The Institute of Oceanology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is carrying out its latest research mission aboard the R/V “Akademik” in the Black Sea off the Bulgarian coast. The research focuses on collecting sediment samples from the seabed and analysing the biodiversity of the benthic fauna as one of the key indicators for assessing the state of the marine environment.
A second expedition is planned for November 2026 to analyse the physico-chemical state of the seawater and the pelagic communities of phytoplankton and zooplankton.
The conduct of regular and ad hoc marine monitoring to collect up-to-date environmental data and information is an essential element of environmental security in the Black Sea given the current geopolitical situation and incidents involving vessels in the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Funding for the research is provided by the Ministry of the Environment and Water under an agreement with the Institute of Oceanology to fulfil national obligations under European environmental legislation relating to surface waters and the marine environment.
