Environment Minister Djevdet Chakurov has cancelled his decision to issue a prospecting permit for the Emona area near Irakli on the Black Sea over objections filed by landowners, Ministry of Environment and Water Affairs (MOEW) said on April 10.

Haskovo-registered firm Baron wanted to prospect the area but the procedure was cancelled because of the threat to the environment and the population's health, as well as because the landowners' opposition, MOEW said.

Chakurov planned to give Baron the right to prospect an area of 100ha for potential use as a construction materials quarry, even though he had already banned any “re-zoning and the way of permanent usage of the lands and the forests”, as well as “sand extraction”, in that area, as reported by the Sofia Echo on April 9. The zone is also part of Natura 2000 environmental network.