Carbon Binding Blue Black Sea

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

Date of latest update: 2025-12-18

Description

Description (EN):

The vegetated habitats of seas, in particular mangroves, salt marshes and seagrasses, cover < 0.5% of the sea bed. These form earth’s blue carbon sinks and account for more than 50%, perhaps as much as 71%, of all carbon storage in ocean sediments. In the future, blue carbon management and monitoring will become an important issue. Therefore, this 30-month-long action aims at enabling macrophytes and the marine vegetation formations to be preserved by suitable management tools, which will ensure that these formations are protected, their degradation are prevented, and they are allowed to be maintained in a satisfactory state of conservation. These management tools will include GIS integration and remote sensing technologies will be utilized in all modelling and mapping activities. Main activities of the action will include project management and communication activities (MCA), together with implementation activities, i.e.; -- integrating activities containing integrated database creation, congresses/workshops organisation and implementation of a Community-based Blue Carbon Awareness Programme (ComBlueC) consisted of an offline Blue Carbon Capacity Building Programme (BCCap) and an online Blue Carbon Education Programme (BCEP), which will be integrated with the Ecosystem Education Programme (EEP) of Zero Waste Strategy for Good Environmental Status (ZEWSGES) project (www.zerowastebsb.com) implemented under Joint Operational Programme Black Sea Basin 2014-2020, and -- management tool development activities containing ecosystem-based impact assessment guidelines development, mapping, marine litter monitoring which will be using Marine Litter Watch app of ZEWSGES project under www.zerowastebsb.com for recording and reporting, and modelling activities. Target groups of the action will be primary and secondary school students and their teachers, local authorities and governments and local communities, i.e. local fishermen and private sector developers, and academia. As a consequence, a guideline will be prepared for a new impact assessment procedure incorporating introduction of laws and strengthening of existing regulations, particularly as regards impact studies to protect species permitting the meadow habitats to be protected. This will take place through support of technologies, such as GIS and remote sensing for mapping, marine litter monitoring using Marine Litter Watch app of ZEWSGES project, ecosystem modelling for understanding complex systems at spatiotemporal scales needed to conserve, manage, and restore ecosystem services (ESs). Furthermore, the ComBlueC will facilitate more effective communication of scientific knowledge about seagrasses comprising, (a) the BCEP for the public, to be able to express an opinion, and (b) the BCCap for the administrative structures responsible for authorizing all or part of any potential development project to put it into effect or append its conditions.

Actual Achievements (EN):

Within the context of management and coordination activities, (1) PP1 established Steering and Evaluation Committee (SEC); Project Coordination Unit (PCU) by assigning a Project Coordinator and a Financial Coordinator; Technical Support Team (TeST) comprising a Marine Ecology Expert and an Education Expert; (2) PP4 is in the process of forming necessary units; (3) PP2 and PP3 established Steering and Evaluation Committee (SEC); Technical Support Team (TeST) comprising a Marine Ecology Expert, an Education Expert and an Informatics Expert. In terms of procurements, service procurements for; (1) Blue Carbon Education Programme (BCEP), economic sector opinion survey services on EIA legislation in Turkey, translation services and content preparation and printing services for brochures/posters have been concluded by PP1; (2) economic sector opinion survey services on EIA legislation, translation services and printing services for brochures/posters are ongoing in Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine by PP2, PP3 and PP4, respectively. Monthly project coordination meetings with partners took place on 27/09/2024 (Minutes_PCU_27.09.2024.docx), 31/10/2024 (Minutes_PCU_31.10.2024.docx), 28/11/2024 (Minutes_PCU_28.11.2024.docx) and 26/12/2024 (Minutes_PCU_26.12.2024.docx). Along these lines, collective preparation of a Plan for Management and Monitoring (PMM) and a Quality Assurance Plan and Methodology (QAPM), and development of a Project Communication and Dissemination Plan (CDP) with partners have commenced. Following activities have been conducted within WP1: -- A 1.1: The Marine Litter Watch (MLW) on http://mlw.zerowastebsb.com/ created under Zero Waste Strategy for Good Environmental Status (ZEWSGES) project under Joint Operational Programme Black Sea Basin 2014-2020, has been utilised as integrated database. –- A1.3: The Blue Carbon Education Programme (BCEP) activities have commenced with its service procurement and with formation of Education Consultancy Committees (ECC). –- A 1.5: Impact assessment guidelines preparation activities have commenced with commencement of procurement of economic sector survey services in Turkey, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine. –- A 1.6: A reporting system for marine litter monitoring activities was created, a beach area within Kıyıköy beach, a beach in Burgas Bay, Manta Lake beaches in Lower Prut Region and two beaches in Odessa Bay have been designated for marine litter monitoring activities and the first marine litter monitoring activity. The service procurement for the Blue Carbon Education Program (BCEP), Seagrass Transplant Simulation, economic sector opinion research services on EIA legislation in all partner countries, translation services and content preparation and printing services of brochures/posters have been completed and the work has started with the signing of the relevant service agreements. Within the scope of BCEP, work has begun on establishing an interactive education portal containing scientific data and information. A website for the portal has been created. Within the scope of Blue Carbon Capacity Building Program, joint preparation of BCCap training curriculum was carried out. A 3-day international training event was organized by the leading partner NKU in Türkiye. Participation was received from all project partners except Ukraine. UKRMEPA team in Ukraine participated in this training online. The first congress and workshop attended by all project partners was held in Burgas, Bulgaria. In this congress, the progress of the project, results and outputs were shared. Views were exchanged on what to do in the future periods of the project. This congress provided the necessary platform for project experts to meet each other, focus, discuss and evaluate the work program strategies and methodologies, thus ensuring that the project objectives were achieved within the required time frame. After the review and evaluation of existing research and literature review, these events created a discussion platform for multifunctional approaches and the need for new tools and models for seagrass habitat management. Here, all results and outcomes of the studies were discussed and analyzed in detail. Activities within the scope of the project work packages (WP1, WP2) were carried out by all partners. Details of the activities carried out by the project partners are given below as expressed by each partner: PP2 For the reporting period BRTA conducted the first beach litter monitoring activity and prepared the reports for the findings. In this reporting period BRTA started the organization of the first Congress/ workshop of the project that has to be conducted in Bulgaria. The congress/workshop will be in May 2025 and will be reported in the next project report. PP3 During the aforementioned reporting period, PP3 – ECC Cahul implemented a set of strategic and technical activities in full accordance with the project objectives, focusing primarily on promoting the concept of blue carbon sequestration and strengthening local capacities for research, environmental education and biodiversity conservation in inland aquatic ecosystems. The educational component of the project was also actively addressed. The environmental education expert developed the curricular structure and related teaching materials for the training courses planned within the project. PP4 The IMB partner provided a number of documents, photos and videos for the development of the curriculum and the creation of an educational video. The marine Litter Monitoring was conducted on two beaches in the Odesa City in January and April 2025. The following activities were carried out during the reporting period: А1.1, А1.2, А1.3, А1.4, А1.5, А1.6.

Project outputs: Development of an Integrated Database(EN)
Organisation of project Congresses/Workshops(EN)
Development of Blue Carbon Education Programme (BCEP)(EN)
Development of Blue Carbon Capacity Building Programme (BCCap)(EN)
Preparation of impact assessment guidelines(EN)
Conducting seagrass meadows mapping and marine debris monitoring(EN)
Modelling suite as a Decision Support System (DSS)(EN)
Organisations cooperating in BlueC project(EN)

Thematic information

Coastal management and maritime issues Sustainable management of natural resources Climate change and biodiversity

Priority: (VI-B_BSB_P1) Blue and Smart Region

Priority specific objective: RSO1.1. Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO1 A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity

Type of intervention: 029 Research and innovation processes, technology transfer and cooperation between enterprises, research centres and universities, focusing on the low carbon economy, resilience and adaptation to climate change

Partners (4)

Lead Partner: Tekirdağ Namık Kemal Üniversitesi

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 985938362

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 6290451593

Department: Project Office

Address: Namık Kemal Mahallesi, Kampüs Caddesi, 59030 Tekirdağ, Turkey

Department address: Namık Kemal Mahallesi, Kampüs Caddesi, 59030 Tekirdağ, Turkey

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.nku.edu.tr/

Total budget: EUR 408 864.12

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 367 977.70

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 40 886.42

Contractors:

Name: POLA PİYASA ARŞ. VE DNŞ. LTD.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 7300727230
Name: Sum Yzlm Bilgi. Tic. Ltd. Şti.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 7810166845
Name: YÖNTEM Tekno.End.Ürün.Ltd.Şti.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 9830057905

ДУ "Інститут морської біології НАН України"

Name: ДУ "Інститут морської біології НАН України"

Department: Institute of Marine Biology

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 995998038

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 03534529 | 15561200000016084 | State Registry Number (EN)

Address: Pushkinska, 65048 Odessa, Ukraine

Department address: Pushkinska, 65048 Odessa, Ukraine

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.imb.odessa.ua/

Total budget: EUR 162 636.57

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 146 372.91

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 16 263.66

A.O. Centrul de Consultanță Ecologică Cahul

Name: A.O. Centrul de Consultanță Ecologică Cahul

Department: Project Department

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 939269431

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 1022620006810

Address: Stefan cel Mare, MD-3900 Cahul, Moldova

Department address: Stefan cel Mare, MD-3900 Cahul, Moldova

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.ecofm.md

Total budget: EUR 162 467.08

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 146 220.37

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 16 246.71

Contractors:

Name: S.R.L ADEL CATERING
VAT registration or tax identification number: IDNO 1024603000361
Name: SRL ServAuto SUD
VAT registration or tax identification number: INDO 1020603000020
Name: Î.I “ADVAHOV VASILE
VAT registration or tax identification number: IDNO 1009603002151
Name: SRL TEXITEH
VAT registration or tax identification number: IDNO 1017603008426
Name: SRL UNICORN ELI
VAT registration or tax identification number: IDNO 1017603007588
Name: First Audit International
VAT registration or tax identification number: 1003600060677/TVA 0702022
Name: Crina Patrichi
VAT registration or tax identification number: N/A
Name: Liliana Ceclu
VAT registration or tax identification number: N/A

Sub-Contractors:

Name: Crina Patrichi
VAT registration or tax identification number: N/A
Name: Ceclu Liliana
VAT registration or tax identification number: N/A

СНЦ „БУРГАСКА РЕГИОНАЛНА ТУРИСТИЧЕСКА АСОЦИАЦИЯ“

Name: СНЦ „БУРГАСКА РЕГИОНАЛНА ТУРИСТИЧЕСКА АСОЦИАЦИЯ“

Department: Project Department

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 950130036

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NA | 102230428

Address: “Ferdinandova” Str., 8000 Burgas, Bulgaria

Department address: “Ferdinandova” Str., 8000 Burgas, Bulgaria

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.brta.eu

Total budget: EUR 163 175.85

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 146 858.26

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 16 317.59

Contractors:

Name: ENOVA H2O Ltd
VAT registration or tax identification number: 204884783
Name: PERFECT PLUS Ltd.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 121381510

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Institute of Marine Biology of the NAS of Ukraine

Carbon Binding Blue Black Sea

Partners and Projects info

Ecological Counseling Center Cahul

Carbon Binding Blue Black Sea

Partners and Projects info

NGO “BOURGAS REGIONAL TOURISM ASSOCIATION”

Carbon Binding Blue Black Sea

Partners and Projects info

Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University

Carbon Binding Blue Black Sea

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Carbon Binding Blue Black Sea

Project acronym: BlueC

Project ID: BSB00020

Project start date: 2024-08-27

Project end date: 2027-02-26

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

The International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s “Initial Strategy on reduction of GHG emissions from ships” adopted in April 2018. (EN) | Amid globally growing momentum for decarbonization since the Paris Agreement came into effect in 2016, further reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has become an urgent issue in international shipping, which currently accounts for approximately 2-3% of global GHG emissions and is expected to significantly grow in the future. In April 2018, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted the “Initial Strategy on reduction of GHG emissions from ships”, aimed at reducing the GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 50% by 2050 and phasing them out as soon as possible in this century. Currently, in accordance with the Strategy, discussion and consideration on GHG emissions reduction measures are underway at the IMO. The action will be in synergy with the aims of this strategy promoting green shipping technologies within shipping sector in Black Sea in improving the status in gas emissions, ship waste disposal, bilge water treatment, black and grey waste water treatment, ballast water treatment, underwater coatings, and developing technologies such as propeller technology that will reduce the risk of damage on sensitive habitats such as seagrass meadows as major carbon sinks in marine environment, in Black Sea basin. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 897 143.62

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 807 429.24

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:

EUStrategyAdriaticIonianRegion The action is relevant to this strategy from the perspective of following pillars:
-– Pillar 1: Blue growth, in terms of promoting research, innovation and business opportunities in blue economy sectors, by: --facilitating the brain circulation between research and business communities and increasing their networking and clustering capacity and --improving sea basin governance, by enhancing administrative and institutional capacities in the area of maritime governance and services. This will be achieved via a Community-based Blue Carbon Awareness Programme (ComBlueC) consisted of an offline Blue Carbon Capacity Building Programme (BCCap) and an online Blue Carbon Education Programme (BCEP), for more effective communication of scientific knowledge about seagrasses inducing another form of community participation.
-- Pillar 3: Environmental quality, in terms of ensuring a good environmental and ecological status of the marine and coastal environment by 2020 in line with the relevant EU acquis and the ecosystem approach of the Barcelona Convention. Therefore, within the action, a guideline will be prepared for a new impact assessment procedure incorporating new laws and regulations, particularly as regard to impact studies to protect the meadow habitats. This process will be supported by technologies such as, (1) GIS and remote sensing for mapping, both crucial for scientist and decision makers in understanding and management of marine environment, (2) integrative monitoring for accumulation of more information and knowledge towards a clear evidence base to ensure efficient policy decisions in the face of changing anthropogenic inputs and shifting of sources between tourism, fishing, shipping and marine industry, (3) ecosystem modelling tool as a critical process for understanding complex systems at spatiotemporal scales needed to conserve, manage, and restore ecosystem services (ESs).
EUStrategyDanubeRegion The action is relevant to this strategy by, geographically, including Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine in the action. Contextually, it is relevant by referring to,
--- protecting the environment, in the context of; --managing environmental risks by, (i) reducing human impacts that result in environmental damage, and (ii) anticipating the regional and local impacts of climate change; --preserving biodiversity, landscapes and the quality of air and soils by, (i) building the capacity of national and local authorities, non-governmental organisations, and the expert and scientific community in environmental issues, and (ii) developing conservation action plans and management plans for endangered species;
--- building prosperity, in the context of developing the knowledge society through research, education and information technologies by (i) strengthening cooperation among universities, research organisations and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and (ii) increasing awareness and visibility of science and innovation.
--- strengthening the region, in the context of stepping up institutional capacity and cooperation by, --improving institutional capacity to provide high-quality public services, (ii) facilitating the administrative cooperation of communities in border regions, (iii) fostering cooperation built on mutual trust between government and non-government organisations, and (iv) strengthening the involvement of civil society and local organisations in the region.
SeaBasinStrategyBlackSea Geographically, the action is relevant to the CMA in terms of having Bulgaria, Turkey, Ukraine and Moldova as partners. It serves CMA’s goals of healthy marine and coastal ecosystems and a competitive, innovative and sustainable blue economy for the Black Sea to help generate sustainable growth in coastal regions. Within the context of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) of CMA, the action will guide stakeholders from academia, industry, policy and society to address together the Fundamental Black Sea challenges, to promote blue growth and economic prosperity of the Black Sea region, to build critical support systems and innovative research infrastructure and to improve education and capacity building.
In this regard, a guideline will be prepared for a new impact assessment procedure incorporating new laws and regulations, particularly as regard to impact studies to protect the meadow habitats. This process will be supported by technologies such as, (1) GIS and remote sensing for mapping, both crucial for scientist and decision makers in understanding and management of marine environment, (2) integrative monitoring for accumulation of more information and knowledge towards a clear evidence base to ensure efficient policy decisions in the face of changing anthropogenic inputs and shifting of sources between tourism, fishing, shipping and marine industry, (3) ecosystem modelling tool as a critical process for understanding complex systems at spatiotemporal scales needed to conserve, manage, and restore ecosystem services (ESs), and (4) a Community-based Blue Carbon Awareness Programme (ComBlueC) consisted of an offline Blue Carbon Capacity Building Programme (BCCap) and an online Blue Carbon Education Programme (BCEP), for more effective communication of scientific knowledge about seagrasses inducing another form of community participation.
Other The idea of impact studies appears in the Directive on assessing the effects on the environment of certain public and private projects (EEC Directive 85/337 modified by EEC Directive 97/11). The Directive 2001/42/EC of 27 June 2001 completes this one, regulating the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment. Finally, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is made obligatory by other Community legislative arrangements, such as the Directive 2000/60/EC establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy. Studies must be done for all building activities or other installations or work or operations in the environment, including the exploitation of soil resources. Only projects for national defence, or adopted by a particular national law, are excluded from this.
The EU, as an active party to the Barcelona Convention, has, since the mid-1980s, addressed marine litter through better knowledge, more systematic monitoring and design of efficient policy responses both at regional and national level. In the Commission Decision (2010/477/EU), the impacts of litter on marine life are addressed with indicator 10.2.1 “Trends in the amount and composition of litter ingested by marine animals”. Although the indicator is based on assessing trends in ingested litter, the Commission Decision (2010/477/EU) also requests for the improvement of knowledge concerning the impacts of litter on marine life in general. Besides, adopted in 2008, Directive 2008/56/EC is the environmental pillar of the EU’s integrated maritime policy.
The UNEP Regional Seas Programme has more than 143 participating countries and addresses the degradation of the world’s oceans and coastal areas (including mangrove ecosystems) through the sustainable management and use of the marine and coastal environment, by engaging neighbouring countries in comprehensive and specific actions to protect their shared marine environment.
Other Blue Growth is the long-term strategy to support sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors as a whole. It represents the maritime dimension of the Europe 2020 strategy. It can contribute to the EU's international competitiveness, resource efficiency, job creation and new sources of growth whilst safeguarding biodiversity and protecting the marine environment, thus preserving the services that healthy and resilient marine and coastal ecosystems provide. The Blue Growth Strategy includes a component for the development of sea basin strategies to ensure tailor-made measures and to foster cooperation between countries and plans for cooperation in the Black Sea Basin that is focused on the marine economy and marine-related sectors. BlueC refers to the EU Blue Growth Strategy in that is contributes to the sustainability of coastal habitats such as sea meadows. Therefore, the action directly contributes to the implementation of the Blue Growth Strategy but fits well into its rationale for sustainable development and preservation of natural resources.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 007 - Research organisations participating in joint research projects, 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

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

EUSAIR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSAIR Degree of compliance:

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

2025-12-18

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

57 / 57 (100%)

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

257 / 257 (100%)

Notes on the data

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Carbon Binding Blue Black Sea

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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