IDENTIFICATION AND PRIORITIZATION OF HOT SPOTS IN MANAGING RISKS TO BLACK SEA COASTAL REGIONS

In implementation of the Bucharest Convention (http://www.blacksea-commission.org/), the first regional List of Black Sea (BS) Hot Spots (HSs) has been prepared in 1996. It included municipal and industrial sources of pollution located in the BS coastal zone. Since then, the regional HSs List has not substantially changed, although a few non-harmonised revisions have been undertaken at national levels. The non-harmonization occurred due to the lack of an agreed regional methodology, which would clearly specify the term ‘hot spot’ and give criteria for HSs identification and ranking in support of decision-making in BS protection. Recognising this gap in the knowledge-based management of BS land-based sources of pollution (LBSs), in 2015we developed such a methodology and undertook revision of the regional BS HSs List. To automate the HSs Methodology application we developed a unique BS LBSs Database and a HSs software. This paper presents our approach to hot spots evaluation, which is applicable to any other sea. Results of identification and prioritization of BS HSs are discussed in view of their crucial role in managing risks to coastal regions and in investment planning aimed at reduction of BS pollution.