Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, his father Petko Petkov and MP Miroslava Petrova have arranged for the Ministry of Ecology to declare the sea in front of Coral Beach a protected area. “Eco News”citing information from fisheries organizations in the region.
All of them are members of the Coral Circle, which requested this from the MoEW. The main activity of corals is to provide wild and free camping for a group of people on the beach. Most are from Sofia and “civil activists”. For two decades, these people have occupied the beach near Lozenets, which is public property. There they have set their own rules and loudly oppose any institution that wants to bring order to this self-government.
Outsiders are not allowed, only members and supporters of the informal association “Let’s Save Coral”, which has set up caravans, campers and tents. They have a restaurant, surf and kite schools.
The most active are the Petkovi family, father and son. Even while he was Minister of Economy, Kiril Petkov wanted to pass a procedure by which the sea in front of Coral Beach would be declared a protected area by the Ministry of Environment and Water.
According to the Protected Areas Act, these are lands, forests and water areas with particularly valuable plant and animal species. And who need protection because they are a natural value. Following the declaration of this protected water area, fishing, fishing boats, pleasure boats and other human activities will be prohibited there.
What makes the sea in front of Coral Beach more special than the one in front of Aleppo, Selistar or Harmanite in Sozopol. And what special species will be preserved there?
The proposal, which “Let’s Save Coral” is making to the Ministry of Ecology, describes that they will protect dolphins, carrion beetles, sturgeon and other fish. All marine life, which is from Durankulak to Rezovo, in front of every beach. That is, there is no reliable scientific data that these species should be preserved in the waters of Coral Beach.
The truth is different
Coral, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, his father Petko Petkov and their friends ride surf and kite. For this reason, they do not want any fishermen and tourists to hang out in their sea. That is why the Minister of Environment and Water Borislav Sandov hastened and ordered the RIEW Burgas to immediately declare the sea in front of Coral Beach a protected area.
Pursuant to the order of the Deputy Prime Minister for Climate Sandov, the director of RIEW Burgas convenes on June 15, 2022. a commission to accept the proposal to declare the sea area in front of Coral Beach protected.
The problem is that these actions of Minister Borislav Sandov are a gross violation of Art. 37 of the Law on Protected Areas, where the procedure by which this should be done is very clear. It is mandatory to hold public hearings first. Local authorities, public and environmental organizations, district governors, ministries and departments should take part in them. Opinions should also be given by representatives of the scientific and academic community, biologists and experts.
Another problem that is being avoided by the Ministry of Ecology is that in the registers of the Agency for Geodesy and Cartography, there is no beach with the name Coral. There is the Lozenets-Kumkashla area, and in order to register Coral, a change is needed, ie new maps and sketches.
None of this has been done. He is in a hurry to execute a higher order without complying with the legal requirements.
The Bulgarian Black Sea coast is in dire need of protection and rules to preserve it for hundreds of years to come. But privatizing part of the coast through political pressure is unacceptable and too reminiscent of recent events.
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