The Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (the Black Sea Commission or BSC) via its Permanent Secretariat is the intergovernmental body established in implementation of the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (Bucharest Convention), its Protocols and the Strategic Action Plan for the Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation of the Black Sea. Mr. Nuritdin R. Inamov, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment represented the Russian Federation in BSC.

Each year, starting from October 31, 1996, when the six Black Sea countries (Russian Federation, Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine) signed the first Strategic Action Plan for the rehabilitation and protection of the Black Sea, the Black Sea Commission is holding the International Day Black Sea Day. On this day, one of the scientists of the Black Sea countries is rewarded with the Black Sea Medal established by the Black Sea Commission.

This year Sergey K. Konovalov, FSBSI MHI Director, has been selected as one of the recipients of the 2017 Black Sea Medal Award of the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution for his outstanding efforts to protect the marine environment of the Black Sea.

As Halil Ibrahim Sur, the Executive Director of the Black Sea Commission Permanent Secretariat, reports in his official letter, this award “aims to emphasize the importance of individual efforts of the scientist in organizing and undertaking activities to protect the Black Sea’s unique environment. It is presented to one individual from each riparian country around the Black Sea”.