The meeting brought together project partners from Türkiye, Bulgaria and Georgia to review ongoing activities, contribute to the development of the Joint Action Plan and identify the next steps for project implementation.
Over the two-day meeting, representatives of the Marmara Municipalities Union, Sinop University Faculty of Fisheries, Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen and Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University shared the results of research, laboratory and fieldwork activities carried out within the project. Discussions also focused on priorities and planned actions for the upcoming implementation period.
As part of the meeting, project partners conducted a field visit to observe the macroalgae cleaning operations carried out by the teams of İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality Maritime Services Branch Directorate at Kumburgaz Beach. During the visit, information provided on beach cleaning operations, the equipment used and the practical aspects of the ongoing activities. The visit offered an opportunity to observe existing macroalgae collection and cleaning practices on site and to relate the approaches developed within the project to practical applications.
During the closing session, the partners discussed the applicability of project findings to local conditions and evaluated the next stages of joint activities. The exchange of knowledge and experience throughout the meeting is expected to contribute to the development of the joint action plan for macroalgae management, while strengthening cross-border cooperation on macroalgae bloom management in the Black Sea Basin.