A large-scale environmental operation along the Northern Black Sea coast revealed serious challenges for preserving the natural environment during the summer tourist season. A joint inspection, ordered by Minister Manol Genov, documented over 100 administrative violations related to improper parking and damage to protected natural zones.
Statistics show that over 90% of offenders are foreign tourists, mainly from Romania. According to Eng. Yavor Dimitrov, director of the Black Sea Region Basin Directorate, the main reason for mass violations is the lack of language and information awareness. Information signs are often removed, which further complicates communication with tourists.
Legislation provides strict sanctions for environmental crimes. Destroying sand dunes can be punished with imprisonment up to 3 years, with fines reaching 2500 leva. However, no effective sentences have been imposed so far.
The inspection was carried out by a large team including representatives from various institutions: Black Sea Region Basin Directorate, RIOSV - Varna, Main Directorate "National Police", Environmental Crime Sector, Dobrich Regional Administration, and Shabla Municipality. In addition to parking, drinking establishments near the beach strip were also inspected for unauthorized water extraction.
A telling example of the problem's scale is the test filming of Vromos Beach near Chernomorets, where over 30 illegal objects were found in sand dunes. Eco-institutions announced that inspections will continue until the end of the summer season, and will be regulated from next year from May 1 to September 30.