National actions for the implementation of the measure: Preparatory work for supplementing/amending/adapting the legislative framework, if necessary; Conducting consultations with stakeholders and the public; Adoption of legislative amendments. Currently, a regulatory mechanism is lacking for a number of activities that could affect the marine environment, which prevents the effective mitigation of potential negative impacts on marine ecosystems. Such activities include, for example, the harvesting of certain shellfish species from their natural habitats, the use of dispersants, dredging and disposal operations, and others. The existing legislation does not require alignment or integration of investment proposals, plans, and programmes with the Marine Strategy, which significantly hampers its implementation and is an obstacle to the effective execution of the programme of measures. This highlights the need for a gap analysis of the current legislation and its improvement. Although the measure is not directly aimed at achieving Good Environmental Status (GES) of the marine environment, it is essential for ensuring compliance with the Directive’s requirements, and consequently, for achieving GES.

The implementation of the measure includes: a study on the characteristics of noise generated by offshore installations and the threshold levels beyond which it has a negative impact on marine animals; Introduction into Bulgarian legislation of threshold values for underwater noise in the marine environment, generated by oil and gas exploration and extraction activities, based on the results of the conducted studies; Specification of the requirements to be observed when authorizing oil and gas exploration and extraction activities, based on the study results; Regulation of control requirements

The scope of the measure includes the following activities: study of existing methodologies and practices related to the development and implementation of monitoring programmes for underwater noise within the meaning of the MSFD; Collection of data on the main sources of anthropogenic noise in Bulgarian marine waters; Description of the characteristics of potential anthropogenic noise sources; In situ measurements of underwater noise generated by shipping; Assessment of noise produced by different types of vessels and its spatial distribution; Noise modelling based on AIS data, measurement, and evaluation of the spatial distribution of noise from different vessel types, with the aim of creating so-called “noise maps” The study of underwater noise will be synchronized with the collection of missing data on marine mammals. The noise register developed under the measure will be further expanded into an operational tool for the purposes of the MSFD (Descriptor 11). The implementation of the measure will provide the missing data on the characteristics of underwater noise generated by marine-based activities and will allow for the identification of trends in its variation. The execution of the measure will support the monitoring programme under Descriptor 11 and the planning of specific follow-up actions.