Telegram users inquired about the presence of petroleum products in the water near Anapa.
Scientists did not find increased levels of petroleum products near Anapa. Social media users doubted that these conclusions correspond to reality, as traces of fuel oil are noted on the beaches.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", the beaches of Anapa, after being replenished with new sand, have turned into a mixture of stones and clay, and officials' reports do not correspond to reality, Telegram users pointed out. According to commentators, significant costs were required to replenish the beaches of Anapa after the fuel oil spill, but the first storms washed away the sand, and what remained on the shore has compacted. Another problem for Anapa's beaches after the storm has been the large amount of algae. A permit to operate has already been obtained from Rospotrebnadzor for 105 beaches of Anapa, while another 4 are undergoing examination.
Scientists did not find increased levels of petroleum products near Anapa
The charitable educational foundation "Protected Embassy" together with the P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Southern Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences) with the support of JTI Russia has completed the first three stages of comprehensive monitoring of coastal waters in the area of Anapa and the "Utrish" reserve. The studies are being conducted as part of the "Living Black Sea" project to assess the consequences of the fuel oil spill after the tanker accidents in the Kerch Strait in December 2024, reported the eco-center "Reserves", the creator of the "Protected Embassy" foundation.
According to the scientists' conclusions, all studied parameters of water and bottom sediments currently correspond to the average climatic values for the northeastern part of the Black Sea and do not exceed established fishery standards.
"Scientists note that compared to December 2025, no increased levels of petroleum products and phenols were found in bottom layers of water samples taken in 2026. The levels of heavy metals have also decreased: while last year local exceedances of cobalt were recorded, this season all indicators are within normal limits. According to hydrobiologists' assessments, plankton communities — the most important indicator of the sea's health — demonstrate stability. The species composition and abundance of phyto- and zooplankton have not undergone significant changes, indicating the resilience of the ecosystem and its ability to withstand pressures," the eco-center's website states.
"Today, one-time measurements are no longer sufficient to understand what is happening with the sea. Systematic monitoring is coming to the forefront. Only this way can we distinguish natural changes in the marine environment from anthropogenic impacts. Coastal zones are particularly sensitive to load, and without systematic observations, this dynamics cannot be correctly interpreted. We see encouraging figures: the water and soils at the studied stations meet the norm. However, pollution is still recorded in Anapa and Vityazevo. That is why we continue our observations — to understand the real dynamics, rather than relying on one-time measurements," said the project manager of the "Living Black Sea" project, the "Protected Embassy" foundation Polina Grigorieva.
Commentators doubted the scientists' conclusions
The scientists' conclusions were reposted by blogger Max Anapsky in his Telegram channel, and the message gathered 10 comments.
"Great news, but I wonder where the fuel oil stain of several kilometers went, and after the storm, there are fragments of fuel oil?" asked Olga.
"Such disasters do not disappear without a trace so quickly. After the storm, there is no visibility of fuel oil because there are no large patches released. But feet are constantly in patches during the storm. Yesterday, I simply picked up sand with a shell on the shore and rubbed it in my hands, and voila, my hands were speckled. I started to examine the contents more closely — there were black pebbles, shells, and among them small specks of fuel oil, like millet, so you can't tell right away if it's a stone or fuel oil, you rub it with your finger, and then it becomes clear immediately," replied Yulia I.
"Residual fragments on the bottom near the shores will be washed out every time there are storms, until the sea 'spits' everything out," she suggested in another comment.
The resort season in Anapa opened against a sharp contrast in the state of the coastline. Some beaches are open and deemed safe, while other areas are closed due to erosion, unstable soil, and ecological risks. Information on which beaches are ready for visitors and which pose dangers is provided in the report of "Caucasian Knot" "Beaches of Anapa: open and dangerous zones".
Despite the problems with sand and algae on the beaches, Anapa in July showed the most significant increase in tourists in the Krasnodar region. Hotels are keeping prices in Anapa at last year's level and even holding sales, emphasized a hotelier.
On December 15, 2024, two tankers carrying fuel oil sank in the Kerch Strait. As a result, a crew member of one of the tankers died. Additionally, there was a spill of petroleum products, leading to catastrophic ecological consequences, according to the report of "Caucasian Knot" "Fuel oil spill in the Kerch Strait". Materials on the consequences of the fuel oil spill have been collected by "Caucasian Knot" on the page "Ecological disaster in Kuban".