Evidencing a recovery plan for Black Sea dolphins and porpoises

There is significant concern over the impact that Russia’s war against Ukraine has had on Black Sea dolphin and porpoise populations. Regional experts have proposed a recovery plan but as Linas Svolkinas explains, effective mitigation efforts require that we first understand conflict-linked threats.

The ongoing environmental impact of the Kerch Strait oil spill

In December 2024 two Russian oil tankers spilled 4,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil in the Kerch Strait, Crimea. Persistent and difficult to clean up, the oil threatens northern Black Sea ecosystems. Iryna Babanina examines how the situation is developing six months on and how the war influenced the disaster.