1.1 Perceived major problems: their main root causes and areas where action is proposed

Note: Major ones are indicated by bold numbers, lesser significant ones are shown in italics.

Perceived major problems	Transboundary elements	Main root causes	Action areas
		1.2	1.3
Decline in Black Sea Commercial Fish Stocks	Virtually all fisheries resources are shared or transzonal [straddling] and management requires the effort of more than one country	1,2,5 3,4	B A,C
Loss of habitats, notably wetlands and shelf areas, supporting important biotic resources	Biotic resources are often mobile or migratory. Wetlands provide nursery grounds and may also assimilate transboundary pollutants	1,2,3,4,5	B A,C
Loss or imminent loss of endangered species and their genomes	Endemic and/or rare species are of regional and global significance. Also, widespread eutrophication has altered entire ecosystem, affecting diversity and abundance of biotic resources.	1,2,3,4,5	A,B C
Replacement of indigenous Black Sea species with exotic ones	Exotic species are a global transboundary problem. Entire Black Sea affected and may become vector for extra-regional contamination	1,2,4,5	A,B
Degradation of the Black Sea landscape	Reduction of regional value of Black Sea tourism.	2,3,4,5	A,B,C
Inadequate protection of marine and coastal resources from maritime accidents	Black Sea coastlines are short and transboundary pollution is highly likely following accidental spills.	1,2,3,5	A
Unsanitary conditions in many beaches, bathing and shellfish-growing waters	Transboundary human health problems from exposure. Region-wide loss of revenue.	1,2,3,4,5	B,C

	1.2	Main root causes
	1.3	Areas where action is proposed
	1.a	The Black Sea map
	1.b	The catchment area of the Black Sea