“Coral Bay” declared a protected area

The outgoing Minister of Environment and Waters, Borislav Sandov, on July declared "Coral Bay" as protected area.

The decision for the protected water area is part of the strategy of the team in the Ministry for the protection of marine ecosystems and is on the proposal of the Association "Let's Preserve Coral".

"By 2030 we should have 30% marine protected areas and 10% strictly protected marine areas as part of Bulgaria's commitments according to the criteria for participation in the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, an intergovernmental coalition to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which Bulgaria joined on 2 March this year," Minister Borislav Sandov said.

The Ministry of Environment commissioned the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences to prepare a concept for achieving these goals, and is also working with the non-governmental sector, which has an active role in nature and biodiversity conservation.

The entry of motorised and motor-sailing vessels is prohibited within the protected area. Exceptions are only permitted in the event of disasters, emergencies, control and rescue activities throughout the year and for fishing purposes between 1 October and 1 March. The construction and installation of artificial underwater reefs and attractions is not permitted.

No aquaculture, bottom trawling, dredging, dumping of dredged material or discharge of sewage from vessels shall be allowed within the protected area. The discharge of sewage and waste water from land, petroleum products and other wastes, as well as the discharge of sewage is prohibited.

The Coral Bay Protected Area is the third marine protected area in the country after the Kaliakra Reserve (1941) and the Koketrais Sand Bank Protected Area (2001). Within the 1,320 decares, habitats of rare species of seltzer and sturgeon fish and the three cetacean species will be protected.

The designation of three more new marine protected areas is at the public consultation stage - the Aladzha Bank, Emona and Otmanli protected areas.