An unprecedented mass mortality of Black Sea dolphins has been recorded along the coast of the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park in Ukraine’s Odesa region.
According to sea-news.az ecologist and environmental expert Ivan Rusev stated that the incident may be linked to serious ecological disturbances affecting the regions marine ecosystem.
Rusev reported that during monitoring activities conducted on June 5, World Environment Day, researchers discovered 22 dead marine mammals along a 25-kilometer stretch of coastline. The findings included 20 harbor porpoises (Azov dolphins), one bottlenose dolphin, and one common dolphin.
The expert noted that only a limited section of the coastline had been surveyed, suggesting that the actual number of dead marine mammals across the wider Black Sea area could be significantly higher.
In addition, several injured but still living dolphins were reportedly found near Odesa Bay. Rusev emphasized that the situation resembles the large-scale marine mammal mortality events observed in 2022.
According to environmental specialists, military activities, explosions, missile strikes, and the use of sonar systems by naval vessels may have a serious negative impact on the behavior and health of marine mammals in the Black Sea.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact causes of the deaths.
