Project Overview

The project will strengthen national capacities of the respective national authorities for biological and chemical monitoring of water quality in the Black Sea, in line with EU water related legislation - EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) and Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). It is a preparatory phase for a larger technical intervention in the Black Sea region.

Countries: Georgia – Russian Federation - Ukraine

Timeframe: January 2013 – December 2014

Budget: €1.06 million

The overall objective of the project is to set up initiatives that will help improve the protection of the Black Sea environment. The project is addressing the overall need for support in protection and restoring the environmental quality and sustainability of the Black Sea.  The specific objectives are: i) Improve availability and quality of data on the chemical and biological status of the Black Sea, in line with expected MSFD and Black Sea Strategic Action Plan needs; and ii) Improve partner countries' ability to perform marine environmental monitoring along MSFD principles, taking into account Black Sea Diagnostic Report.

ACTIONS IN BRIEF

The following activities will be carried out:

i) Review of the national monitoring systems and tools for assessing data obtained from monitoring activities;

ii) Support to implementation of countries obligations under the Bucharest and other related Conventions and Agreements;

iii) Development of cost-effective and harmonised biological and chemical monitoring programmes in accordance with reporting obligations under multilateral environmental agreements, the WFD and the MSFD;

iv) Assessment of needs regarding laboratory infrastructure, equipment, and training, promotion of the recommendations;

v)  Elaboration and implementation of the comprehensive training programme on monitoring methods and quality assurance aiming at adhering to ISO 17025 standard, promotion;

vi)  Preparation of methodology for Joint Black Sea Surveys;

vii) Development of the web-based Black Sea Water Quality Database prototype.