Informational support to develop the new field of Integrated Maritime Spatial Planning in Romania in the most rational and sustainable way, according to European Directives and the principles of national Law No. 202/2002, for Integrated Management of the Coastal Zone.
Implementation context
The marine and coastal data obtained and analyzed by the National Institute for Marine Research and Development “Grigore Antipa” Constanta, Romania, are used in order to fulfill Romania’s obligations as a Member State with regard to European Directives (Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Water Framework Directive, Shelllfish Directive, Habitats and Birds Directives, Maritime Spatial Planning Directive etc.). Moreover, the information is included in the national Environmental State Report, drawn-up yearly by the National Agency for Environmental Protection. Subsequently, the information is submitted to the European Environmental Agency (EEA), to be part of the European State of the Environment Report. Some inputs also go to the Black Sea Commission for the State of the Black Sea Environment Report (SoE).
Aspects/Objectives
The state and evolution trends of the Romanian marine and coastal environment are monitored from the physical, chemical and biological point of view, compared to the reference period of the 1960s and more recent data. The state of the marine and coastal environment in recent years confirms the general trend of slight improvement of the monitored parameters. The data is part of the national Environmental State Report, drawn-up yearly by the National Agency for Environmental Protection.
Method
The REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE ROMANIAN MARINE AND COASTAL ENVIRONMENT is a collective work, coordinated by the General and Scientific Directors of NIMRD, with co-authors from all departments of the institute. Each author uses standard research methodology for the respective components concerned.
Main outputs/Results
- The work covers a series of parameters of the marine and coastal environment, as follows:
- State of marine and coastal ecosystems: state of marine protected areas and marine habitats;
- State of ecosystems and marine living resources: phytoplankton, zooplankton, phytobenthos, zoobenthos, marine living resources;
- Status of marine and coastal environment pollution: eutrophication indicators [nutrients (phosphates, nitrates, silicates), chlorophyll a], contamination indicators: heavy metals, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls, microbiological load;
- Impact of climate change on the marine and coastal environment: sea state, temperature, water masses, transparency, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen;
- Coastal processes and sea level;
- Anthropogenic pressures on the marine and coastal environments;
- Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP).
The evolution of the monitored biotic parameters confirmed the restoration trend of the marine environment in recent years, yet the concentration of contaminants in 2015 recorded higher values compared to the period 2010-2014 (when there was a decreasing trend in overall contamination), probably caused by increased anthropogenic pressures.
Transferability
The synthesis of data for each year, compared to historical data, on the state and evolution trends of the Romanian coastal and marine environment, is part of the “Romanian Environmental Factors State Report”, and can be accessed online http://www.anpm.ro/ro/raport-de-mediu.
Subsequently, the information is submitted to the European Environmental Agency (EEA), to be part of the European State of the Environment Report. Some inputs are sent to the Black Sea Commission for the State of the Black Sea Environment Report (SoE).
Contact
National Institute for Marine Research and Development “Grigore Antipa” Constanta, Romania
Dr. Eng. Simion NICOLAEV, General Director
E-mail: snicolaev@alpha.rmri.ro
Dr. Eng. Tania ZAHARIA, Scientific Director
E-mail: tzaharia@alpha.rmri.ro
Responsible entity
National Institute for Marine Research and Development “Grigore Antipa” Constanta, Romania Copyright © NIMRD. All rights reserved.
Copying the REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE ROMANIAN MARINE AND COASTAL ENVIRONMENT and the use or transmission of its contents are not permitted without the written consent of NIMRD.
Funding source
The REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE ROMANIAN MARINE AND COASTAL ENVIRONMENT is compiled using data originating from various research projects implemented by NIMRD, but there is no dedicated funding scheme (partial funding has been granted from the Ministry of the Environment, for the national monitoring programme).