Dolphin Mortality in the Black Sea: Recent Findings
This information comes from Ivan Rusev, an ecologist at the National Park «Tuzlovski Lymany».
Reports indicate that dolphins in the Black Sea are perishing due to weakened immune systems and water pollution. Ecologists assert that the primary cause of these deaths is the concussions suffered from sonar devices used by Russian military to locate underwater objects.
“Such injuries lead to diminished immunity, which became particularly evident in 2022 during the active phase of the war in the northwest part of the sea. After the Armed Forces of Ukraine pushed Russian vessels back to Sevastopol and then to Novorossiysk, they continue to utilize deadly military sonars that harm dolphins. Consequently, this results in lowered immunity and various diseases, including skin conditions,” says Ivan Rusev.
According to estimates, over the past three years, more than 80,000 cetaceans have died in the Black Sea due to sonar usage, mine explosions, and bombings. Additionally, several thousand more have died from oil pollution resulting from tanker accidents in the Kerch Strait.