Rich in wildlife and biodiversity, the Black Sea is sadly on the way to becoming just that … a sea blackened by pollution - oil spills, industrial run-off, coastal development, ship traffic and overfishing are some of the main problems that threaten the sea.
Today, the Black Sea region is at an environmental crossroads: It can continue on the path of neglect or it can move towards more sustainable models of development.
WWF is working with local communities, organizations and governemnts on restoration projects throughout the Danube and Black Sea region.
Restoring the Danube Delta, the gateway to the Black Sea
Attack of the jellyfish!
With no enemies, the jellyfish propagated at an alarming rate, contributing to the near collapse of Black Sea commercial fisheries within a few years.
The once prosperous seafood industry has lost about US$1 billion as a result of this invasive species. Anchovy fisheries in the connecting Azov Sea, already under stress from pollution and overfishing, have completely collapsed.
Bottlenose dolphin numbers in the Black Sea have also dropped dramatically, as the fish they used to feed on have disappeared. Monk seals in the Black Sea have become extinct.