News
Vessels flying the flags of Liberia and Turkey polluted the Black Sea and were each fined GEL 100,000
The staff of the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea, under the Department of Environmental Supervision of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, together with the Border Police, identified 2 cases of Black Sea pollution.
Vessels flying the flags of Liberia and Turkey polluted the sea with industrial wastewater.
Based on the administrative offense reports prepared by the Department of Environmental Supervision and the Border Police, the Batumi and Poti courts found the vessels in violation of the law and imposed a fine of GEL 100,000 on each.
The vessels were allowed to leave Georgia’s territorial waters and continue free navigation after paying the imposed fines and compensation for the environmental damage caused. The total environmental damage from both violations amounted to approximately GEL 6,000.
Protecting the Black Sea remains a priority for the Department of Environmental Supervision. The Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea carries out continuous state monitoring to minimize water pollution and to prevent, suppress, and detect illegal fishing activities. During the current year, the staff of the Convention Division have conducted inspections of 45 vessels. Five violations have been detected, including sea pollution incidents by three vessels.
Notably, in recent years, pollution incidents caused by oil-containing wastewater from vessels have significantly decreased. This is due, on the one hand, to the strengthened capacity of the Department of Environmental Supervision and the effective work of the Commission, and on the other hand, to increased fines, which serve as a deterrent.
