BlackNETs - Exorcising the BLACK Sea's Silent Killers

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B NEXT Black Sea Basin

Date of latest update: 2025-03-26

Description

Description (EN):

Over the past decade there has been increasing international recognition of the need for multilateral efforts to address transboundary adverse ecological and socioeconomic effects of abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), also called derelict fishing gear. Having been described as perhaps the most dangerous form of marine litter, it is important to not only understand the scale and nature of the problem, but whether existing management regimes can respond to this complex issue. It has been shown to have significant deleterious impacts to marine habitats and wildlife (including many threatened species). Recorded entanglements of seabirds, and marine mammals has largely been attributed to fishing gear (especially ALDFG) over any other form of marine plastic. Despite work being undertaken to understand the causes and impacts of fishing gear loss, abandonment or discard, significant knowledge gaps exist in relation to the “amounts and rates of ALDFG” as well as the “type, quantity and impact of sea-based sources of marine litter for most regions. These knowledge gaps notwithstanding, there is little doubt that derelict fishing gear poses a grave threat to the Black Sea health. BlackNETs project quantifies and minimises the impact of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gears (ALDFG) on the Black Sea environment. The main achievement of the project is at least 8000 kg of ALDFG eliminated from Black Sea waters through the pilot actions that will take place in each partner country (Romania, Bulgaria, Turkiye and Georgia). The basis for these actions will be an awareness guidebook to prevent, reduce and remove fishing gear in the Black Sea that will be part of the sustainability process. Moreover, the mapping of the hosting areas will facilitate further actions and next steps in making Black Sea net free. Another important output will be the capacity building and knowledge sharing by training, and promoting changes in the behaviour of stakeholders linked to the fishing sector through the implementation of good practices that minimise the loss of fishing gear and improve the voluntary collection of ghost nets. The public events and #ghostbusters campaign raises awareness of the impact that ghost nets have on the Black Sea ecosystem. BlackNETs envisages that through the ongoing efforts to combat ALDFG, a shared vision for “litter-free marine environments” would be realized among all of the various actors and stakeholders concerned and it will be a benefit for the entire basin, from various points of view (environmental, economic, social, etc.). This will not only remove plastic from Black Sea for improved environmental health, but will activate relevant actors (recreational fishers, producers and retailers, NGOs, Universities, and authorities) to implement preventive actions and better monitoring of lost recreational fishing gear in the future.

Actual Achievements (EN):

BlackNETs had a great start, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and partnership. From the outset, the focus has been on building a cohesive team and developing a shared vision for the project. An early online meeting in July provided a valuable opportunity for all partners to connect, discuss project activities and timelines, and agree on initial tasks and deadlines. This collaborative approach ensured everyone was aligned and working towards the same goals. This initial reporting period has already seen the team actively engaged in core activities, including A1.1, A1.2, and A1.6. A key milestone was achieved in August with a two-day kick-off meeting in Trabzon, Türkiye. This face-to-face gathering brought all project partners together, fostering a deeper sense of community and shared purpose through productive discussions. The meeting culminated in a Steering Committee session, solidifying the project's strategic direction and ensuring continued collaboration and alignment among all partners. A1.1 focuses on gathering essential data on ghost nets (ALDFG). To achieve this, the LP developed comprehensive surveys targeting both the fishing industry and non-fishing sectors. These surveys were developed in English and then were translated into Romanian, Turkish, Bulgarian and Georgian languages reflecting the project's commitment to local engagement and collaboration. Data collection is now actively underway, employing a dual approach to maximize participation and ensure a representative dataset. Online questionnaires offer a convenient and accessible platform for individuals to share their insights, while face-to-face interviews provide a more in-depth understanding of the issue. The valuable data generated through these surveys will directly contribute to Output 1.1 of the project, which aims to quantify the extent of lost and abandoned fishing gear at sea, forming a critical foundation for informed decision-making and effective solutions. A1.2 involves a hands-on approach to tackling the ALDFG problem: mapping and underwater exploration. Divers, working in close collaboration with the teams, have started underwater scans of the Black Sea floor in all four countries. For LP, the first zones were Constanta and Agigea. PP3 conducted five separate diving campaigns in key areas known for potential ALDFG accumulation: Shabla rocky reef, Aladza rocky bank, Cape Galata, Gapa Ilandzik and Cape Akra and Sozopol port. Notably, off the coast of Georgia, PP4 made a remarkable discovery: a massive trawl net weighing almost 2 tons and measuring approximately 30 meters in length, lying abandoned at a depth of 24 meters in the Black Sea. These findings underscore the scale of the ALDFG issue and highlights the importance of the project's efforts in locating and documenting these underwater hazards. A1.6 focused on developing the #GhostBuster campaign. This initiative aims to raise awareness and engage the public in addressing the problem of ALDFG. A comprehensive plan was created, outlining the campaign's objectives, strategies, and planned activities. This collaborative document, accessible to all partners in a shared drive, acts as a dynamic roadmap for the #GhostBuster campaign. It will be continuously adapted and updated. BlackNETs has successfully established a clear and impactful identity presence. This involved creating comprehensive communication materials, including a distinctive logo, a roll-up banner for events, a PowerPoint template for presentations, posters, etc. To further amplify the project's message and engage with a wider audience, dedicated social media channels were launched on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). Leveraging existing networks, partners’ social media accounts were also utilized to extend the project's reach. A press release, translated into both English and partner’s languages to ensure accessibility, was distributed to a wide network of media contacts around the Black Sea, generating further interest and awareness. Finally, the project was showcased at the Black Sea Common Maritime Agenda Stakeholder Conference and 2nd International Conference MARBLUE in Constanta through poster presentations that outlined the project's goals and activities to over 310 participants from across Europe, fostering valuable connections and collaborations within the marine science community. Building relationships with key stakeholders across the Black Sea region has been a major focus, and this reporting period saw significant progress in this area. While existing connections in Romania provided a strong foundation, establishing these relationships in other countries presented a unique challenge. The lack of awareness surrounding ALDFG in these regions meant generating interest and building connections from the ground up. Despite this, the project successfully initiated valuable connections with stakeholders throughout the Black Sea area, laying the groundwork for future engagement.

Project outputs: Quantify the number of lost/abandoned fishing gear at sea - report(EN)
Capacity building and knowledge sharing - report(EN)
#Ghostbusters campaign(EN)

Thematic information

Institutional cooperation and cooperation networks Waste and pollution

Priority: (VI-B_BSB_P2) Clean and Green Region

Priority specific objective: RSO2.7. Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 079 Nature and biodiversity protection, natural heritage and resources, green and blue infrastructure

Partners (4)

Lead Partner: Organizatia Neguvernamentala Ecologista Mare Nostrum

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 968769071

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 7015190

Address: Tomis, 900647 Constanta, Romania

Department address: Tomis, 900647 Constanta, Romania

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.marenostrum.ro

Total budget: EUR 140 420.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 126 378.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 14 042.00

სსიპ ილიას სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი

Name: სსიპ ილიას სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი

Department: Research Institute at ISU/ Institute of Ecology

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999612937

Partner’s ID if not PIC: GE204861970

Address: Kakutsa Cholokashvili Ave, 0162 Tbilisi, Georgia

Department address: Kakutsa Cholokashvili Ave, 0162 Tbilisi, Georgia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://iliauni.edu.ge/en/

Total budget: EUR 76 440.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 68 796.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 7 644.00

Институт по Океанология – Българска академия на науките

Name: Институт по Океанология – Българска академия на науките

Department: Marine biology and ecology

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999482569

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 000080612

Address: Parvi mai , 9000 Varna, Bulgaria

Department address: Parvi mai , 9000 Varna, Bulgaria

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.io-bas.bg

Total budget: EUR 111 315.26

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 100 183.73

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 11 131.53

Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi, Deniz Bilimleri Fakültesi

Name: Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi, Deniz Bilimleri Fakültesi

Department: Marine Science Faculty

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 998172972

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 5901085354 | E10200493

Address: Çamburnu, 61530 Sürmene, Turkey

Department address: Çamburnu , 61530 Sürmene, Turkey

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://ktu.edu.tr/deniz

Total budget: EUR 128 485.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 115 636.50

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 12 848.50

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): BlackNETs - Exorcising the BLACK Sea's Silent Killers

Project acronym: BlackNETs

Project ID: BSB00164

Project start date: 2024-06-27

Project end date: 2025-12-26

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Global Ghost Gear Initiative and Ocean Conservancy (EN) | GGGI is the world’s largest cross-sectoral alliance committed to driving solutions to the problem of lost, abandoned and otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) worldwide. Mare Nostrum NGO is an active member since 2019, being the first organisation from the Black Sea area, part of this initiative. In the same period, first initiatives to mitigate the effects of ghost gear locally were implemented. The work at regional level is linked closely with work on fishing gear management carried out at global level by Global Ghost Gear Initiative.
All the identified ALDFG hotspots will be reported using GhostGear Reporter, developed by GGGI, joining organisations based all over the world combating this hard-to-see, but incredibly destructive problem that Black Sea is facing. Moreover, they will support our actions and will disseminate the outputs. Also, the consortium will participate at the events organised under the GGGI umbrella.
(EN), Net Free Black Sea (2022)
Net Free Black Sea 2.0 (2023-under implementation), funded by Small Grants Program: Global Ghost Gear Initiative
(EN) | These are 2 projects implemented by Mare Nostrum NGO. The aims were awareness and education creation, ALDFG removal pilot actions, creating a local database and network for the welfare of the Black Sea and promoting the best practices in managing ALDGF. All these actions were implemented at local level, in Romania only, and the proposal will take these actions and results to regional level. (EN), Black Sea Marine Litter Regional Action Plan (EN) | In 2018, BS ML RAP was adopted and the rationale of this is to improve the quality of the marine and coastal environment in the Black Sea. The proposal will implement measures on prevention “reduced ghost catches through the use of environmental neutral upon degradation of nets, pots and traps concept”, in consultation with the competent international and regional organisations in the fishing sector. Also, there will be capacity building actions on ghost fishing and “fishing for litter”, especially derelict fishing gears. Another important measure will be to identify, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, accumulation hotspots of ALDFG and implementation of national actions for their regular removal and sound disposal. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 456 660.26

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 410 994.23

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 90.00%

Co-financing sources:

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

SeaBasinStrategyBlackSea With the Common Maritime Agenda (CMA), the Black Sea region joins the rest of the European sea basins in setting an initiative for more, and more sustainable, economic growth. Pollution is a common problem, which requires a joint and coordinated regional solution and one of the CMA key goals is “Healthy marine and coastal ecosystems”. The proposal will contribute to the Priority 1 “Ensure the protection and sustainability of the marine ecosystem” by reducing the environmental and anthropogenic pressure to the biological resources. Thus, common and joint measures will be taken, in order to minimize the impact of ghost nets in the Black Sea and bring the fisheries stock at sustainable levels. Also, the project will contribute to the Priority 2 “Address marine litter pollution and plastic litter” and will support the change of the habits and enhancement of best practices and capacity building, on closing the loop and circular economy for the fishing gears. The actions will be focused on raising awareness on the impact of ghost gears on marine ecosystems and will promote best practices that are regionally coordinated.
Mare Nostrum NGO is acting as the National Hub for the Common Maritime Agenda, by offering practical support to the Romanian stakeholders on project development, funding opportunities to be able to address local priorities and meet the blue economy goals of the CMA.
EUStrategyDanubeRegion The European Danube Region Strategy (EUSDR) is a macro-regional development strategy and action plan that plays a particularly important role in promoting sustainable transport, in linking energy systems, in environmental protection and in the preservation of water resources. The Action Plan identifies concrete measures and examples in 12 thematic Priority Areas (PAs) within 4 pillars with the objectives by ensuring sustainable and equitable water management, of controlling discharge of waste waters and reducing pollution loads entering Black Sea from sources in the Danube catchment area.
The project, through its efforts to reduce quantities of marine litter and the impact of ALDFG and raise awareness creates synergies with pillar 2: Protecting the Environment in the Danube Region, PA 4, restoring and maintain the quality of waters, to manage environmental risks and to preserve biodiversity and landscapes, as well as quality of soils. Joint removal actions can represent a good practice that can be further applied for the Danube waters and contribute to the preservation of Danube habitats and species (PA6).
The proposed activities will Build Prosperity in the Danube River (pillar 3), because we include knowledge, education and invest in people and skills. Thus, we contribute to improved educational outcomes and relevant skills and competences in the Danube Region, focusing on learning outcomes for employability, entrepreneurship, innovation, active citizenship, and well-being (PA9, target II).
Other Black Sea Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, Implementation plan (SRIA) is a long-lasting guide that sets the foundational work for protecting the unique habitats of the Black Sea. Theme 7 from this plan, that corresponds to Pillar 2 “Developing products, solutions, and clusters underpinning a sustainable Black Sea Economy” is dedicated to marine litter. One of the strategic joint actions is to raise awareness on marine litter pollution and solutions in the Black Sea targeting the broader public. The BlackNET project will raise awareness and will change attitudes of coastal communities regarding ALDGF and its impact. Recycling, prevention of marine plastic and mitigation options to increase the blue circular economy and fulfil the goals of the European Green Deal will also be explored.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:
RCO 115 - Public events across borders jointly organised, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSDR

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B NEXT Black Sea Basin

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-03-26

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

32 / 32 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

148 / 148 (100%)

Notes on the data

Programme's page last visited on 2025-03-17.

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BlackNETs - Exorcising the BLACK Sea's Silent Killers

Description

Thematic information

Partners (4)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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