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This paper is a review of the up to date knowledge about the coastal environmental transformations around the Greek settlements along the present-day Romanian shoreline. The aim is to define a general pattern of the morphological configuration the Greeks were looking for when establishing their colonies. Existing quantitative and qualitative database on shoreline evolution both along the low lying deltaic sector (N) and along the soft rock cliffs along the southern sector of the present-day Romanian coast together with the present day morphological configuration analysis at each study site were used to assess large spatial (~180 km alongshore) and temporal scales (ca. 2500 yrs) of coastal behavior. The coastal dynamics during the late Holocene was controlled by the deltaic lobes development along the northern part of the present day Romanian coast which led to important shoreline progradation and subsequent isolation from the shoreline of Histria and Orgame Greek cities. The continuous sediment input depletion, sea level rise, storms set-up, longshore transport system and local tectonic activity drove the cliff line retreat along the southern sector, with important parts of the Tomis and Kallatis settlements being lost to the sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tide gauge records comprise of relative sea level change and vertical land motion, while satellite altimetry provides absolute sea level change in the Earth’s center fixed frame. Accordingly, the difference of both observations can be used to estimate geocentric vertical land motion along the coasts. In this paper, the vertical land motion rates are investigated at 13 tide gauge sites along the Black Sea coast by analyzing differences between Tide Gauge (TG) and Satellite Altimetry (SA) observations. Furthermore, the estimated vertical motion rates are compared with those from nearby the Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements. The results show general consistence with the present geodynamics in the Black Sea coastal region. For example, our estimates support the general subsidence at Bourgas and Varna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact that oil and gas sector has on the global competitiveness of the economies of the countries of the Black Sea Region, measured by the Global Competitiveness Index, with the use of unbalanced panel data techniques for the period from 2006 to 2015. Factors concerning oil and gas sector as fuel exports, oil and gas prices, oil rents, and governance are used as independent variables. Both fixed and random effects models are estimated, and the validity of these models is assessed with the use of Hausman test. Our results are discussed and compared to relevant literature concerning other oil and gas producing regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the present paper 35 specimens of sea mullet (Mugil cephalus) from different age groups were investigated. The material was collected between May 2010 - September 2011 along the coast, the main points are two: Varna Bay and the mouth of the river Veleka. The main objective of the study was to establish the food spectrum of mullet, and thus a connection could be made between food components. The methods which were used and defined to study the food spectrum and the relationship between different food components are as follows: frequency of occurrence and dominance index of the nutritional components; the filling index and stomach emptiness index, as well as selectivity coefficient of a meal.Results showed that detritus, zoobenthos (Rissoa sp. and Trochammina inflate - 71.43%) and macrophytes (Cladophoraceae family - 63.64%) dominated in stomachs. Several potential toxic species were also found: Amphora coffeaeformis, Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima, Pseudo-nitzschia seriata, Prorocentrum cordatum, E. pyriformis, P. minimum, Protoperidinium crassipes. The results for the frequency of occurrence (pF) showed that the most common in the stomach of a mullet of the macrophytes are the species of family Ulvaceae - 45.5% ; family Cladophoraceae - 45.5% ; of phytoplankton - Navicula spp (109,09%).; of zoobenthos: Nematoda g.sp. - 42.9% and Trochammina inflate - 28.6 %. The low emptiness index (0.0857) defines the grey mullet as an often eating fish. The small fish reaching up to 3-4 cm eat phytoplankton and zooplankton. Until now, research on the food spectrum of sea mullet by the Bulgarian sector of the Black Sea have not been conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper highlights the importance of establishing an appropriate database of information to assist planners in site selection and decisions regarding land usage. Such a database should include geological and geotechnical information, but this should be assessed from a geoenvironmental viewpoint. The city of Gumushane in the Black Sea region is discussed, as this area is close to the North Anatolia Fault Zone and there is a shortage of 'suitable' ground for development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased interest in water quality in coastal and marine areas stemming from the Water Framework Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive has led to important questions in relation to policies that address nutrient loadings. This paper presents the results from a choice experiment study to assess the recreational damage associated with algal blooms caused by nutrients flows into Varna Bay, Bulgaria. Varna Bay is an important beach destination on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria. Algal bloom events have been experienced frequently in the area. A choice experiment questionnaire was developed and applied in the Varna Bay area to assess the extent to which the quantity of algal blooms and the duration of the bloom affect recreational activities. The amount of bloom was found to be important, as respondents were on average willing to pay a one off tax of 18.97 Leva (€9.73) for a program that provides beaches free from algal blooms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]