On October 31, the whole world celebrates the International Black Sea Day. In honor of this day in Mykolaiv the scientific conference "Strengthening of ecological monitoring of the Black Sea - the chosen actions" was organized. EU-UNDP together with the National Tourism Organization of Ukraine and the civil organization "Kinburn" held a presentation and shared the results of scientific research in the Black Sea.
Thus, the coordinator of the EMBLAS-Plus program presented the popular science book "Secrets of the Black Sea". This book consists of 28 short interesting stories. Each of them is supplemented by a large number of illustrations. The book addresses the following issues:
- Why is the Black Sea black?
- Is the Black Sea most likely dead rather than alive?
- Is it possible to set a fire to the Black Sea?
- Why does the sea glow in the dark?
The idea of this book belongs to Borys Aleksandrov, director of the Institute of Marine Biology of the National Academy of Sciences, who tragically died at the end of last year. Borys Heorhiyovych managed to prepare some of the texts, and a team of almost 30 scientists - biologists, chemists, hydrologists - completed the writing of the book.
In addition, the first copies of the pocket "Determinant of the inhabitants of the Black Sea" were presented at the presentation.
Senior researcher K. Vyshnyakova told about her research among the population of marine mammals of the Black Sea, their morphology and dynamics, and the conservation of marine and coastal areas.
Phytoplankton researcher Andriy Emblas spoke about the importance of studying microorganisms that greatly affect the state of the Black Sea and its inhabitants in general.
Mykola Gruby, a representative of the ecological civil organization “Kinburn”, said that an unusual eco-project had been created at the bottom of the Black Sea on the Kinburn Spit - a unique artificial reef made of shells. The results of this project showed that the reef has become a real biofilter for Black Sea water. According to M. Gruby: “We realized that this idea of creating an artificial reef works and gave impetus to the filtration, purification and recovery of water in the Black Sea. And yet, the reef has become home to crabs, Black Sea bulls, sharks, etc…”
The first practical art object appeared in Mykolaiv - a container for collecting lids from plastic bottles. It is installed on the territory of our zoo, to the right of the main entrance. The installation of the container in the shape of fish, as well as the production of puzzles, became possible thanks to the EMBLAS-Plus project to improve the monitoring of the Black Sea.
Issues related to Black Sea pollution were discussed at the presentation. The biggest problem for the ecosystem is plastic waste.
- First, marine dwellers often perceives it as food and swallows, and garbage clogs their digestive system. Seagulls suffer especially from this in the Black Sea.
- Secondly, plastic often absorbs organic pollutants, which then enter the bodies of marine life and poison them.
- Third, animals can get confused, get lost and even die in the trash.
It is very important that in addition to large debris there is also invisible - microplastic. More than two-thirds of microplastics are formed when tires wear out and washed off roads. Another quarter goes into the sewer during washing of synthetic fabrics, from which microfibers peel off.
Today, environmentalists want to remind us that each of us can make a contribution to preserving the ecology of the Black Sea.
Example:
- reduce the use of plastic packaging;
- do not throw garbage in unforeseen places;
- participate in cleaning the shores;
- do not buy detergents and cosmetics with phosphates and phosphonates that lead to "blooming" of water.
Preserving the beauty and biodiversity of the Black Sea is everyone's business!
So, let's join this very important matter!!!