Critical situation in the Black Sea: dozens of dead dolphins found on the Odessa coast

For several days, dead dolphins have been found on the coast of Tuzlovskie Limany National Nature Park.

6 June national park researcher Ivan Rusev reported that 22 dead dolphins were found on a 25 km stretch of beach. Another 15 cetaceans were found when surveying an additional 13 kilometers of beach area. According to him, due to the war, the Black Sea ecosystem is on the brink of collapse. "The constant, deadly military load — mine explosions, bombings, missile launches and the use of powerful sonars from warships — is systematically destroying unique biodiversity," the scientist noted.

The northwestern part of the sea, where the "Tuzlovskie Limany" are located, has turned out to be at the epicenter of the war. Constant acoustic and physical impact undermines the dolphins' immunity and genetic potential for recovery, depriving them of the ability to navigate and survive.

In addition, many pollutants enter the Black Sea as a result of shelling of coastal port and other infrastructure. During the war, heavy metals, petroleum products, sunflower oil, explosives, chemical compounds, fragments of various ammunition, drones, bombed ships, planes, and missiles enter the sea. Mostly all combat devices contain fuel, oils, heavy metals, polymers, and the like.

It should also be understood that a significant portion of the killed animals sink into the depths of the sea, and this tragedy is not local. During the same period at the end of May and beginning of June, dolphin deaths were recorded on the Romanian and Bulgarian coasts of the Black Sea. In addition, live but severely concussed animals have again been found in the Odessa Bay. Such catastrophic scales are a direct reference to 2022, when the largest wave of mortality of marine mammals began.

Source: Focus.ua