COAST-SCAPES partners present Musura Bay research at Odessa National University's 80th Scientific Conference
Professor Nikolai Berlinsky, Yussef El Khadri and Maria Slizhe presented findings on the hydrological and ecological state of the Danube Delta's Musura Bay at the 80th reporting scientific conference of the teaching staff and researchers of Odessa I. I. Mechnikov National University, held November 26-28, 2025.
Their report, "Hydrological and Ecological Characteristics of the Danube Delta in the Musura Bay," traced how decades of anthropogenic pressure, including hydromorphological alterations, pollution, eutrophication, invasive species and rising temperatures, have reshaped the bay. Sitting at the confluence of the Danube River and the Black Sea, Musura Bay has shifted from a marine inlet to a freshwater lagoon now facing rapid siltation. The authors warn that continued pressure could trigger significant, potentially irreversible changes to the bay's wetland ecosystems, with restoration ranging from costly to unfeasible.
The presentation underscores the value of long-term monitoring in the Danube Delta as a basis for informed coastal management decisions.
