Environmental and Transboundary Impacts of Naval Mine Warfare in the Black Sea: Legal and Ecological Perspectives

Asm Mahmudul Hasan

doi:10.35229/jaes.1894561

EN TR

Environmental and Transboundary Impacts of Naval Mine Warfare in the Black Sea: Legal and Ecological Perspectives

Abstract

Naval mines deployed in the Black Sea as part of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict have introduced considerable transboundary and environmental risks and have raised legal concerns under international law. This article takes an interdisciplinary approach to assess the ecological effects of mine warfare in the marine environment and reviews the relevant legal frameworks (Hague Convention VIII of 1907, UN Convention on Law of Sea (UNCLOS), Bucharest Convention) and customary international humanitarian law. The article focuses on the environmental effects of drifting/uncontrolled mines that drift due to hydrodynamic currents or under extreme weather conditions, which threaten marine biodiversity, coastal ecosystems, commercial fisheries and regional maritime safety. Additionally, the article conducts an evaluation of mine incidents from documented sources from 2022 to 2024 to evaluate compliance with key principles, including distinction, proportionality, notification and the obligation to prevent marine pollution. The article demonstrates that the existing legal mechanisms related to naval mine deployment fail to sufficiently address the environmental aspect of mine deployment, particularly with respect to transboundary ecological damage and long-term marine pollution. The article additionally discusses the role of 'soft' law instruments (i.e., the San Remo Manual and IMO Guidelines) in improving the environmental protection standard for naval warfare. This article connects international humanitarian law, maritime law, and environmental governance to contribute to ongoing discussions regarding environmental security, marine ecosystem protection, and regional cooperation in the Black Sea.

Keywords

Naval Mines , Black Sea , Marine Pollution , Transboundary Environmental Risk , UNCLOS , Bucharest Convention.

Karadeniz’de Deniz Mayın Harbinin Çevresel ve Sınır Aşan Etkileri: Hukuki ve Ekolojik Perspektifler

Öz

Devam eden Rusya-Ukrayna çatışması kapsamında Karadeniz’e konuşlandırılan deniz mayınları, önemli ölçüde sınır aşan ve çevresel riskler doğurmuş; aynı zamanda uluslararası hukuk bakımından çeşitli hukuki tartışmaları gündeme getirmiştir. Bu makale, disiplinlerarası bir yaklaşımla deniz mayın harbinin denizel çevre üzerindeki ekolojik etkilerini incelemekte ve konuya uygulanabilir hukuki çerçeveyi (1907 tarihli VIII No’lu Lahey Sözleşmesi, Birleşmiş Milletler Deniz Hukuku Sözleşmesi (BMDHS/UNCLOS), 1992 tarihli Bükreş Sözleşmesi) ile teamülî uluslararası insancıl hukuk kuralları ışığında değerlendirmektedir. Çalışmada özellikle hidrodinamik akıntılar veya aşırı hava koşulları nedeniyle sürüklenen ya da kontrolsüz hâle gelen mayınların çevresel etkilerine odaklanılmaktadır. Bu tür mayınlar; denizel biyolojik çeşitliliği, kıyı ekosistemlerini, ticari balıkçılığı ve bölgesel deniz ulaştırma güvenliğini tehdit etmektedir. Ayrıca makalede, 2022–2024 yılları arasında belgelendirilmiş mayın olayları incelenerek ayırım (distinction), orantılılık (proportionality), bildirim (notification) ve deniz kirliliğini önleme yükümlülüğü gibi temel ilkeler bakımından uyum değerlendirmesi yapılmaktadır. Çalışma, deniz mayınlarının konuşlandırılmasına ilişkin mevcut hukuki mekanizmaların, özellikle sınır aşan ekolojik zarar ve uzun vadeli deniz kirliliği bağlamında, çevresel boyutu yeterince ele almakta yetersiz kaldığını ortaya koymaktadır. Ayrıca makalede, “yumuşak hukuk” araçlarının (San Remo El Kitabı ve IMO Rehberleri gibi) deniz harp faaliyetlerinde çevresel koruma standartlarının geliştirilmesine katkısı tartışılmaktadır. Uluslararası insancıl hukuk, deniz hukuku ve çevresel yönetişim alanlarını bir araya getiren bu çalışma; Karadeniz bağlamında çevresel güvenlik, deniz ekosistemlerinin korunması ve bölgesel iş birliği konularına ilişkin güncel tartışmalara katkı sunmayı amaçlamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Deniz Mayınları , Karadeniz , Deniz Kirliliği , Sınır Aşan Çevresel Risk , BMDHS (UNCLOS) , Bükreş Sözleşmesi.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Marine and Estuarine Ecology , Environmental Assessment and Monitoring

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Asm Mahmudul Hasan ^*
0000-0001-8833-5101
Türkiye

Publication Date

March 30, 2026

Submission Date

February 21, 2026

Acceptance Date

March 25, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 1970 Volume: 0 Number: 2026

DOI

https://doi.org/10.35229/jaes.1894561

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA26JW22FU

APA

Hasan, A. M. (2026). Environmental and Transboundary Impacts of Naval Mine Warfare in the Black Sea: Legal and Ecological Perspectives. Journal of Anatolian Environmental and Animal Sciences, 2026. https://doi.org/10.35229/jaes.1894561

EBSCOHost Scilit CABI

JAES/AAS-Journal of Anatolian Environmental and Animal Sciences/Anatolian Academic Sciences&Anadolu Çevre ve Hayvancılık Dergisi/Anadolu Akademik Bilimler-AÇEH/AAS

Environmental and Transboundary Impacts of Naval Mine Warfare in the Black Sea: Legal and Ecological Perspectives

Abstract

Keywords

Karadeniz’de Deniz Mayın Harbinin Çevresel ve Sınır Aşan Etkileri: Hukuki ve Ekolojik Perspektifler

Öz

Anahtar Kelimeler

References

Details

Primary Language

Subjects

Journal Section

Authors

Publication Date

Submission Date

Acceptance Date

Published in Issue

DOI

IZ

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