Healing Environmental by Reef Options in the Black Sea

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

Date of latest update: 2026-05-13

Description

Description (EN):

The Black Sea region is currently experiencing severe environmental degradation, including pollution, eutrophication and marine litter. To address these challenges and improve the ecological state of the marine ecosystems in the Black Sea, the HERO project has been formulated. The project employs various solutions, including clean-up operations to remove litter, data collection and analysis to gain a better understanding of the issue and habitat restoration through the use of artificial reefs. Additionally, the project focuses on raising awareness and promoting responsible waste management practices. What sets the HERO project apart is its innovative approach, which incorporates biotechnological water quality management techniques and integrates multiple objectives such as ecosystem health, litter management, habitat restoration, biodiversity preservation and awareness-raising. By collaborating across borders, the project facilitates shared responsibility, knowledge sharing, comprehensive approaches, enhanced data collection and analysis and improved public awareness and behavior change. The project's outputs will be beneficial to various stakeholders, including local and national public authorities, interest groups and NGOs, higher education and research organizations, business support organizations and the general public. These stakeholders will gain access to research findings, data, methodologies and resources that supports decision-making, advocacy efforts, academic programs, research initiatives and business development. The general public will be actively engaged through awareness-raising campaigns aimed at promoting responsible waste disposal practices and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility. Leveraging the expertise and experiences of its partner institutions, the HERO project is a collaborative effort involving four key partners: UABSC, IPA, ShU and BSU. Each partner brings specific expertise and contributions that are crucial for the successful implementation of the project and its objectives. The composition of the partnership ensures that the partners' competencies and contributions are complementary. PP2's expertise in coastal cleaning and waste management complements Universities’ scientific knowledge. UABSC adds an economic perspective to the project, while BSU’s and SHU's research activities contribute to the scientific understanding of the Black Sea region. By combining these different areas of expertise, the partnership creates a comprehensive approach to address sea pollution, improve waste management, restore habitats and promote sustainable development in the Black Sea region. UABSC, as the lead partner, concentrates on the development of the blue economy. They have specialized expertise in promoting sustainable economic activities and understanding the economic potential of coastal and marine resources. UABSC ensures that the project's initiatives align with sustainable development objectives and contribute to the blue economy. They provide economic perspectives, knowledge and opportunities for sustainable economic development. The HERO project involves several key activities and outcomes. Clean-up operations involve divers, boats and sea sweepers to remove litter from the seabed while collecting data on litter types, quantities and sources. Marine surface and coastal litter reports are prepared monthly to analyze litter patterns and trends. Litter investigation analysis helps identify potential or heavily damaged habitats, considering various factors. An interactive digital map is developed, integrating inventory data to visually represent litter distribution. Artificial reefs are installed in different marine habitats to enhance biodiversity and a joint monitoring protocol and reports track the impacts of the reefs on water quality, biodiversity and community life. Intermediate results are shared through conferences, promoting knowledge exchange and creating a know-how database. An "Be a HERO" Awareness-Raising Campaign is conducted to raise public awareness about the negative impacts of litter and promote responsible waste disposal. Underwater photography and video exhibitions are held to celebrate the significance of artificial reefs. The project's outcomes include improved marine ecosystem health, enhanced understanding of litter patterns and trends, identification and protection of damaged habitats, increased knowledge and collaboration in coastal management, improved decision-making through data visualization, biodiversity enhancement and sustainable tourism, enhanced monitoring and adaptive management, increased awareness and responsible waste management practices and community engagement and empowerment. These outcomes collectively contribute to the overall improvement of the ecological state of marine ecosystems in the Black Sea region.

Expected Achievements (EN):

1. To Enhance Marine Ecosystem Health: Conduct clean-up operations and remove litter from the seabed to minimize environmental impact and improve the overall health of marine ecosystems. 2. To Improve Understanding and Management of Marine Litter: Collect and analyze data on litter types, quantities and sources to identify patterns and trends, develop effective strategies for litter prevention and reduction and promote cleaner coastlines and reduced pollution in the marine environment. 3. To Protect and Restore Damaged Habitats: Identify potential or damaged habitats through litter investigation analysis, consider relevant factors and deploy artificial reefs to restore and protect these habitats, preserving biodiversity and ecosystem functions. 4. To Promote Responsible Waste Management: Conduct a campaign to increase public awareness on the negative impacts of littering, promote responsible waste disposal practices and foster behavior change towards sustainable waste management.

Project outputs: Artificial Reef Deployment(EN)
Cross-Border Cooperation for Marine Litter and Habitat Restoration(EN)
ARTREEF FESTIVAL(EN)
Interactive Digital Litter Map(EN)

Thematic information

Innovation capacity and awareness-raising Education and training 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: Українська Асоціація Центрів Підтримки Бізнесу

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 881710795

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 26112446 | - | - (EN)

Address: Potyomkinska, 54001 Mykolaiv, Ukraine

Department address: Potyomkinska, 54001 Mykolaiv, Ukraine

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: https://uabsc.org/

Total budget: EUR 386 118.06

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 347 506.25

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 38 611.81

ბათუმის შოთა რუსთაველის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი

Name: ბათუმის შოთა რუსთაველის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 966798419

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 245428158

Address: Ninoshvili/Rustaveli str. , 6010 Batumi, Georgia

Department address: Ninoshvili/Rustaveli str. , 6010 Batumi, Georgia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.bsu.edu.ge

Total budget: EUR 329 301.06

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 296 370.95

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 32 930.11

ШУМЕНСКИ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ „ЕПИСКОП КОНСТАНТИН ПРЕСЛАВСКИ

Name: ШУМЕНСКИ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ „ЕПИСКОП КОНСТАНТИН ПРЕСЛАВСКИ

Department: FACULTY OF NATURAL SCIENCES

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 986378160

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 000934863

Address: Universitetska str., 9712 Shumen, Bulgaria

Department address: Universitetska str., 9712 Shumen, Bulgaria

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.shu.bg

Total budget: EUR 327 375.06

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 294 637.55

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 32 737.51

İPA Stratejik Danışmanlık Anonim Şirketi

Name: İPA Stratejik Danışmanlık Anonim Şirketi

Department: Project Development Office

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 974942442

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 4810014772

Address: Basınköy Mah. Valilik Yolu Cad. IBB Hizm Bn.Sitesi, 34153 İstanbul, Turkey

Department address: Basınköy Mah. Valilik Yolu Cad. IBB Hizm Bn.Sitesi, 35150 İstanbul, Turkey

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: https://ipa.istanbul

Total budget: EUR 600 687.30

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 540 618.57

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 60 068.73

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

LEPL Shota Rustaveli State University

Healing Environmental by Reef Options in the Black Sea

Partners and Projects info

Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen

Healing Environmental by Reef Options in the Black Sea

Partners and Projects info

IPA Strategic Consultancy Joint Stock Organization

Healing Environmental by Reef Options in the Black Sea

Partners and Projects info

Ukrainian Association of Business Support Centers

Healing Environmental by Reef Options in the Black Sea

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Healing Environmental by Reef Options in the Black Sea

Project acronym: HERO

Project ID: BSB01238

Project start date: 2025-12-23

Project end date: 2027-12-22

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Project Supporttes By EU HORIZON PROGRAMME
1. MARLISCO; aims to raise awareness about marine litter and promote social responsibility for its prevention. The project focuses on cleaning litter from the sea surface and engages with stakeholders, including local communities and schools, to educate and change behaviors regarding marine litter. MARLISCO also emphasizes the importance of developing sustainable solutions to reduce and manage marine litter effectively.
2. MARELITT Baltic, specifically targets marine litter in the Baltic Sea. The project focuses on developing innovative and sustainable solutions for cleaning up and preventing marine litter, including the removal of litter from the sea surface. MARELITT Baltic also explores the use of artificial reefs and other restoration techniques to enhance marine habitats and promote biodiversity in the Baltic Sea.
3. ARISE, focuses on the development and deployment of artificial reefs in sensitive marine ecosystems. The project aims to restore degraded habitats, enhance biodiversity and improve the ecological health of coastal areas. By creating artificial reefs, ARISE provides substrate for marine organisms to colonize, which helps restore damaged habitats and promote the recovery of marine ecosystems.
(EN) | Even if some of the projects above completed or about to be completed, local HERO project teams will contact with the representatives of these projects and will try to create synergies with them.
MARLISCO: Both projects share a common focus on addressing marine litter and promoting sustainable solutions. Synergies will be created through collaboration in awareness-raising campaigns and educational initiatives. The HERO project will contribute its expertise in clean-up operations and habitat restoration, while MARLISCO's emphasis on social responsibility and behavior change will enhance the effectiveness of HERO's efforts.
2. MARELITT Baltic: Projects share a common goal of addressing marine litter. Synergies will be created through knowledge exchange and collaboration in research and innovation. The projects will share best practices and lessons learned in cleaning up litter from the sea surface, exploring innovative technologies and developing sustainable solutions. The use of artificial reefs, which both projects explore, will be a focal point for collaboration, sharing expertise on reef design, deployment techniques and monitoring strategies.
3. ARISE: Synergies between HERO and ARISE will be established through collaboration in habitat restoration and biodiversity enhancement. Both projects focus on developing and deploying artificial reefs to restore degraded marine ecosystems. By sharing experiences, technical knowledge and monitoring methodologies, the projects will enhance their effectiveness in reef construction, species colonization and ecosystem recovery. Joint efforts will also be undertaken in selecting suitable reef sites and identifying the most effective restoration techniques for specific marine habitats.
(EN), 4. DEEPWAVE, explores the use of artificial reefs as a solution to restore habitats affected by deep-sea mining activities. The project focuses on developing eco-friendly hard alloys that can be used in the construction of artificial reefs, promoting the recovery of biodiversity and ecological functions in deep-sea environments. (EN) | 4. DEEPWAVE: Projects will create synergies by collaborating on the use of artificial reefs for habitat restoration in deep-sea environments. Both projects aim to promote the recovery of biodiversity and ecological functions through the deployment of eco-friendly artificial reefs. HERO will contribute its expertise in reef design, habitat restoration techniques and monitoring approaches, while DEEPWAVE will provide insights into the development of eco-friendly hard alloys for reef construction. Together, they will advance the understanding and implementation of artificial reefs as a solution for restoring habitats affected by deep-sea mining activities. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 643 481.48

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 479 133.32

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 HERO project makes remarkable contributions to the CMA in various key areas. Firstly, the project focuses on environmental protection by addressing critical challenges such as pollution, marine litter and habitat degradation in the Black Sea. Through initiatives like clean-up operations and the deployment of artificial reefs to restore damaged habitats, the project actively contributes to the protection and preservation of the marine environment, promoting healthier and more resilient ecosystems.
Secondly, the HERO project plays a vital role in promoting sustainable development in the Black Sea region. By adopting innovative biotechnological water quality management techniques and creating eco-positive structures like artificial reefs, the project aims to enhance marine ecosystem health, preserve biodiversity and restore ecosystem functions. These efforts contribute to the long-term sustainability of the Black Sea marine ecosystem while supporting the economic and social well-being of coastal communities.
Moreover, the HERO project recognizes the significance of transnational cooperation in addressing environmental challenges. By bringing together partners from Bulgaria, Ukraine and Turkey, the project fosters collaboration, knowledge sharing and joint action. This transnational cooperation aligns with the collaborative spirit of the "Common Maritime Agenda" and underscores the importance of collective efforts to achieve sustainable and effective solutions in the region.
The project also contributes to data collection and analysis, enhancing the availability of reliable information about marine litter and the ecological state of the Black Sea. Through the collection and analysis of data on litter types, quantities and sources, the project enhances understanding of the marine litter problem, providing a foundation for evidence-based strategies and policies to prevent and reduce marine litter—a priority area identified in the CMA.
Other PARIS AGGREMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE; The HERO project plays a significant role in supporting the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change by addressing climate-related challenges and promoting sustainable practices in the Black Sea region. Firstly, the project contributes to climate change mitigation efforts by focusing on environmental protection and sustainable development. By tackling issues such as pollution, marine litter and habitat degradation, the project helps reduce the adverse impacts of human activities on the marine environment. This, in turn, contributes to mitigating climate change by preserving and restoring ecosystems that play a crucial role in carbon sequestration and maintaining a balance of greenhouse gases.
The HERO project actively contributes to the availability of reliable data and information about the ecological state of the Black Sea. Through data collection and analysis, particularly related to marine litter, pollution and other environmental factors, the project enhances our understanding of the impacts of climate change on the marine environment. This information is crucial for developing evidence-based policies and strategies that effectively address climate change challenges and align with the commitments outlined in the Paris Agreement.
Lastly, the HERO project engages stakeholders, including the general public, local communities, policymakers and interest groups, to raise awareness about climate change and the importance of sustainable practices. By mobilizing stakeholders, promoting behavior change and fostering public support for climate action, the project contributes to the goals of the Paris Agreement. Public participation and engagement are emphasized in the Paris Agreement as key drivers for achieving its objectives.
Other UN-SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
SDG 14: Life Below Water - The HERO project directly contributes to SDG 14 by focusing on the protection and preservation of marine ecosystems in the Black Sea. Through its efforts to address pollution, marine litter and habitat degradation, the project helps maintain the health and biodiversity of marine ecosystems. By implementing clean-up operations, removing litter from the seabed and deploying artificial reefs, the project actively contributes to the conservation of marine life and the sustainable use of marine resources.
SDG 15: Life on Land - While primarily focused on the marine environment, the HERO project indirectly supports SDG 15 by addressing land-based pollution and habitat degradation that impact both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. By reducing pollution and restoring damaged habitats, the project contributes to the overall conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable management of terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production - The HERO project promotes responsible consumption and production practices by addressing marine litter and waste management issues. By raising awareness about the importance of responsible waste disposal and recycling, the project encourages individuals and communities to adopt sustainable consumption habits and reduce waste generation. This aligns with SDG 12's objective of promoting sustainable patterns of production and consumption.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals - The HERO project exemplifies the importance of partnerships and collaboration in achieving sustainable development. By bringing together partners from different countries in the Black Sea region, the project fosters transnational cooperation, knowledge sharing and joint action. This collaborative approach aligns with SDG 17's objective of strengthening global partnerships to achieve the SDGs.

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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Healing Environmental by Reef Options in the 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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