaria. Suggestions for the development of the environmental security system are proposed which would ensure regulatory compliance as well as real improvement in the effectiveness for the protection of the Black Sea against pollution.
Downloads
References
[1] G. Zurlini, and F. Müller, Felix. Environmental Security, 2008. 10.1016/B978-008045405-4.00707-2 [Accessed March 25, 2026]
[2] J. Tian, J. and G. Gang, "Research on regional ecological security assessment", Energy Procedia, vol., part B,16, pp.1180-1186, 2012.
[3] Gilek, M., Kern, K. Governing Europe's Marine Environment: Europeanization of Regional Seas Or Regionalization of EU Policies? Routledge, 2016. [E-book]. ISBN 9781315585543.
[4] United Nations Environmental Programme, Black Sea Pollution Assessment. United Nations Publication Sales No.E.99.III.R.2, Volume 10, Black Sea Environmental Series. 1998. ISBN 92-1-129506-8
[5] Liu, C., Li, W., Xu, J., Zhou, H., Li, C., & Wang, W. „Global trends and characteristics of ecological security research in the early 21st century: A literature review and bibliometric analysis“, Ecological Indicators, vol.137, April 2022, 108734. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.108734
[6] Kvach, Y., Stepien, C. A., Minicheva, G. G., & Tkachenko, P.,“ Biodiversity effects of the Russia–Ukraine War and the Kakhovka Dam destruction: ecological consequences and predictions for marine, estuarine, and freshwater communities in the northern Black Sea. Ecological Processes, 14(1), pp. 1-25, Dec 2025. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-025-00577-1
[7] R. Toderascu & E. Rusu, „Evaluation of the Circulation Patterns in the Black Sea Using Remotely Sensed and in Situ Measurements“, International Journal of Geosciences, vol.4, pp.1009-1017, 2013. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ijg.2013.47094
[8] A. Atanassov,“ Black sea facing an ecological disaster the legal framework for protection of marine biodivercity“, Journal of Global resources, vol.5, pp.15-19, 2017. ISSN 2455-2445.
[9] European Commission, “Directive 2008/56/EC of the European parliament and of the council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environ mental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive)”, Off. J. Eur. Union 1–21 (L 164/ 1, 25.6.2008).
[10] Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy , The official publication is in the Official Journal of the European Communities L327, 22/12/2000, pp. 1-73.
[11] Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972. [Online] Available: https://www.imo.org/en/ourwork/environment/pages/london-convention-protocol.aspx [Accessed March 22, 2026].
[12] M. Aydın, „Regional cooperation in the Black Sea and the role of institutions", Perceptions: Journal of International Affairs, vol.10(3), pp. 57-83. 1 September, 2005. Available: https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/perception/article/625150
[13] А. Atanasov & А. Bankova, „The influence of location accuracy on the estimation of crops with a budget UAV in Dobrudja region“, Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science, vol.29 (1), pp. 176-181, Available: https://www.agrojournal.org/29/01-21.pdf
[14] V. Bhandari, “Use of Technology in Disaster Management“, Unity Journal, vol. 3(1), pp. 292-304, 6 March, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3126/unityj.v3i01.43333.
[15] N. Oral, „The legal framework of cooperation for protection of marine biodiversity in the Black Sea“, Revue juridique de l'Environnement, vol. 37(2), pp. 255-267, 2012. Available: https://droit.cairn.info/article/RJE_122_0255
[16] A.M .Hasan, „Environmental and Transboundary Impacts of N aval Mine Warfare in the Black Sea: Legal and Ecological Perspectives“, Journal of Anatolian Environmental and Animal Sciences, March 30, 2026. https://doi.org/10.35229/jaes.1894561
[17] N. Algan, & , G. K. Aydoğan, „Russian Federation- Ukraine war as an environmental security issue on the Black Sea“, Journal of the Black Sea/Mediterranean Environment, vol. 29(1), pp. 49-72, 2023. http://doi.org/10.18352/ulr.409
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Miroslava Robinson, Daniela Toneva
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
