Under the Surface Black Sea

Under the Surface

The hidden impact of fuel oil pollution in the Black Sea.

Scroll to dive deeper

What happened?

From a tanker accident to continuing pollution.

In December 2024, two damaged tankers near the Kerch Strait were carrying around 9,200 tonnes of heavy fuel oil. After the accident, oil products entered the sea and washed up along parts of the Black Sea coast, affecting beaches, birds and local clean-up efforts.

The issue did not end with the first spill. In April 2026, a new oil slick was detected near Anapa. It was estimated that 300–350 tonnes of oil products may have entered the sea, while more than 200 birds were reported dead or injured along the coast.

This shows that Black Sea fuel oil pollution is not only a past disaster. It is an ongoing environmental issue, moving through water, sediment, coastlines and living ecosystems.

Key facts

The visible spill is only one part of the story.
01

Two tankers damaged near the Kerch Strait were carrying around 9,200 tonnes of heavy fuel oil.

02

Several thousand tonnes of oil products were estimated to have entered the sea after the December 2024 accident.

03

A new slick near Anapa in April 2026 was estimated at 300–350 tonnes of oil products.

04

More than 200 birds were reported dead or injured along the Black Sea coast near Anapa after contact with the oil slick.

05

Heavy fuel oil can sink, mix with sand and sediment, and remain in the environment long after the surface looks clean.

What remains unseen

Fuel oil can mix with sand, sediment and water, making pollution harder to see and harder to remove. Some damage appears on the shore, but other consequences remain beneath the surface: affected habitats, stressed ecosystems and a longer recovery process. When oil products sink or break into smaller traces, the pollution becomes less visible but not less harmful. It can settle into coastal zones, disturb seabed life and return later through waves, currents or changes in temperature. This is why the campaign asks people to look deeper.

The surface can become calm while the damage continues below.

Living systems under pressure

Birds

Oil can cover feathers, making it harder for birds to stay warm, float, fly and feed. Many affected birds need cleaning, treatment and long-term care before they can survive again.

Marine mammals

Marine mammals can be affected by polluted water, damaged food sources and stress in their habitat. Even when pollution is not visible on the surface, it can still disturb the ecosystem they depend on.

Fish

Fish can be affected by polluted water, toxic particles and changes in their feeding environment. Some impacts are harder to see because they happen below the surface.

Small marine life

Fuel oil can mix with sediment and affect smaller organisms living near the seabed. These organisms are part of the food chain, so damage to them can affect the wider ecosystem.

Coastal habitats

Sand, stones and shallow water can hold traces of fuel oil. This makes the coastline not only visually polluted, but also harder to clean and restore.

When one part of the ecosystem is damaged, the whole sea feels the impact.

Pollution has a place

A spill may begin in one location, but its impact can travel much further.
Anapa — the city most affected by the spill.

Look deeper.

The damage is still moving through the sea.

Promotional video

A short visual teaser of the disaster beneath the surface.

Help the Black Sea Recover

Keep the hidden damage visible.

Supporting this campaign helps draw attention to the unseen consequences of fuel oil pollution and encourages people to take part in protecting the Black Sea before more damage becomes permanent.

Donate to Support Share the Campaign