 |
Juri Suleimanov, repairing fishing
nets near his home in Vilkovo, worries about how the canal will affect
his future. |
The Danube is one of the most significant commercial waterways
of Europe, connected to the Rhine and other rivers on the continent through
a system of canals. Ukraine is currently constructing a canal to aid shipping
though the Danube Delta. The government chose a route called the Bystroe Canal
(formerly Novo Stambulskoye) that will cut through the heart of the Ukrainian
Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. Until the late 1950s, vessels in the Ukrainian
Danube delta used the Bystroe and Prorva waterways. In 1959, the Bystroe waterway
closed due to a natural process of waterway silting, as did the Prorva later
in 1994. The complicated economic situation of Ukrainian Danube transport enterprises
influenced the government of Ukraine to adopt a resolution in 2003 to build
its own navigation canal in the Ukrainian Danube Delta. Seven possible sites
were suggested for the access canal to the Black Sea, and the Bystroe Branch
was chosen as most profitable.
Wildlife in danger
The Bystroe River Branch cuts through the central part of the Danube Biosphere
Reserve of the Ukrainian National Academy of Science (UNAS). UNAS, together
with Ukrainian and international ecological organisations from 64 countries,
are against the canal construction. Earlier in 2004, the European Union expressed
anxiety over this issue and recommended that Ukraine stop canal construction
until ecological consequences could be properly evaluated.
The Danube Delta is home to over 300 species of birds and 45 varieties of fish.
Opponents of the canal believe construction will harm the delicate wildlife
and argue that it infringes on international conventions for wildlife protection
that Ukraine has signed. Experts predict the disappearance of fragile spits,
nesting grounds to thousands of birds: Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Pink Pelican,
Dalmatian Pelican, Greylag Goose, Cormorant and Pygmy Cormorant. Construction
has already caused many problems for local wildlife. Work began during the spawning
period of herring and sturgeon, which move along the Danube up to Bulgaria and
Serbia. Excessive noise from dredging also disturbed birds up to 5 kilometres
away, and caused the loss of whole colonies of Sandwich Tern and Common Tern.
Jobs on the line
The fishing industry has expressed opposition to the project. If the canal alters
the natural flow of the delta, breeding areas that support local fishermen in
the Black Sea will be affected. Juri Suleimanov, a fisherman from Vilkovo, is
worried; "We don't know what will happen to us tomorrow. There is no information
about fishing conditions. Will we be allowed to fish during the passage of vessels
convoy? They don’t know.”Vilkovo suffers from a high unemployment
rate. The company Delta-Lotsman has promised to create 900 jobs if the canal
is constructed. According to a feasibility study conducted in 2003, completion
of the waterway will increase inland shipping by more than 60 percent and that
increase would result in an additional 4,000 jobs. Local seamen believe they
need this canal; it could mean ensured employment for inhabitants in Vilkovo,
Reni, Kilya and Izmail. Unlike the Sulina Canal in Romania, the Bystroe Canal
will accommodate twoway traffic at the same time round the clock. Also, the
canal will be three times cheaper to pass than the Romanian canal, allowing
Bystroe to better compete for international shipping. A compromise between canal
advocates and ecologists is difficult to negotiate. The Ukrainian government,
despite pleas from environmentalists, is moving forward with construction and
the project is scheduled to be completed next year. Experts warn that we could
be facing the loss of one of the treasures of the Danube River Basin.
ICPDR STATEMENT ON THE OPENING OF THE DANUBE BLACK SEA – DEEP NAVIGATION CANAL (BYSTROE AREA) IN UKRAINE
| The ICPDR is deeply concerned about possible transboundary environmental
impacts resulting from the construction of the Danube Black Sea–Deep
Navigation Canal at the mouth of the Danube River. The initial stages of
this Bystroe canal were reported open on August 25. ICPDR President, Catherine Day, called upon the Government of Ukraine "to halt the future stages of the construction until a proper international evaluation of environmental consequences of the project can be undertaken”. The ICPDR had initially expressed concern about the possible impacts of the project during the December 2003 Ordinary meeting of the Danube Protection Commission. The ICPDR has begun an assessment of a limited number of documents made available about the project and come to the initial conclusion that the information provided to date is clearly insufficient to assess the possibility of adverse transboundary environmental impacts. The ICPDR is requesting full disclosure of all relevant documents and studies evaluating the environmental consequences of the project to ensure measures can be taken to minimize or eliminate negative environmental consequences. "To continue to proceed further with the project without completing a proper assessment and discussion of potential transboundary impacts is contrary to the spirit and requirements of the Danube River Protection Convention,” said Day. The ICPDR would welcome assurances from the Ukrainian Government that the next stages of the project will not proceed until these steps are concluded. |
FACTS & FIGURES ABOUT THE BYSTROYE CANAL
| On May 11, 2004, the Ukrainian government officially launched construction
of the canal with German company Josef Mobius Bau AG as general contractor
for construction. Two stages are planned for the canal: the first will result
in a canal of 3.3 kilometres in length, a bottom width of 85 metres, depth
of 7.65 metres and parts of a dam with a length of 1.54 kilometres. This
first stage should ensure passage of ships with water draught of 5.85 metres. The second stage of construction will increase the depth of the canal up to 8.32 metres, the width by 100 metres and increase the length of the dam by 3 kilometres. This stage should ensure passage of ships with water draught of 7.2 metres. The project is scheduled to be completed towards autumn 2005. According to Kostiantyn Syzov, Deputy Director of Delta- Lotsman, which oversees safety and effectiveness of navigation for the canal, the approximate cost of the entire project is nearly UAH 210 million (EUR 32.3 million). The total cost return is expected in nine years. |