A project for a marine science center in Bulgaria has been under development for some time, Acting Environment and Water Minister Petar Dimitrov said today during a national conference on the occasion of the International Black Sea Action Day in Varna.

"The goal is for our country to become a scientific center for the Black Sea," said Dimitrov, adding that the idea is to place the center on Saint Kirik Island, with a museum built next to it.

He noted that negotiations are underway for Bulgaria to purchase a new research vessel with the financial support of Norway.

The ship will be able to be used by all structures that conduct research at sea, but there is still no decision whether the ship will sail under a military or civilian flag.

The ministry prioritizes the protection of the Black Sea, which has unique biological species and ecosystems, Dimitrov said.

He recalled that projects for the construction and modernization of water treatment plants along the coast are financed through various mechanisms and that the quality of sea water is strictly monitored since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. He added that with all the analyzes done so far, there is no deviation from the norms. /BTA