A wave of dolphin deaths has swept across the Odessa coast

Along the Black Sea coast, more than 20 dead cetaceans were found in just one day along a 25-kilometer stretch. The actual number of dead animals could be in the thousands, as experts estimate that more than 90% of marine mammal carcasses do not wash ashore.

The causes of the mass deaths of dolphins and other cetaceans in the Black Sea were discussed in the latest episode of *Accents*. Ecologist and zoologist Pavlo Goldin and biologist Vladislav Balinsky, head of the non-governmental organization “Green Leaf,” shared their assessments .

According to Goldin, in peacetime, the main causes of cetacean deaths are entanglement in fishing nets, infectious diseases, and underwater noise.

As Balinsky explained, mortality rates rose sharply after the outbreak of full-scale war. Peak mortality rates were recorded during active hostilities in the northwestern part of the Black Sea, particularly following the battles for Zmiinyi Island.

Similar cases were recorded not only in Ukraine but also in Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Georgia.

The zoologist clarified that the exact cause of the current wave of deaths has not yet been determined. Autopsies reveal various pathologies—damage to the lungs, liver, and other organs. It cannot be ruled out that this is due to a combination of factors, including the effects of trauma, infections, chemical pollution, and the impact of powerful underwater noise from explosions.

Russian strikes on civilian vessels and port infrastructure pose a particular threat to the Black Sea ecosystem. Damage to ships can lead to fuel and oil spills, while debris and explosions can cause additional marine pollution.

Following one such incident in the Odesa region, authorities implemented continuous monitoring of the waters to track potential oil spills.

Goldin emphasized that it will only be possible to permanently halt human-induced impacts on the cetacean population once the war ends. At the same time, work can already be done in several areas.

These include humanitarian demining of marine areas, the creation of marine protected areas—particularly in the temporarily occupied parts of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait—and the improvement of fishing gear to reduce bycatch of porpoises.

Ірина Глухова