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Description
The main goal of the project proposal is to improve the capacity to manage marine waters, by improving the knowledge base for informed management of the marine environment, development and application of global methods and tools for marine monitoring and a comprehensive system for improving the state of the marine environment. Transformed SCIRENA project aims to increase the national capacity in marine monitoring and assessment.The project will build upon on what has been achieved by projects ISMEIMP, IMAMO,MARLEN, funded by the previous program period of EEA Financial Mechanism (2009-2014). The outcomes effectively affect the capacity on marine environmental management through data gathering, development and implementation of methods and tools for marine monitoring and assessment. Enhanced collaboration and built-up bilateral relationship between beneficiary and donor state marine authorities and scientific research institutions respectively will contribute to improving management of the Bulgarian marine environment. Results create the opportunity to incorporate the new knowledge and data obtained in the project at the development of the next cycle of MSFD.
Summary of project results
Due to unforeseen events and a complicated situation in the Black Sea, related to the ongoing military operations on the territory of the Republic of Ukraine, it was impossible to implement the project within the planned scope and in regards to the approved budget. In addition, the leading partner Nickola Vaptsarov Naval Academy (NVNA), declared an impossibility of fulfilling its commitments under the project.
In view of the above, the project was converted in Capacity building format with reduced budget and decreased scale of survey without entering the Bulgarian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in Black Sea. The transformation to SCIRENA - Capacity Building format project was elaborated in order to fill the data gaps and develop activities aimed at achieving maximum number of indicators – knowledge exchange and educational campaigns, focus on training and number of trained experts, experience in field work, conducted campaigns to increase the awareness of the general public and stakeholders.
Regardless of the reduction of the activities, the scale of the training as well as the number and topics of courses conducted by IMR were kept.
The added new activities included sampling, analyses and knowledge and experience exchange in field work. Common real time work of Norwegian partner experts with up to 7 trainees and training on sampling in marine litter, contaminants in marine environment and sea food was conducted. Field work on Descriptor 8, Descriptor 9, Descriptor 10 were followed by analysis in IMR laboratory.
The monitoring points and marine areas were selected in accordance with the monitoring programs under the MSFD so there is correlation between the results on the shore and in depth for the distribution of microliter, as well as comparability with the distribution of macrolitter on coast/beach. Chosen beaches are Chanel Varna -2 and Irakli beach (both monitored for macrolitter since 2017 by BSBD). Marine areas were sampled for matrix water, biota and sediment in depth up to 30 m, microliter particles 20-50 µm. Regarding pollutants, analyzes were provided on sediments and biota, without water samples.
The transformed SCIRENA project increased the national capacity in marine monitoring and assessment. The outcomes effectively affected the capacity on marine environmental management through data gathering, development and implementation of methods and tools for marine monitoring and assessment. Enhanced collaboration and built-up bilateral relationship between beneficiary and donor state marine authorities and scientific research institutions respectively contributed to the management improvement of the Bulgarian marine environment. These results created the opportunity to incorporate the new knowledge and data obtained under the project in the development of next cycle of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).
Summary of bilateral results
Enhanced collaboration and built-up bilateral relationship between beneficiary and donor state marine authorities and scientific research institutions respectively contributed to improving management of the Bulgarian marine environment. The shared results born from this partnership are an indisputable indicator of successful joint work and a prerequisite for future cooperation.