The second of the three planned initiatives to reduce pollution from terrestrial sources of the marine environment took place on 13.03.2024, as part of the activities under project BGENVIRONMENT-2.003-0006 "Reduction of marine waste from terrestrial sources in a target water area on the territory of a municipality Pomorie in one with an educated and informed society in relation to marine water pollution", financed under the "Environmental Protection and Climate Change" Program of the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2014-2021.
On December 14, 2023, the first initiative to reduce pollution from terrestrial sources of the marine environment was carried out by cleaning the first target location on the shores of the Black Sea - Pomorie Fishing Port and Passenger Port, falling within the territorial scope of Pomorie Municipality.
The second initiative to reduce pollution from terrestrial sources of the marine environment was carried out by cleaning the Pomorie Lake, using the two high-tech water drones purchased under the project.
One of the main problems of the Black Sea water area, as well as of the Pomorie Lake, is the level of pollution, which leads to a number of problems, directly reflecting on the local community and branches of the local economy, such as tourism and fishing. Through the connecting channel, the waste from terrestrial sources that fell into the lake reaches the Black Sea waters. The polluted marine environment leads to a decrease in the population of the marine species inhabiting the Black Sea, as well as to the destruction of the natural environment of the protected species of the Pomorie Lake.
Ilia Kusev, curator at the Museum of Salt - Pomorie, defines Lake Pomorie as past, present and future. Past - because people's livelihood was connected with the lake, namely the production of salt in Pomorie, present - through the Pomorie Lake, the Museum of Salt continues to produce salt according to the ancient Anchial technology and future - because efforts are constantly being made to preserve and improve the condition both at the lake and at the museum.
"Lake Pomorie is also associated with the extraction of healing Pomorie mud, which is used in spas to treat many diseases. The lake needs to be preserved, mainly by limiting its pollution with discarded household and other waste. In order for biochemical processes to proceed normally in it, it must maintain a certain salinity. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly clean the lake water from the waste, which in one way or another in the coming years would deteriorate the quality of the healing mud," said Iliya Kusev.
Zoya Kolcheva, the curator at the Pomorie Lake Visitor Center, enumerating the unique characteristics of the Pomorie Lake, emphasizes the importance of systematic efforts to clean it and keep it free of waste. According to her, thanks to these efforts, we have the opportunity to enjoy the presence of many birds, among them the exotic pink flamingo and other endangered species, which every year come to nest in Lake Pomorie.
The initiatives carried out within the framework of the project contribute to the reduction of pollution from terrestrial sources of the marine environment. They include cleaning the Pomorie Lake, the shores of the Black Sea, falling within the territorial scope of the Pomorie Municipality, as well as the Aheloy River, flowing into the Black Sea on the territory of the Pomorie Municipality.
Through special high-tech water drones purchased for the purpose and put into operation, waste capable of floating on the surface of the water such as polyethylene bags, household plastics, abandoned gill nets, etc., as well as foreign and harmful vegetation is collected. The drones are additionally equipped with relevant sensors to collect information and data about the target water area under the project.


Based on the information collected by the drones, analyzes will be prepared of the state of the target water area under the project and its impact on the marine environment along the shores of the Black Sea in the territory of the municipality of Pomorie, and a system will be developed to protect the marine environment from terrestrial sources of pollution from the human activity of the target water area under the project.
The project includes cooperation with a partner from the donor countries - International Development Norway AS, possessing expertise in the implementation of projects in the field of circular economy, environmental protection, technology and sustainable development.
The project partners: the beneficiary - Municipality of Pomorie, Local Initiative Fishery Group Association Pomorie and International Development Norway AS, have been specially selected in view of their common mission, interests, functioning and goals in the field of protection of the Black Sea environment.
This project is a natural continuation of the significant achievements and efforts of the Municipality of Pomorie, aimed at protecting the environment and, in particular, the target territory and the protected species inhabiting it, in accordance with the National Strategy for the Protection of Biological Diversity and the Plan for the Management of a Protected Territory and Pomorie Lake protected area.
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