The research ship Akademik is on a new mission in the Black Sea, off the Bulgarian coast. The expedition belongs to the Institute of Oceanology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), the academy's press office said.
Scientists are taking sediment samples from the seabed to study the variety of life among bottom-dwelling animals. This is one of the main indicators of the health of the sea environment.
The Ministry of Environment and Water is paying for the research under an agreement with the institute. The money covers Bulgaria's commitments under EU environmental law on surface waters and the marine environment.
BAS says regular and situation-based sea monitoring, which collects up-to-date environmental data, is essential for environmental security in the Black Sea. The academy gives two reasons: the current geopolitical situation and incidents involving vessels in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone.
A second expedition is planned for November 2026. It will study the physical and chemical state of the sea water, as well as the open-water communities of phytoplankton and zooplankton.