CeNoBS project, the largest European project on the abundance of cetacean species in the Black Sea, has come to an end. The project lasted for a period of 30 months and involved partners from 5 countries, including Romania and Bulgaria. CeNoBS included the first large-scale aerial monitoring in the Black Sea, workshops and trainings, as well as the proposal of benchmarks for the indicators of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and other initiatives at local, regional and international level to help when achieving the project objectives. CeNoBS is an international project coordinated by Mare Nostrum NGO and with the participation of Green Balkans. The final results of the project were recently presented in hybrid workshops, attended by representatives of national authorities.
The CeNoBS project is a historic initiative at an European level, especially for the Black Sea basin, improving knowledge about the abundance and distribution of cetaceans, as well as the current level of bycatch in fishing nets.
The specific objectives that were achieved during the implementation of the project were:
The CeNoBS project is a historic initiative at an European level, especially for the Black Sea basin, improving knowledge about the abundance and distribution of cetaceans, as well as the current level of bycatch in fishing nets.
The specific objectives that were achieved during the implementation of the project were:
- Evaluating the criteria related to Descriptor 1 - cetaceans and establishing reference values
- Evaluation and development of the monitoring of Descriptor 11 - noise in the Black Sea
- Strengthen coordination in the Black Sea region by disseminating project activities, results and achievements.
During a final workshop in Sofia (Bulgaria), Green Balkans NGO together with the project partners, presented the final results of the project in terms of progress on the two descriptors D1 - Cetaceans/marine mammals and D11 - noise/energy introduced into the environment including the long-awaited results of the aerial monitoring, carried out in the summer of 2019.
The main challenges of the project were:
The main challenges of the project were:
- lack of background data on the distribution / abundance of cetacean populations in the Black Sea
- bycatch pressure
- lack of national expertise for the implementation of an efficient noise monitoring.
- the socio-political situation in the Black Sea area
- restrictions and lack of infrastructure in the Black Sea area
CenoBS project in numbers:
- The figures obtained from the project activities are worrying. At the same time, they come to fill the existing gaps in the conservation of cetacean species in the Black Sea.
- Observations from CeNoBS surveys show 73417 records of cetaceans with a total of 74000 individuals and 551 bird sightings with 1439 specimens and 1588 records (4685) of anthropogenic activity and marine litter.
- For greater accuracy, the abundance of cetacean species in the areas flown over was combined with the results in Russia. The distribution maps were divided by species for a better viewand mixed analyzes were performed, with and without the area related to Russia.
- By-catches remain one of the most ”hot” issues regarding cetaceans in all the world's seas and oceans. The approximate estimation shows that between 11,000 and 20,000 porpoises are caught annually in fishing nets throughout the basin. As a percentage, it means that the level of by-catches is up to 21.2% of the total abundance of this species, well over 1.7% accepted.
What are the main results of the project?
- The first proposals for reference values for D1C2 - species abundance and D1C4 - species distribution.
- Results on D11 - The current state of the D11 criteria in Bulgaria and Romania and proposals for the development of regional indicators;
- Regional training workshops on D11 monitoring - noise;
- For noise monitoring for MSFD-D11 in Bulgarian and Romanian waters, it was suggested to use rather an approach based on the concept of non-deterioration, applied to potential disturbances caused to target species.
- Increased coordination between the competent authorities in Bulgaria and Romania: national competent authorities, national research organizations and NGOs, the Black Sea Commission, regional / local decision makers, scientific and environmental communities involved in cetacean conservation and noise related activities.
- Possible solution for limiting by-catches is the use of modified pincers and nets.
The CeNoBS project is one of the largest European projects, involving partners from 5 countries. Studies have been carried out, based on the observations made, to ensure a unified, European view on the problem.
It is important that as soon as possible we can implement at national level, and not only in Bulgaria, a long-term monitoring program covering all four seasons, and the approval of a regional plan, with a predefined periodicity for identifying species trends over the years.
All reports within the project will be made public on the website https://www.cenobs.eu/ and the databases through the ACCOBAMS and EMODNET platforms.
CeNoBS is a multipartner project coordinated by the NGO Mare Nostrum and aims to improve the second implementation cycle of MSFD for descriptor 1 - cetacean and descriptor 11 - noise in the Black Sea, by achieving greater coherence and coherence in the determination, evaluation and obtaining a good ecological status. (GES).
“Supporting the implementation of the MSFD in the Black Sea by establishing a regional cetacean monitoring system (D1) and noise monitoring (D11) for GHG implementation” - CeNoBS is funded by the European Union and co-financed by ACCOBAMS.
It is important that as soon as possible we can implement at national level, and not only in Bulgaria, a long-term monitoring program covering all four seasons, and the approval of a regional plan, with a predefined periodicity for identifying species trends over the years.
All reports within the project will be made public on the website https://www.cenobs.eu/ and the databases through the ACCOBAMS and EMODNET platforms.
CeNoBS is a multipartner project coordinated by the NGO Mare Nostrum and aims to improve the second implementation cycle of MSFD for descriptor 1 - cetacean and descriptor 11 - noise in the Black Sea, by achieving greater coherence and coherence in the determination, evaluation and obtaining a good ecological status. (GES).
“Supporting the implementation of the MSFD in the Black Sea by establishing a regional cetacean monitoring system (D1) and noise monitoring (D11) for GHG implementation” - CeNoBS is funded by the European Union and co-financed by ACCOBAMS.
