Editing Sea of Azov (section)

==Economy and ecology==
For centuries, the Sea of Azov has been an important waterway for the transport of goods and passengers. The first modern ironworks in Imperial Russia were located upstream on the [[Kalmius]] River at [[Donetsk]], originally named ''Hughesovka'' ({{Langx|ru|Юзовка}}). It was also important for the transportation of [[iron ore]]s from the mines of the Kerch peninsula to the processing plant of Azovstal in [[Mariupol]] (formerly Zhdanov), Ukraine; this activity stopped after the closure of the mines in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hirnycyj encyklopedycnyj slovnyk, Volume 3|language=uk|publisher=Schidnyj Vydavnyčyj Dim|year= 2004|isbn=978-966-7804-78-7}}</ref> Navigation increased after the construction in 1952 of the [[Volga–Don Canal]] which connected the Sea of Azov with the [[Volga River]] – the most important riverine transport route in the central Russia – thus connecting major cities such as Moscow, [[Volgograd]] and [[Astrakhan]].<ref name=kki/> Currently, the major ports are in [[Taganrog]], [[Mariupol]], [[Yeysk]] and [[Berdyansk]].<ref name=bse1/><ref name=brit>{{cite encyclopedia|url= http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/46968/Sea-of-Azov|title=''Sea of Azov''|encyclopedia=Britannica|access-date=August 30, 2002}}</ref>

Increasing navigation rates have resulted in more pollution and even in ecological disasters. On 11 November 2007, a strong storm sank four ships in the [[Kerch Strait]], in the Russian [[Port Kavkaz|Port of Kavkaz]]. The ships were the Russian [[bulk carrier]]s ''Volnogorsk''; ''Nakhichevan''; and ''Kovel'', and the Georgian ''Haji Izmail'' with a Turkish crew. Six other ships were driven from their anchors and grounded. The tanker {{MV|Volgoneft-139||2}} was broken in two, and the tanker ''Volgoneft-123'' was damaged. As a result, about 1,300 tons of fuel oil and about 6,800 tons of sulfur entered the sea.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kmu.gov.ua/control/en/publish/article?art_id=120257239&cat_id=77866420|title=EU experts to assess ecological situation in Kerch Strait|publisher=Web-Portal of the Ukrainian Government|date= March 18, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oceanpollution.net/NEWS/Black_sea_Oil_spill.htm|title=Oil Spill Near Black Sea Causes 'Ecological Catastrophe'|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=November 13, 2007|access-date=August 30, 2002|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907054528/http://oceanpollution.net/NEWS/Black_sea_Oil_spill.htm|archive-date=September 7, 2008}}</ref>

Another traditional activity in the sea is fishing. The Sea of Azov used to be the most productive fishing area in the Soviet Union: typical annual fish catches of 300,000 tonnes converted to 80&nbsp;kg per hectare of surface. (The corresponding numbers are 2&nbsp;kg in the Black Sea and {{convert|0.5|kg}} in the Mediterranean Sea.){{citation needed|date=January 2013}} The catch has decreased in the 21st century, with more emphasis now on [[fish farming]], especially of [[sturgeon]].

Traditionally much of the coastline has been a zone of health resorts.<ref name=seas/>

The irrigation system of the Taman Peninsula, supplied by the extended delta of the Kuban River, is favorable for agriculture and the region is famous for its vines. The area of the Syvash lagoons and Arabat Spit was traditionally a centre of a salt-producing industry. The Arabat Spit alone produced about 24,000 tonnes/year in the 19th century.<ref name=kki/><ref name=arabat/>