Black Sea Day is marked today, 31 October, Bulgaria's Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) said. The date marks 30 years since the Strategic Action Plan for the Protection and Rehabilitation of the Black Sea was signed.

The ministry says the day is dedicated to the sea's natural wealth and to the shared duty to protect its environment for the future.

Six countries take part in the plan: Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia and Turkey. It continues the cooperation under the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution, signed in Bucharest in 1992.

Protecting the sea is a priority of Bulgaria's environmental policy, the ministry says. To improve the state of the sea, it monitors water quality, works to cut pollution, protects biodiversity and meets Bulgaria's national and international commitments.

The second international forum, "Black Sea 2030: Security, Sustainability, Innovation", ended yesterday at the International Congress Centre in Burgas. Participants agreed a joint position on the security of the sea. They said it should not be viewed only through geopolitical and military risks. It should also cover protection of the marine environment, the strength of coastal communities, economic development and technological independence.

The ministry describes the sea as a natural system with rich biodiversity that matters to coastal communities. Its waters and coastal ecosystems are home to many plant and animal species. Sea resources matter for the economy and tourism, and millions of people depend on them for their living.

The main message of the plan still holds, the ministry writes: the future of the sea depends on cooperation between countries and responsible use of its resources. Development of coastal areas, tourism, shipping and the sea economy must go hand in hand with care for nature.

The Black Sea is among the most vulnerable marine ecosystems. Waste and plastics, pollutants carried in by rivers, overfishing and damage to natural habitats all put pressure on its balance. Its location and limited water exchange with other seas make it harder for the sea to recover on its own.