Compliance Level of the Mollusc Waters Quality in the Black Sea According to the EU Legislation

Abstract

The paper presents the evaluation of the quality of the marine environment and of marine molluscs which was carried-out in year 2011 in the four designated areas by the EU Shellfish Waters Directive 2006/113/EC, for the growth and commercial exploitation at the Romania Black Sea coast. The main species monitored were the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamark, 1819) and the rapa whelk Rapana venosa (Lamark, 1819). Water and sediment quality along the Romanian coastline in 2011 was, overall, in conformity with the Shellfish Waters Directive 2006/113/EC. The level of conformity for salinity was 50% in Areas 1 and 2 from the northern part of the Romanian coastline, which are influenced by the Danube River freshwater input (95% required). The level of conformity for lead in seawater was 66.70% in Area 1, 60% in Area 3 and 85.7% in Area 4 (100% required). For chrome in sediments, the level of conformity which was achieved was 66.67% in Area 2 and 75% in Area 3 (100% required). The level of all parameters analyzed in mussels were in conformity with the EU Directive requirements.