Preventing the erosion of sandy Black Sea coasts through a nature-based solution

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

Date of latest update: 2026-05-13

Description

Description (EN):

Coastal erosion is a global problem. It is a natural phenomenon, but which, due to the intensification of extreme natural phenomena caused by climate change, rising ocean and sea levels, human interventions or pollution, manifests itself in an accelerated manner and produces significant damage to coastal communities and ecosystems. Coastal erosion is present as well in the countries bordering the Black Sea, and in many areas it is very violent. In 2017, the Black Sea was classified as one of the most vulnerable to climate change and prone to coastal erosion, caused by storms and sea level rise. Interdisciplinary studies in recent years, show that 800 km (19%) of the Black Sea coastal area has an erosion rate greater than 1 m/year. The most sensitive sectors are the deltaic coasts of the main deltas. In the case of our project, we highlight the Danube Delta (Romania), the Kizilirmak and Yesilirmak deltas (Turkey), where the low coasts built on unconsolidated sediments (sand beaches) are at risk, as well as the sandy beaches of Georgia where erosion is strong. The general objective of the project is the development of an ecological/green solution for protecting sandy coastal areas prone to coastal erosion - increasing the degree of stability of the shoreline and the sandy bottom by developing natural habitats of Zostera noltii - a solution that prevents and mitigates the risks of coastal erosion in the long term long in a sustainable manner, which provides balance and predictability in the evolution of marine ecosystems and communities - a solution that contributes to the reduction of carbon emissions by sequestering carbon dioxide at plants level, supports the adaptation of the ecosystem to climate change and helps to increase its resilience. The main outputs: - Development of a common ecological solution, applicable at the level of the Black Sea basin, to prevent and limit the erosion of sandy coasts through natural methods - Organization of a cross-border public event on the topic of cooperation to prevent and limit the erosion of sandy coasts through green/clean methods. - Two pilot activities to test the increase in the stability of sandy coasts by planting new individuals of Zostera noltii in two pilot stations (Romania and Turkey) The main result: - The cooperation of the 4 partners after the implementation of the project for a period of at least 12 months in order to develop the solution and transfer it to potential beneficiaries. The direct beneficiaries of the project’s results, are the countries bordering the Black Sea. In this context, we find the Regional Public Authorities - organizations, federations, commissions whose aim is to protect, promote and develop the Black Sea regions; National public authorities - organizations with competences in the development of strategies and management plans - the ministries of the environment, public works, development, transport, research, infrastructure; Local public authorities – institutions that implement prevention measures - municipalities, town halls, environmental, water or biodiversity administrations; Education and research centers - entities that work and develop solutions for erosion prevention - institutions of higher education and research institutes in the field of marine biology, infrastructure, construction, ecology, hydrotechnics, environment; NGOs and associations that campaign for the protection of the marine ecosystem and environment; Local communities, SMEs Professional associations in fishing, tourism, transport, sports, etc. Each country bordering the Black Sea has a unique experience in combating coastal erosion on its coast; each country, at the national level, has invested in studying, analyzing and preventing the phenomenon; each state has implemented different technical or green solutions to prevent and mitigate erosion. In this situation, where the phenomenon of coastal erosion does not have an isolated character, and solutions with local application are not effective and do not bring sustainable results with a long-term effect, regional cooperation to identify methods to prevent and mitigate coastal erosion is a necessity. Also, to streamline the timid and different approaches in the process of identifying elaborate green solutions for stabilizing ecosystems and preventing erosion, regional cooperation, is a must. Thus, transnational cooperation facilitates the exchange of knowledge and expertise, access to research capabilities, working techniques and different methods of managing erosion problems. Without this collaboration, the project activities, carried out individually, at the local/national level would not have the same success rate and the identified solution would only respond to a local challenge and would not be applicable at the level of the Black Sea basin.

Expected Achievements (EN): Development of an ecological solution/procedure that naturally consolidates sandy sediments and stabilizes the coastline in areas prone to erosion in the area applicable to the Program

Project outputs: Transnational Public Event(EN)
Zostera noltii multiplication procedure(EN)
Underwater pilot stations(EN)
Solution that stabilizes the coastline prone to erosion by consolidating the sandy sediments(EN)

Thematic information

Coastal management and maritime issues Climate change and biodiversity Community integration and common identity

Priority: (VI-B_BSB_P2) Clean and Green Region

Priority specific objective: RSO2.4. Promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention and resilience, taking into account eco-system based approaches

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: 171 Enhancing cooperation with partners both within and outside the Member State

Partners (4)

Lead Partner: Institutul de Biologie Bucuresti

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 879896604

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 4183326 | N/A | N/A (EN)

Department: Station of Ecological Research Sulina

Address: Splaiul Independentei, 060031 Bucuresti, Romania

Department address: Strada a II a, 825400 Sulina, Romania

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://ibiol.ro

Total budget: EUR 157 920.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 142 128.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 15 792.00

ა(ა)იპ საერთაშორისო ბიზნესის და ეკონომიკური განვითარების ცენტრი

Name: ა(ა)იპ საერთაშორისო ბიზნესის და ეკონომიკური განვითარების ცენტრი

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 930927237

Partner’s ID if not PIC: N/A | I.N. 404878646 | Identification Number of the organization (EN)

Address: 12 Vazha-Pshavela Ave., 0186 Tibilisi, Georgia

Department address: 12 Vazha-Pshavela Ave., 0186 Tibilisi, Georgia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.ibedc.ge

Total budget: EUR 109 607.40

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 98 646.66

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 10 960.74

Sinop Üniversitesi

Name: Sinop Üniversitesi

Department: Marine Biology Department / Fisheries Faculty

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 897645761

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 6430289989 | N/A | N/A (EN)

Address: Selanik, 57000 Sinop, Turkey

Department address: Selanik, 57000 Sinop, Turkey

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

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

Total budget: EUR 144 648.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 130 183.20

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 14 464.80

Asociatia Darvic

Name: Asociatia Darvic

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 877106593

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 46337889 | N/A | N/A (EN)

Address: Macesului, 900032 Constanta, Romania

Department address: Macesului, 900032 Constanta, Romania

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091596293908

Total budget: EUR 138 852.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 124 966.80

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 13 885.20

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

N(N)LE International Business and Economic Development Center

Preventing the erosion of sandy Black Sea coasts through a nature-based solution

Partners and Projects info

Sinop University

Preventing the erosion of sandy Black Sea coasts through a nature-based solution

Partners and Projects info

Darvic Association

Preventing the erosion of sandy Black Sea coasts through a nature-based solution

Partners and Projects info

Institute of Biology Bucharest

Preventing the erosion of sandy Black Sea coasts through a nature-based solution

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Preventing the erosion of sandy Black Sea coasts through a nature-based solution

Project acronym: PESACONAT

Project ID: BSB01041

Project start date: 2025-12-18

Project end date: 2027-06-17

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Ecological Restauration on the Romanian Southern Coast (2023-2024) - project financed by the grants awarded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA financial mechanism 2014-2021, within the "Development of SMEs in Romania Program" (EN) | The ERRSC project supported the research and development of blue biotechnologies up to the level of TRL8 - in the Blue Growth segment on the Romanian coast of the Black Sea; within the project, the identification and mapping of the habitats of the macroalgae Cystoseira barbata was carried out, a protocol for the multiplication of the macroalgae was created using biotechnological methods and digital technical means were used to monitor the new habitats of Cystoseira barbata.
In the PESACONAT project, suitable identification and mapping procedures for Zostera noltii habitats can be integrated by adaptation, the preliminary stages of the Cystoseira multiplication protocol can be reconfigured for the Zostera noltii multiplication activity and, likewise, the digital technology monitoring method of underwater habitats, can be transferred and calibrated on the requirements of our project. (EN), Climate Change Adaptation in Turkey" project "Strengthening Climate Change Adaptation by Mapping Seagrasses for Black Sea MPAs (MS-MPAs)" (2024) - funded by the Climate Change Adaptation Grant Program (CCAGP) (EN) | The project aims to identify and map underwater meadows/green areas on sectors of the southern coast of the Black Sea (Turkey). The PESACONAT project can take over the specific identification and mapping methods for the identification and mapping of Zostera noltii habitats (EN), Restoration of Cystoseira macroalgal FORESTs to enhance biodiversity along Mediterranean rocky REEFs (2022-2026) - LIFE Program - LIFE21-NAT-IT-REEForest/101074309
(EN) | Within the project, underwater field and laboratory research activities are carried out for the multiplication of the macroalgae Cystoseira amentacea and the development of habitats for the species
Similar activities, such as activities to determine living conditions in planting environments, can be transferred and adapted to the requirements for identifying and mapping the pilot stations in PESACONAT (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 551 027.40

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 495 924.66

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 The project meets the objectives of the CMA
1 Healthy marine and coastal ecosystems
The project proposes the reconstruction of damaged coastal ecosystems in a sustainable manner by developing natural habitats of Zostera noltii, capable of increasing the stability and resistance of sandy coasts to extreme phenomena and revitalizing areas affected by erosion. The project restores the balance/health of the coastal ecosystem by developing the natural resources of the region, enriching the food chain and assimilating CO2. Contributes to Priority 1: ensures the protection and sustainability of the marine ecosystem by increasing ecosystem resilience that is enhanced by adequate, natural protection. It is achieved through a scientific approach based on research that provides new knowledge to mitigate the impact of global climate change and anthropogenic stressors on the Black Sea environment.
2 A competitive, innovative and sustainable blue economy
The proposed method has an ecological character - based on nature, an innovative dimension. The new habitats are developed by planting Zostera noltii multiplied by the use of biotechnology methods and offer the possibility of long-term development of the method in a sustainable form and on a large scale. Contributes to Priority 1: Promote innovative business models, stimulate research and innovation. Innovative action in the field of blue biotechnology improves scientific knowledge about the habitats and organisms of the Black Sea. A new valuable product compatible with the marine environment and biodiversity is developed.
3 Stimulating investments in the blue economy of the Black Sea.
The application of this procedure to stabilize the underwater soils of the sandy coasts on a large scale, at the level of the Black Sea basin and outside it, stimulates investments in the area of the blue economy. It responds to Priority 1 through actions to promote investment opportunities on its websites and at organized events.
Other Habitats Directive of the European Union 92/43/CEE
By developing a methodology for seagrass - Zostera noltii - multiplication and habitat restoration, the project contributes to the subject of the Annex I Directive (1 Coastal and halophytic habitats), maintaining biodiversity through the conservation of natural habitats and wild flora and fauna species
Council of Europe Convention on the Conservation of Wild Life and Natural Habitats in Europe 1979 (Bern Convention)
The cooperation of partners in the implementation of the project is one of the key aspects of the Convention. The project implementation responds to the commitments of the Convention which aims to ensure the conservation of wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats, in particular species and habitats for the conservation of which the cooperation of several states is necessary. The manner of implementation and obtaining the intermediate and final results of the project shall be carried out in a scientific and ecologically manner, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention. The final result falls within the criteria for habitat protection (Chapter II)
Convention for the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution 1992 (Bucharest Convention)
The participating organizations work together to achieve a solution that protects and preserves the marine environment of the Black Sea and achieves the objectives of the Bucharest Convention art. XV The studies and surveys of the project are carried out together by the partners in a joint research and development program through the exchange of data, information and their own expertise aimed at the recovery and protection of the marine ecosystem
The project meets the objectives of the Marine Strategy Directive 2008/52/EC, the European Green Pact, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: identify, map and determine species abundance; take water, sediment and biological material, collect explants and transplant into the site; record video/photo

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
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 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:

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

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B NEXT Black Sea Basin

Latest month of project-partner-call data publication

2026-05

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

82 / 82 (100%)

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

367 / 372 (98.66%)

Notes on the data

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Preventing the erosion of sandy Black Sea coasts through a nature-based solution

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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