Coastal Erosion Reduction Phase II
Protection & Rehabilitation of the Romanian Black Sea Coastline (2014–2020)
POIM 2014-2020, Priority Axis 5 – Climate Change Adaptation, Risk Prevention & Management
General Description
Implemented by the Dobrogea–Coastal Water Basin Administration, this project protects and rehabilitates the Romanian Black Sea shoreline against coastal erosion. It aims to ensure adaptation to climate change and the prevention of erosion for an average annual scenario and for events with a recurrence period of up to 1/100 years, for a projected lifetime of 50 years.
Through implementation, 226.16 ha of new beach will be created, improving marine ecosystem conditions and contributing to the socio-economic development of the entire Romanian coast.
Innovative Aspects
- Largest coastal protection investment in Romania's history, combining beach nourishment, marine breakwaters, seawalls, and cliff consolidation at scale.
- Implementation of an integrated coastal zone monitoring programme supporting operations, maintenance, and medium and long-term environmental components.
- Use of artificial reefs as ecosystem-compatible coastal protection structures at multiple sites.
- 50-year design lifetime ensuring long-term protection beyond typical infrastructure planning horizons.
- Protection of 9 internationally designated areas including Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve and multiple Natura 2000 sites.
Environmental / Social / Economic Aspects
Environmental: Protection of the Black Sea coastline through rehabilitation of the shoreline, adjacent lands, and land and marine ecosystems. Protection of internationally designated areas including ROSPA0076 Black Sea, ROSCI0066 Danube Delta–marine area, ROSCI0065 Danube Delta, ROSPA0031 Danube Delta and Razelm-Sinoe Complex, and the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve.
Social: Reduction of effects and damage on the population caused by coastal erosion for the full 50-year investment lifetime.
Economic: Protection of economic infrastructure and social objectives endangered by marine erosion; contribution to sustainable tourism development along the entire Romanian coast.
Key Works by Location
- Mamaia: Coastal protection 6,950 ml + 53 ha new beach (extended embankment, artificial sandblasting)
- Tomis (Casino): 790 ml between Constanta port and Tomis tourist port (cliff consolidation)
- Eforie: 5,750 ml + 33 ha new beach (new marine breakwaters, artificial sanding, artificial reefs)
- Costinesti: 2,550 ml + 16 ha new beach (new marine piers, artificial sanding, artificial reefs)
- Olimp: 3,500 ml + 32 ha new beach (new marine piers, artificial sanding, artificial reefs)
- Jupiter–Neptune: 2,550 ml + 30 ha new beach
- Venus–Aurora–Balta Mangalia: 3,100 ml + 37 ha new beach
- Saturn–Mangalia: 2,500 ml + 20 ha new beach
- 2 May: 1,650 ml cliff consolidation + 4.5 ha new beach (dikes, seawalls, artificial reefs)
Link to Spatial Policy
Closely connected to spatial policies on wetland restoration and water management in river basins. Directly aligned with EU Priority Axis 5 on climate change adaptation and risk prevention. The integrated coastal zone monitoring programme strengthens evidence-based spatial planning for the Romanian coastal zone.
Challenges & Solutions Applied
Romania's 244 km coastline consists of low-altitude beaches (80%) and cliffs (20%) with intense socio-economic activity. The coast shows a general degradation tendency through erosion, driven by sediment imbalance and marine hydrodynamic forces. Imbalances arise from:
- Reduced Danube sediment supply (upstream dams and abstractions)
- Historical hard engineering structures disrupting natural sediment transport
- Climate change intensifying storm events and sea level rise
Solutions combine soft measures (beach nourishment, artificial sanding) with hard structures (breakwaters, seawalls, artificial reefs) in a hybrid coastal management approach.
Ангажираност на заинтересованите страни
The Dobrogea–Coastal Water Basin Administration collaborated with municipalities of Tulcea and Constanța, NGOs, the local University "Ovidius", and local communities. Stakeholders were involved in implementation and evaluation phases, ensuring that their perspectives and needs were considered.