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Black Sea Strategic Research Agenda Grant Agreement n° 249552 Acronym: SEAS-ERA Title: Towards Integrated Marine Research Strategy and Programmes WP 8: Black Sea Region Task 8.1: Strategic Analysis in the Black Sea Task Leader/Author: TÜBİTAK Deliverable N°: 8.1.1 Due date of deliverable: M 22 Actual submission date: M 22 Security: PU PROPRIETARY RIGHTS STATEMENT THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION, WHICH IS PROPRIETARY OF THE SEAS-ERA CONSORTIUM. NEITHER THIS DOCUMENT NOR THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL BE USED, DUPLICATED OR COMMUNICATED BY ANY MEANS TO ANY THIRD PARTY, IN WHOLE OR IN PARTS, EXCEPT WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE SEAS_ERA COORDINATOR. THIS RESTRICTION LEGEND SHALL NOT BE ALTERED OR OBLITERATED ON OR FROM THIS DOCUMENT. 1 SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin Summary One of the important outputs of the Black Sea WP of SEAS-ERA Project in to develop a Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) for the Black Sea. This document is the output of a long process which includes consultations with the partner institutions, regional experts and two Strategic Analysis Workshops. This SRA will be the basis for future activities of the WP8. This Discussion document was compiled by TÜBİTAK (Partner 15)in collaboration with the Black Seas Partner institutions and the regional experts. 2 SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................................. 3 ABBREVIATIONS and ACRONYMS .............................................................................................. 4 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 9 1.1. The SEAS-ERA Project .................................................................................................. 9 1.2. A Common Structure for the Sea Basin Strategic Research Agenda ......................... 10 2. A SHARED VISION FOR THE BLACK SEA ............................................................................. 11 3. THE BLACK SEA BASIN: REGIONAL SPECIFICITIES AND THE CONTEXT .............................. 12 4. A STRATEGIC RESEARCH AGENDA FOR THE BLACK SEA BASIN: OBJECTIVES AND BENEFITS ........................................................................................................................................... 18 5. SPECIFIC RESEARCH PRIORITIES FOR THE BLACK SEA BASIN . ......................................... 20 5.1. Basic Research & Fundamental Understanding ........................................................ 21 5.1.1. Physical climate, hydrological cycle, ventilation and inter-basin coupling ...... 21 5.1.2. Understanding climatic variability and climate change impacts on coastal and offshore ecosystems in the Black Sea including the effects of ocean acidification ...................................................................................................... 23 5.1.3. Changes in biodiversity and habitats, noting the introduction and impacts of invasive species ................................................................................................ 25 5.1.4. Understanding and governing eutrophication of the coastal and open parts of the sea: biogeochemical and primary biological basic processes, mechanisms and consequences ............................................................................................ 28 5.1.5. Ensuring Good Water/Sediment/Bioresources/Beach Quality for Human and Ecosystem Health (including litter) .................................................................. 30 5.2. Applied Research: Science supporting Society & Maritime Economy ...................... 33 5.2.1. Renewable energy ............................................................................................ 33 5.2.2. Maritime transport ........................................................................................... 34 5.2.3. Fishery and aquaculture with focus on preservation and sustainable use of marine living resources..................................................................................... 36 5.2.4. Marine biotechnology ...................................................................................... 38 5.2.5. Cross-cutting issues .......................................................................................... 39 5.2.5.1. Natural Hazards and Risk Assessments ............................................ 39 5.2.5.2. Socio-economic research.................................................................. 41 5.2.5.3. Marine spatial planning and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)......... 42 5.2.5.4. ICZM, links with MSP & IRBM, coastal sciences & engineering ....... 45 5.3. Research support and cross-cutting issues for fundamental and applied research . 47 5.3.1. Development of support tools for policy implementation ............................. 47 5.3.2. Observation and forecasting systems for operational oceanography ............. 49 5.3.3. Marine research infrastructure ........................................................................ 50 5.3.4. Human Capacity Building .................................................................................. 51 6. HIGH‐LEVEL ROADMAP ..................................................................................................... 53 6.1. Short Term ................................................................................................................. 53 6.2. Long Term .................................................................................................................. 55 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS ........................................................................................................... 61 SEAS-ERA BLACK SEA PARTNERS .............................................................................................. 64 3 SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin ABBREVIATIONS and ACRONYMS ACRONYM ACCOBAMS AMPERA ARENA ARGO ASCOBOS BASs Black Sea ERANET BlackSeaGOOS BONUS BSC BSC ICZM AG BSC/PS BSC-SoE BSEC BSEP BS-ML-SAP BS SAP BSERP TITLE WEBSITE Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and continuous Atlantic area European Coordination Action to Foster Prevention and Best Response to Accidental Marine Pollution A Regional Capacity Building and Networking Programme to Upgrade Monitoring and Forecasting Activity in the Black Sea Basin The broad-scale global array of temperature/salinity profiling floats A Supporting Programme for Capacity Building in the Black Sea Region towards Operational Status of Oceanographic Service Biologically Active Substances http://www.accobams.org/ Networking on Science and Technology in the Black Sea Region Global Ocean Observing System (Black Sea) Science for a Better Future of the Baltic Sea Region The Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (the Black Sea Commission) Black Sea Commission Advisory Group on Development of Common Methodologies for Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Black Sea Countries Black Sea Commission Permenant Secretariat The Black Sea State of Environment Report (2001-2006/7) Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Black Sea Environment Programme http://www.bs-era.net Strategic Action Plan for the Management and Abatement of Marine Litter in the Black Sea Region Black Sea Strategic Action Plan http://www.blacksea-commission.org/_publ-ML.asp www.cid.csic.es/ampera/index.php http://www.argo.net/ http://www.ascabos.io-bas.bg/ http://www.ims.metu.edu.tr/Black_Sea_GOOS/ http://www.bonusportal.org/ http://www.blacksea-commission.org/main.asp http://www.blacksea-commission.org/_ag-tor-iczm.asp http://www.blacksea-commission.org http://www.blacksea-commission.org/_publSOE2009.asp http://www.bsec-organization.org http://www.blacksea-commission.org/_bsimap.asp BSRC Black Sea Environment Recovery Project The Black Sea Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme IOC Black Sea Regional Committee BS SCENE Black Sea Scientific Network Project http://www.blackseascene.net/ BSUN The Black Sea Universities Network http://www.bsun.org/ CBD The BSC Advisory Group on Conservation of Biological Diversity The Mediterranean Science Commission http://www.blacksea-commission.org/_ag-tor-cbd.asp BSIMAP CIESM 4 http://www.ciesm.org/ SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin CIW Cold Intermediate Water COCONET Towards COast to COast NETworks of Marine Protected Areas (from the shore to the high and deep sea) Nutrient Management in the Danube Basin and its Impact on the Black Sea Sustainable Development of European Coastal Zones Driving Forces-Pressures-State-ImpactResponse European Bank for Reconstuction and Development European Commission daNUbs DEDUCE DPSIR EBRD EC ECBSea http://www.deduce.eu/ http://www.ebrd.com http://ec.europa.eu/ http://81.8.63.74/ecbsea/en/documents/relevant/index. html EcoQOs Environmental Collaboration for the Black Sea Ecosystem Quality Objectives ECOOP European Coastal-shelf sea operational https://ecoop.progecta.info EMODNET ENCORA ENSO EnviroGRIDS Observing and forecasting system European Marine Observation and Data NEtwork European Platform for Coastal Research Coordination Action El Nino/Southern Oscillation http://www.encora.org ERA Building Capacity for a Black Sea Catchment Observation and Assessment System supporting Sustainable Development European Research Area ERA-NET European Researh Area Network ERA-NET RUS Linking Russia to the ERA: Coordination of MS/AC S&T Programmes towards and with Russia The BSC Advisory Group on Environmental Safety Aspects of Shipping Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Tranboundary Context European Union http://www.eranet-rus.eu/ http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/home_en.html GEF European Union Framework Programmes European Contribution to ARGO Programme EUROpean GELatinous Zooplankton: Mechanisms behind Jellyfish Blooms and Their Ecological and Socioeconomic Effects European Global Ocean Observing System Development and Cooperation Directorate General of the European Commission The BSC Advisory Group on Environmental Aspects of Fisheries and other Marine Living Resources Management Global Environment Facility GES Good Environmental Status ESAS Espoo EU EU FP EuroARGO EUROGEL EuroGOOS EUROPEAID FOMLR 5 http://envirogrids.net/ http://www.blacksea-commission.org/_ag-tor-esas.asp http://www.unece.org/env/eia/eia.html http://europa.eu/ http://www.euro-argo.eu/ http://www.bio.uib.no/eurogel/ http://www.eurogoos.org/ http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/index_en.htm http://www.blacksea-commission.org/_ag-tor-fomlr.asp http://www.thegef.org/gef/ SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin GFCM/SAC GOOS Scientific Advisory Committee of the General Fisheries Commission fort he Mediterranean Global Monitoring for Environment and Security Global Ocean Observing System GPA Global Programme of Action GSRT http://www.gsrt.gr HCMR General Secreteriat for Science and Technology Hellenic Center for Marine Research HDF Hellenic Development Fund http://www.bsecprojects.com/ HERMES Hotspot Ecosystem Research on the Margins of European Seas In Situ Monitoring of Oxygen Depletion in Hypoxic Ecosystems of Coastal and Open-seas and Land-locked Water Bodies International Atomic Energy Agency GMES HYPOX IAEA IASON http://www.gfcm.org http://www.gmes.info/ http://www.ioc-goos.org/ http://www.hcmr.gr http://www.hypox.net/ http://www.iaea.org/ International Action for Sustainability of the Mediterranean and Black Sea Environment Intergovernmental Coordination Group Tsunami Early Warning System and Mitigation System in the North Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission International Oceanographic Data And İnformation Exchange Integrated Coastal Area Management http://www.iasonnet.gr/ www.icpdr.org/ ICZM İnternational Commission For The Protection Of The Danube River Integrated Coastal Zone Management IMO International Maritime Organization www.imo.org/ IOC International Oceanographic Commission IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IRBM Integrated River Basin Management KnowSeas The Knowledge-based Sustainable Management for Europe's Seas Land Based Sources of Pollution and Activities Strengthening the links between European marine fisheries science and fisheries management Marine Board-European Science Foundation ICG/NEAMTW S IPCC IOC IODE ICAM ICPRD LBSA MariFish Marine BoardESF MarinERA 6 ioc-unesco.org/ www.iode.org/ www.ipcc.ch/ www.knowseas.com/ www.marifish.net/ www.esf.org http://marinera.seas-era.eu/ MedARGO MEECE www.ipcc.ch www.medargo.com Marine Ecosystem Evolution in a www.meece.eu/ SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin Changing Environment MedGOOS MESMA MLR The Mediterranean Global Ocean Observing System Monitoring and Evaluation of Spatially Managed Areas Marine Living Resources MONINFO Monitoring And Information System For Reducing Oil Pollution İn The Black Sea MoU PSC Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control in the Black Sea Region MPAs Marine Protected Areas MSFD Marine Strategy Framework Directive MSP Marine spatial planning MyOcean www.medgoos.net/ www.mesma.org/ http://www.bsmou.org/ www.myocean.eu.org/ NAO NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization NCP North Sea - Caspian pattern NGO Non-governmental organization ODEMM Options for Delivering EcosystemBased Marine Management The Ocean Data and Information Network for the Black Sea Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe ODINBLACKSE A OSCE PDF Project Development Fund PERSEUS Projecting European Seas and Borders through the Intelligent use of surveillence PlanCOAST pollution monitoring/assessments RPOs Research Performing Organisations SAP Strategic Action Plan SASEPOL Development of Security Management and Maritime Safety and Ship Pollution Prevention for the Black Sea and Caspian Sea Towards Integrated Marine Research Strategy and Programmes Pan-European İnfrastructure For Ocean And Marine Data Management Southern European Seas: Assessing and Modelling Ecosystem Changes Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency State of Environment SEADATANET I/II SESAME SIDA SoE SPICOSA SRA TACIS 7 www.liv.ac.uk/odemm/ www.odinblacksea.org/ www.osce.org/ http://www.perseus-fp7.eu/ www.plancoast.eu/ PMA SEAS ERA www.nato.int/ Science and Policy Integration for Coastal System Assessment Strategic Research Agenda http://www.blacksea-commission.org/_table-legaldocs.asp www.sasepol.eu www.seas-era.eu/ www.seadatanet.org/ http://www.sesame-ip.eu/ www.sida.se/ www.spicosa.eu/ - EC Technical Assistance Commonwealth of Independent SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin States TDA Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis THRESHOLDS http://www.blacksea-commission.org/_publicationsGEF.asp http://www.thresholds-eu.org TPH Total petroleum hydrocarbon TSS Turkish Straits System TÜBİTAK The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey United Nations www.tubitak.gov.tr United Nations Development Programme/Global Environment Facility United Nations Economic Commission for Europe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization www.undp.org/gef/ United nations environment programme (UNEP) www.unep.org/ UN UNDP/GEF UNECE UNESCO UNEP UpGrade Black Sea SCENE VTMS Vessel Traffic Management Systems WB World Bank WP Work Package 8 www.un.org.tr www.unece.org/ whc.unesco.org/ www.blackseascene.net/ www.worldbank.org/ - SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin 1. 1.1. INTRODUCTION The SEAS-ERA Project SEAS-ERA Partn. BONUS Partn. The FP7 SEAS-ERA Project (2010-2014) is a Network of Marine Research Funding Organisations (an ERA-NET) consisting of 21 partners and two Third Parties from 18 Member and Associated Member States (Annex 1) located along the European seaboard in the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Black Sea (www.seas-era.eu). The principle aims of the SEAS-ERA Network are to improve co-ordination between nationally funded competitive marine research programmes, to facilitate enhanced co-operation in addressing shared opportunities and challenges, to ensure better use of existing resources and capacities, to bridge identified gaps, to avoid duplication, to jointly fund strategic projects of mutual interest and, in so doing, contribute to the sustainable development of the marine resource and improve the establishment of the marine component of the European Research Area (ERA)1. The SEAS-ERA project builds on the experience of the previous FP6 ERA-NETS: MarinERA (http://marinera.seas-era.eu/) which involved 16 partners from 13 countries and which organised a joint €5 million call for proposals; AMPERA (www.cid.csic.es/ampera/index.php) involved 10 partners from 8 countries and organised a joint €2.25 million call for proposals; and MariFish (www.marifish.net) with 18 partners from 16 countries organised a joint €4.1 million call for proposals and common programming within five given topics. Buy SmartDraw!- purchased copies print this document without a watermark . Visit www.smartdraw.com or call 1-800-768-3729. Fig. 1: Geographical Distribution of SEAS-ERA Partners For operational and management purposes, the SEAS-ERA project is divided into three regional “Sea Basins” (i.e. the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea), with each region deciding on its own priorities, and seven thematic work packages: Strategic Analysis; Common Programmes; Joint Calls; Infrastructures; Capacity Building; Dissemination and Co-ordination and Management. Buy SmartDraw!- purchased copies print this document without a watermark . Visit www.smartdraw.com or call 1-800-768-3729. SEAS-ERA Task 1.1 aims at undertaking an inventory and an analysis of existing national and sub-national science and technology strategies. This task was designed to: Inform the development of the Sea Basin Strategic Research Agendas (SEAS-ERA Task 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1) Inform the development of Common Programmes (SEAS-ERA WP2) and Joint Calls (SEAS-ERA WP3). 1 http://ec.europa.eu/research/era/index_en.htm 9 SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin Buy SmartDraw!- purch document withou Visit www.smartdraw.com Buy SmartDraw!- purc document witho Visit www.smartdraw.com Buy Visit w 1.2. A Common Structure for the Sea Basin Strategic Research Agenda The development of a common structure 2 (Box 1) for the three SEAS-ERA Sea Basin Research Planswas facilitated by Partner 18 (Marine Board-ESF) withinSEAS-ERA WP1.2, in liaison with the regional SeaBasin Leaders: Partner 7 (GSRT/HCMR, Greece) for theMediterranean; Partner 9 (Marine Institute, Ireland)for the Atlantic Sea Basin and Box 1: Common Structure of the SRA for Sea Basins: 1. Introduction (1 page); 2. A Shared Vision for the [ ] Sea Basin 3. The [……..] Sea Basin: Sea basin specificities, critical regional issues, challenges and opportunities – related to policy, management, environmental and scientific matters. 4. A Strategic Research Agenda for the [ ] Sea Basin Objectives and Benefits 5. Specific Research Priorities for the [ ] Sea Basin 5.1.Basic Research & New Knowledge incl. climate change, new frontiers research (e.g.Deep-sea) 5.2.Applied Research: Science supporting Society and Economy: Applied science themes incl. e.g. blue biotech, marine renewable energy, transport, etc.) 5.3.Research Support & Cross-Cutting Issues. 6. High-level Roadmap. Short, medium, longterm priorities timeline, milestones, review, etc.). Partner 15 (TÜBİTAK,Turkey) for the Black Sea. The Black Sea Strategy is policy-oriented to specifically respond to regional environmental priority issues agreed by the 6 Coastal MemberStates (BS SAP 2009). These are coupled with new innovative topics to incorparateresearch support tools. A Draft document was prepared by the Task Leader based on the regional issues and proposed research priorities during the 1st Regional Workshop (March 2011).Following this workshop, regional experts and Advisory Board Members were consulted to contribute to the process. These contributions produced a second draft that was circulated among the Project Partners, and a wider group of Black Sea Experts (October-November 2011) to obtain general comments to aid final editting. A second Regional Workshop (December 2011) was organized to finalize the document. The SRA domains are: The “Policy” – the SRA will focus on the relevant policies/legislation implementation (or development of new policies) taking into consideration the need to harmonize environmental protection practices within the Black Sea countries. The “Knowledge” and “Tools” – the SRA section where the core scientific and technological work shall be carried out in support of informed decision-making. The “Capacity” building – the SRA will provide the necessary information for strengthening the institutional framework of research in the Black Sea region. 2 The common structure approach allows for regional specificities to be addressed, while, at the same time, providing consistency and ensuring comparison of the resulting outputs.While a common structure was agreed in preparing the draft marine research plans, approaches to the development of these differed from one Sea Basin to another. 10 The “Users” involvement - where the results and capacities developed by the SRA implementation will be shared with and explained to stakeholders both through training programmes and outreach activities. SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin 2. A SHARED VISION FOR THE BLACK SEA The vision for the Black Sea is to preserve its ecosystem as a valuable natural endowment of the region, whilst ensuring the protection and rational use of its marine and coastal living resources as a condition for sustainable development of the Black Sea coastal states, well-being, health and security of their population (Ref: BS SAP, 2009). This vision can only be achieved by commitments at all levels of society. Clear focused national and joint research programmes and multi-disciplinary projects will form the scientific basis while political vision and commitment, ownership and funding by different stakeholders representing various sectors, regional and pan-European cooperation at all levels, appropriate regulation and governance at national and regional levels will be requirements. SEAS-ERA is the second joint action among national research funders3 for the Black Sea region- after Black Sea ERA-NET- having committed to the goal of continued future cooperations which face the multifaceted environmental challenges of river basins, coastal and marine waters of the Black Sea. 3 Funding organizations from the Black Sea coastal states. 11 SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin 3. THE BLACK SEA BASIN: REGIONAL SPECIFICITIES AND THE CONTEXT The Black Sea is one of the most remarkable regional seas in the world, being almost completely separated from the rest of the world's oceans and embodying an abyssal basin with maximum depth of 2300 m adjoining a very wide continental shelf area. Its waters are permanently stratified under the influence of fresh water supplied by large rivers (Fig. 2) and the inflow of Mediterranean water through the Bosphorus (İstanbul) Strait. The Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits interconnected by the marginal intercontinental Sea of Marmara form the Turkish Straits System (TSS). The Black Sea is considered to be a fantastic laboratory naturally hosting oxic, hypoxic and anoxic water massespermanently existing due to strong vertical stratification. While strong vertical stratification supports isopycnal distribution of various biogeochemical species, the wide range of redox conditions supports specific processesrendering the Black Sea a unique place to study the Earth System responses to climate changes and anthropogenic forcing. Since a large part of the basin (i.e. approx. deeper than 100 m) is anoxic, life forms in the Black Sea display limited diversity and almost all pelagic and Fig. 2: The Catchment Area of the Black Sea http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/map_of_the_black_s ea_basin 12 SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin benthic fauna and flora dwell in the shallower or upper oxic water layers. Besides its natural peculiarities and disadvantages4, the long-term and intensive anthropogenic pressures exerted on the system aggravated the threats to the Black Sea ecosystem related to climate change5. Largeamounts of various pollutants (oil, trace metals, nutrients, pesticides, etc.) have been discharged from coastal sources to the nearshore waters since the 1960’s. Excessive nutrients are considered to be the most persistent in negative effects comparing to all other pollutants. Their input via rivers, agricultural drainage waters, and insufficiently treated municipal/industrial wastewaters has increased many-fold over the last few decades1 supporting progressive cultural eutrophication. The latter has led to radical changes in the Black Sea ecosystem since the 1960s and especially after 1970s when critically important key habitats disappeared from the large shelf areas. It has been scientifically and politically accepted that eutrophication has caused a major transboundary impact on water quality, biological diversity, bio-resources abundance, adversely affecting all sectors relying on marine services. It was also recognised that other anthropogenic forces like overfishing and the use of destructive fishing techniques, coastal zone mismanagement and the introduction of invasive species (most notably the ctenophore jelly Mnemiopsis leidyi) simultaneously occurred further damagingthe functioning of this ecosystem through trophic cascades. 4 Since the Black Sea is virtually isolated, and its resilience to change is weak. The presence of a permanent anoxic zone is an additional risk factor. 5 Climatic changes are associated with increase frequency in floods, north-bound movement of species, sea-level rise, etc. 13 Recovery started by mid-90s via efficient functioning of river basin management plans and less extensive use of fertilizers for economic reasons. Consequently, anthropogenically-induced hypoxic conditions at the sea shelf almost disappeared and biodiversity in benthic flora and fauna increased. The appearance and establishment of the predator of Mnemiopsis (Beroe ovata) was seen to improve certain ecosystem parameters. Fig. 3: Good and bad invaders: The ctenophore Beroe ovata of the Black Sea with a semi-digested Mnemiopsis leidyi specimen in its stomach. More than 300 rivers contribute inflow to the Black and Azov Seas. The northwestern Black Sea receives the discharge of the largest rivers in the Black Sea drainage area - the Danube River with a mean water discharge of about 200 km3/yr and the Ukrainian rivers Dniepr, Southern Bug and Dniestr contributing with about 65 km3/yr. The influence of the Danube River and its large delta is predominant regarding the sedimentation on the northwestern Black Sea shelf area, and not only. The Delta impact on hydrographic processes, transport of species and the gene pool formation, chemical content of water and sediment, migrations of fish populations and birds, etc., etc. opens a broad range of scientific challenges. SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin From this perspective, the existence of Danube Delta – Europe’s largest deltaic system further increases the special characteristics of the Black Sea. these areas are vitally important for achieving all EcoQOs listed in Box 2. Impacts of climatic variability and/or climate change are clearly indicated by the arrival of more Mediterranean species andestablishment of new niches in the Black Sea, phenological changes in biota, direct correlations between sea water temperature changes and abundance/biomass of species (plankton to fish) as well as variations in the dissolved oxygen content of upper water column layers. Box 2. Ecosystem Quality Objectives (EcoQOs) that are set by the BS SAP (2009): On a regional level, the four priority transboundary problems for the Black Sea ecosystem, re-confirmed by TDA (2008, http://www.blackseacommission.org/_tda2008.asp) and by the SAP (2009), are (1) eutrophication/nutrient enrichment, (2) changes in marine living resources, (3) chemical pollution (including oil), (4) biodiversity/habitat changes, including alien species introduction. The BS SAP (2009) defined the Ecosystem Quality Objectives (EcoQOs) to manage these four transboundary environmental issues (see Box 2). The Causal Chain Analyses in the 2008 Black Sea TDA found climate change to be a contributory factor to all four trans-boundary problems. The same analysis also concluded that the four trans-boundary problems cannot be dealt with individually. It is stated that “improvements in management of one problem will have knock-on effects for other problems, and addressing individual causes is likely to improve the situation with regard to at least two, if not more, of the four environmental problems”. Clear, coherent scientific understanding of coastal margins (both land and water) and efficient management of human activities in 14 EcoQO 1:Preserve commercial marine living resources a. Sustainable use of commercial fish stocks and other marine living resources. b. Restore/rehabilitate stocks of commercial marine living resources. EcoQO 2: Conservation of Black Sea Biodiversity and Habitats a. Reduce the risk of extinction of threatened species. b. Conserve coastal and marine habitats and landscapes. c. Reduce and manage human mediated species introductions EcoQO 3: Reduce eutrophication EcoQO 4: Ensure Good Water Quality for Human Health, Recreational Use and Aquatic Biota Reduce pollutants originating from land based sources, including atmospheric emissions. Reduce pollutants originating from shipping activities and offshore installations The geographical scope for the BS SRA is accepted as defined by the Bucharest Convention and its Protocols as the marine and coastal waters of the Black Sea proper. However, in terms of linkage to the Mediterranean, the Turkish Straits System as well as the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait will also be considered in the context of the SRA. It is also aimedto integrate events within the catchment basins of rivers draining into the sea (Fig. 2). Hence, the Black Sea with its watersheds (catchment area), being one of the LMEs of the world with ecology dissimilar from that of the adjacent seas and ocean, is considered in the context of the SRA. SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin The regional Black Sea institutional framework for the protection of the marine environment involves two regional organizations: the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution (Black Sea Commission, BSC), established in 1992 through Article 17 of the Bucharest Convention and supported by the United Nations Environmental Programme, and the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), also established in 1992. The Black Sea Commission (www.blackseacommission.org) was established exclusively for the protection of the Black Sea marine environment and is composed of the Black Sea coastal states only; whereas BSEC the most institutionalized and inclusive regional organization, promotes cooperation in many different fields over a wider Black Sea area6. (see http://www.bsec-organization.org). Environmental protection is one of the fields of cooperation among the BSEC countries which includes, inter-alia, regional reviews of perspectives to provide a legal framework for a green economy; Including climate change within the environmental strategy for the protection of the Black Sea; enhancing cooperation with other international organizations dealing with protection of the marine environment etc. A green energy development has been recently established as a subarea of cooperation within the broader energy sector. Another topic BSEC deals with is science and technology, closely related to the goal of SEAS-ERA: Promoting regional cooperation in the field of science and technology, putting knowledge to the forefront of its activities, setting up joint research projects and programs and greater valorization of the scientific and technological potential are the main objectives. Integration with European programs and projects (Framework Program 7) and developing cooperation between other international organizations are among the main objectives of the BSEC Member States. BSC and BSEC have granted each other the observer status, established close cooperation and may jointly participate in the implementation of regional projects. The Bucharest Convention and its Protocols together with their implementation plan, SAP, constitute the regional legal/policy framework for the protection of the Black Sea environment. The Black Sea Commission (BSC) is made up of one member from each of the six national governments. Six regional activity centers and six thematic advisory groups of the BSC contribute to the regional implementation scheme. International institutions committed also to the protection, preservation and rehabilitation of the Black Sea marine environment are the European Union7, GEF/UNDP8, International Maritime Organization (IMO)9, Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control in the Black Sea Region (MoU PSC)10, International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR)11, Danube Commission, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)12, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)13, Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and continuous Atlantic 7 E.g. Danube Black Sea Task Force (DABLAS): set up in 2001 with the aim to provide a platformfor cooperation to ensure the protection of water and water-related ecosystems in the Danube andthe Black Sea. 8 http://www.thegef.org/gef/ 6 The area includes the territories of the following member states: the Republic of Albania, the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Bulgaria, Georgia, the Hellenic Republic, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Turkey and Ukraine. 15 9 http://www.imo.org/Pages/home.aspx 10 http://www.bsmou.org/ 11 http://www.icpdr.org/ 12 http://unece.org/ 13 http://www.unep.org/ SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin area (ACCOBAMS)14, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)15, NGOs16, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and others. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (BlackSeaGOOS, ODINBLACKSEA): At the Eighteenth Session of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC), the Assembly adopted a resolution (Resolution XVIII-17, UNESCO, Paris, 7-9 June 1995) which established the IOC Black Sea Regional Committee (BSRC). The First Session of the BSRC was held in Varna, Bulgaria, (10-13 September 1996). Two Pilot Projects "The Assessment of Sediment Fluxes in the Black Sea" and "The Black Sea GOOS" (named PP1 and PP2 in the following) were discussed extensively and programs were developed. The Black Sea GOOS MoU was signed by all Black Sea countries, in 2001.This MoU serves as the initial document for the Black Sea GOOS, as an informal association whose members seek to foster co-operation with the Global Ocean Observing System. The Black Sea GOOS was established with the participation of Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine with the recognition of the importance of existing systems in research and operational oceanography. By signing, the MoU, countries become members of the Black Sea GOOS, and agree to co-operate in promoting the GOOS in the Black Sea basin. Black Sea GOOS activities are designed to foster cooperation in operational oceanography in the Black Sea basin. To collaborate with and to maximise the benefits from the existing activities of the EuroGOOS and the Med-GOOS, promoting the integration of these activities within the framework of the GOOS. The first Black Sea 14 http://www.accobams.org 15 http://www.osce.org /index.php 16 GOOS Strategic Action and Implementation Plan (IOC/INF-1176) was adopted in 2003 and the second in 2010. At the Nineteenth Session of the IOC Committee on International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE-XIX, Trieste, Italy, 12-16 March 2007) the project document for the establishment of the Ocean Data and Information Network for the Black Sea Region (ODINBLACKSEA) was adopted. Recognising that the lives of at least 160 million people are profoundly influenced by the Black Sea and considering that all riparian countries depend to a large extent on marine and coastal resources, the ability to acquire, manage, archive and disseminate data, as well as the capacity to generate products and services in support of decision making and management of the Sea and Coastal Zones is of vital importance. The Ocean Data and Information Network for the Black Sea Region (ODINBLACKSEA) Project is proposed to respond to these needs through: (i) providing assistance in the development, operation and strengthening of National Oceanographic Data (and Information) Centres and to establish their networking in the region; (ii) providing training and education in marine data and information management, taking into account the requirements of operational oceanography; applying standard formats and methodologies as defined by the IODE; (iii) enhancing national and regional awareness of Marine Data and Information Management; (iv) assisting in the development and maintenance of national and regional marine data, metadata and information databases; (v) assisting in the development and dissemination of marine data and information products and services, meeting the needs of user communities at the national and regional levels, and responding to national and regional priorities; (vi) undertaking the ODINBLACKSEA activities in close www.bseanetwork.org 16 SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin collaboration and networking with other relevant organizations, programmes and projects operating in the Black Sea region; and (vii) undertaking the above activities applying modern technologies for data collection, processing, storage and dissemination. Black Sea cooperation has been activated by many pan-European, regional scale and bilateral/multilateral projects between the Black Sea countries. Investigating and understanding the Black Sea ecosystem and its problems at regional and sub-regional scales have been supported by different donors like EU, UNDP/GEF, NATO, WB, EBRD, UNEP, IMO, SIDA. The EU Framework Programme(s) (IVVII)funded daNUbs, EUROGEL, IASON, SESAME, HERMES, HYPOX, MEECE, ODEMM, THRESHOLDS, PERSEUS, and many others to tackle with Black Sea ecosystem issues considering both climatic and anthropogenic forces. Another group of EU FP (VI, VII) Projects are focused on the achievement of efficient governance practices including ecosystembased management to support sustainable development in the Region like;INTERREG PlanCOAST, SPICOSA, ENCORA, DEDUCE, KnowSeas, ODEMM, PEGASO and COCONET. GEF funded and executed through UNDP BSEP17 and BSERP18(Phase I and II) projects in support of the Bucharest Convention implementation. It contributed to sustainable human development in the Black Sea area through reinforcing the cooperation of the Black Sea countries to take effective measures in reducing nutrients and other hazardous substances to levels necessary to permit Black Sea ecosystem recovery. 17 Black Sea Environment Program EU/TACIS/EuropeAid Projects, such as ECBSea, SASEPOL served to strengthen regional cooperation for the protection of the Black Sea. Projects focused specifically towards improving the monitoring and forecasting capacities and the operational status of oceanographic services in conjunction with better management of data collection and networking of the Black Sea scientists are:ARENA (FP5), ASCOBOS (FP6), ECOOP (FP6), MONINFO (EC), BS SCENE/UBBS (FP6,7), SEADATANET I/II (FP6,7) EnviroGRIDS (FP7),EMODNET. Such projects have had valuable impact on networking and capacity building in the Black Sea marine research area. In relation to the development of GMES core services, MyOcean (FP7)has also played an important role through its implemetation in the Black Sea. Finally, the EC EuroARGO Project (part of GOOS)has enhanced efforts to deploy argo floats in the Black Sea to support GMES services and did the advancement of operational monitoring in the Black Sea region. The Black Sea Era Net Project (2009-2012) is crucial for the region since it aims to identify thematic priorities (i.e. environment, health, energy, marine and maritime research) not only for a Joint Call but also for the Black Sea Research Programme (BSRP), a programme that aims to establish sustainable and longterm cooperation in the region. The ERA NET RUS Project (2009-2013), on the other hand, is a project that is specifically dedicated to Russia, however, it also covers other important countries from the Black Sea region. Through a differentapproachto innovation, academic science and technology cooperation, the project aims to foster collaboration between the private sector and universities. 18 Black Sea Environment Recovery Project 17 SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin 4. A STRATEGIC RESEARCH AGENDA FOR THE BLACK SEA BASIN: OBJECTIVES AND BENEFITS The overall objective of the SRA is to support needful actions towards keeping the Black Sea environment healthy with all its ecosystem goods and services functioning at a time when economic recovery and further development are also being pursued. While the overall objective aims at support of avoiding conflicts between nature well-being and human interest, the specific objectives of the SRA are targeted at those domains of Black Sea environmental research and protection where the BS states need to primarily concentrate their efforts working jointly and together for the benefit of the Black Sea and the people living in the region. Besides the environmental protection sense, it is also aimed to tackle the maritime sectors; like transport, energy and fisheries and their emerging research needs in the SRA for socioeconomic welfare of the region. From an end-user perspective, the progress in the knowledge of Black Sea macro-system dynamics is required to adequately understand the interactions between ecological and socio-economic systems, and thus, to better respond to environmental change avoiding social-ecological mismatches. The applied science have to contribute to the development of new multi-scale models that span the whole range from local, regional to global multi-national decision making, and from this perspective special attention to the interface science/policy is required to better ground the scientifically developed decisionsupport tools for good governance and adaptive management. The specific objectives of and the expected benefits from the SRA are: 1) The SRA will respond to the requirements of the Bucharest Convention and its four Protocols, BS SAP 2009 and the EU 18 Marine Strategy as the major environmental management policies in the Black Sea region having common goals/objectives. The SRA will also take into account the requirements of other relevant EU directives and international agreements (ACCOBAMS, Espoo, IMO Conventions, etc.) for the better and cooperative management of the Black Sea coastal and marine areas. Therefore, the SRA will support the needs of the BS states stemming from international policy/legislation. 2) The SRA will deal with regional ecosystem problems (Box 3) giving priority to the research needs supporting the achievement of both good environmental status (GES) of the Black Sea as stated in the MSFD and/or long-term Ecosystem Quality Objectives (EcoQOs) that are set by the BS SAP 2009. For those, international cooperation should continue with existing mechanisms and thereafter improved with further actions like the common programming of the coastal states. 3) The SRA will include conventional as well as new subjects (new frontiers) for better understanding the Black Sea evolution and complexity, and to achieve a step forward for supporting green–economy, valuing and, investing in natural capital towards achieving the overall Vision. Therefore, new topics and approaches will be looked for that might have priority at the region or its sub-areas for improving scientific observations and knowledge in a harmonized way directed to informed decision making and innovation in research. 4) Multidisciplinary research, including socio-economy, is the asset of the Black Sea sustainability focused model which is associated with the ongoing process of SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin development of new management frameworks in the Black Sea region, encompassing ICZM, ecosystem-based adaptive, and integrated river-basin management, and market-based instruments. The BS SRA aims to contribute to this process by encouraging and supporting science integration towards the successful implementation of the BS SAP 2009 management targets and the MSFD objectives realization (where applicable). The SRA facilitates the step by step transition from the current fragmented system to fully integrated management accompanied by relevant institutional framework development. Multidisciplinary marine and maritime research in support of good (holistic) governance of environmental protection with human capacity building component at the national and regional level is looked for. 5) The SRA will target to fill in the gaps of scientific and management tools. This would include the provisions towards better monitoring and quantitative assessments of drivers, pressures, state, impacts, response and recovery of the BS which at first requires the further development and harmonisation of the Black Sea observation systems including monitoring activities and data/information management tools including multi-diciplinary, multi-scale modeling and simulations. Beneficiaries of the environmental issues and their management actions including RTD (as re-drawn from the TDA2007 in Annex I) were identified as 42 institutional and stakeholder groups based on their specific involvement in/contribution to management and/or protection of the Black Sea (per se the transboundary issues identified in the BS SAP2009). The approach implementation principles: proposed includes for the the SRA following Utilization of knowledge, achievements, outputs and products of past projects based on lessonslearnt and building on current EU and Black Sea Regional initiatives Streamlining ongoing project activities to avoid overlapping Consultation and stakeholders involvement; Capacity building and networking; Promoting Ownership and publicawareness Regional partnership and international cooperation; 6) It will identify the cross-cutting issues to support research and propose and plan ways of their realization. Marine research infrastructure, communication and promotion of science, needs in harmonization and training, exchange of good practices, utilization of new technologies, further networking including the private sector and the national funders are among the key issues. 19 SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin 5. SPECIFIC RESEARCH PRIORITIES FOR THE BLACK SEA BASIN . The agreed Structure of the SRA by the SEASERA Partners has been explained in Section 1.2. The process of building the Black Sea SRA is also described there. The List of outlined Black Sea “specific research priorities” contains 3 main clusters: Basic Reseach, Applied Research to support society/economy and Research on crosscutting issues (Box 4). The sub-titles and their research priorities under each group were decided upon by experts based on the specific regional needs. Basic research and fundamental understanding Marine renewable energy Research support and cross-cutting issues for fundamental and applied research Physical climate, hydrological cycle, ventilation and inter-basin coupling Applied Research: Science supporting Society & Maritime Economy Box 4: Summary of the Research Issues 20 Understanding climatic variability and climate change impacts on coastal and offshore ecosystems in the Black Sea including the effects of ocean acidification Changes in biodiversity and habitats, noting the introduction and impacts of invasive species Understanding and governing eutrophication of the coastal and deep parts of the sea: biogeochemical and primary biological basic processes, mechanisms and consequences Ensuring Good Water/Sediment/Bioresources/Beach Quality for Human and Ecosystem Health (including litter) Deep sea research Maritime transport Fishery and aquaculture with focus on preservation and sustainable use of marine living resources Marine biotechnology Cross-cutting issues : Natural Hazards and Risk Assessments Socio-economic research Marine spatial planning (MSP) and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) ICZM, links with MSP & IRBM, coastal sciences & engineering Development of support tools for policy implementation Observation and forecasting systems for operational oceanography Marine research infrastructure Human Capacity Building SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin 5.1. Basic Research & Fundamental Understanding 5.1.1. Physical climate, hydrological cycle, ventilation and inter-basin coupling Long-term variabilities of the water cycle and the physical climate: The Black Sea is a sensitive ecosystem, vulnerable to the potential impacts on its physical and biochemical state by the expected intensification of the hydrological cycle. Fed by major European rivers (Danube, Dniepr, Dniestr, Don, Kuban and others) draining a catchment basin of about five-fold its size, The Black Sea has a hydrological cycle which is a subject to large natural variations over interdecadal time scales. The water cycle directly modifies the vertical stratification of the Black Sea, affecting the ventilation processes intensity and impacting the transport and fate of constituents, including pollutants, thus, shaping thethe state of the ecosystem, in general. Since the Palaeolithic and Neolithic prehistoric times, climate change, accompanied by strong tectonic activity, has induced hydro-geological transformations of the Black Sea and the Turkish Straits System (TSS)19, impacting human societies, notably among them the demise of Troia VIIb in the late bronze age. Climatic oscillations with increased productivity periods of few hundred years, associated with mass development of coccolitophores, recorded in Black Sea sediments since Holocene times, imply relatively recent changes in the Sea hydrology that could recur in future. 19 Located at the junction of two continents and two large interior sea basins, the TSS has been the centerstage of ancient civilizations of the Old World, as evidenced by the recent discoveries of Palaeolithic and Neolithic migrations, the 8500 year old Neolithic settlement and the 1600 year old Byzantine port of Theodosius at Yenikapı, near the southern end of the Bosphorus, and settlement at Troy dating from 5 kyr BP. 21 Ice floes reaching the Bosphorus from the Black Sea have been reported in Herodotus, and in AD 7-17, 401, 739, 753, 755, 763, 928, 934, 1011, 1232, 1621, 1658, 1669, 1755, 1823, 1849, 1862, 1878, 1893, 1918, 1928, 1929 and 1954. Weninger (2009) note the clustering of cold events after the 17th century, in the cold period known as the Little Ice Age. None has been observed from the 13th century to the middle of the 17th century (medieval warm period) and since 1954 (global warming?). Effects of large-scale climate patterns such as the NAO, NCP teleconnection regimes, Indian Monsoons and regional winter cooling events are evident in the Black Sea region, with observed impacts on ecosystems. Fig. 4: Ice sheets drifting in front of Rumeli Hisarı of Bosphorus, 1 March 1929, (Photograph: Maynard Owen Williams) River catchments and integrated modeling of the hydrological cycle: Major rivers shape the water budget of the Black Sea, determine its stratification, drive boundary currents as part of its general circulation and energize its ecosystem, currently threatened by expected net decreases in river fluxes. Consequent changes in the Black Sea stratification and nutrient ratios can impact coastal and marine ecosystems in many different ways ways. A sound knowledge of Black Sea water and nutrient balance as dependant on the riverine fluxes is essential to assess the status and stability of the Black Sea ecosystem, so that SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin to build realistic socio-economic scenarios and relevant policies to counteract potential negative impacts. scale problem, which only can be addressed by the most advanced technological tools and observational networks to be developed. Earth system models of river catchment hydrology integrated with regional atmospheric and ocean models can serve to achieve better understanding and improve prediction capabilities of the Black Sea water cycle and related ecosystem change. The maximal exchange imposed by topographic and hydraulic controls at the Bosphorus and the submaximal exchange at the Dardanelles Straits are unique dynamical regimes of mixing and entrainment through surface and bottom plumes issuing into the Black, Marmara and Aegean Seas. These exchanges influence on the cycling of material and biological productivity in the three seas. The complexity of dynamic processes in the Straits poses a serious challenge for the development of predictive models, though certain advancements in the field has been already achieved. Ventilation Processes and Hydrochemistry: A positive water budget and the restricted exchange through the TSS result in the stable stratification of the Black Sea, with the pycnocline effectively sealing off the anoxic deep waters from the surface, while the upper water column is affected by the complex formation process of the Cold Intermediate Water (CIW). With a double diffusive interior, convective boundary mixing processes following the shelf cascading of Mediterranean water drive interior renewal processes in the upper 500m of the Black Sea, leading to multi-decadal to centennial and millennial scale evolution of the interior. Tracer studies have shown the role of specific cascading and mixing processes in the interior re-distribution of properties at intermediate depth. The chemical stratification of the interior, mediated by subtle hydrochemical processes plays an all-important role in the Black Sea ecosystem. The parameterization of mixing processes in the Black Sea is a problem of utmost importance, that could lead to improvements in long-term predictive capabilities of coupled hydrodynamical and ecosystem models. TSS and inter-basin coupling: It is not possible to understand the water and material budgets of the Black Sea without understanding the two-layer stratified exchange flows and the dynamic controls imposed at the Turkish Straits System (TSS). The interactive behaviour of the Black Sea with the TSS is a truly multi22 Key research issues: Investigation of the elements and variability of the hydrological cycle and contributions to the stratification, mixing, circulation, transport of materials and productivity in the Black Sea region. Predictions of the short and long-term transport of land-based materials (including pollutants) by interactive earth system models including transport components in the atmosphere, the ocean and the river catchments. Parameterization and tuning of turbulent mixing and ventilation processes in Black Sea hydrodynamics models, for long-term predictions of intermediate and deep-water hydrochemistry with feedbacks on ecosystems. Analyses for understanding the hydrochemical evolution since ancient times and since the industrial age, with a view on the current risks of eutrophication, mixing/turnover in response to ventilation, exchange, and biogeochemical processes. Analyses of the roles of inter-basin coupling and multi-scale controls imposed by the Turkish Straits System on the Black Sea internal hydrochemical processes as well as the possible effects on the state of the adjacent Marmara and Aegean Seas. SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin 5.1.2. Understanding climatic variability and climate change impacts on coastal and offshore ecosystems in the Black Sea including the effects of ocean acidification Signs of climate change and variability: As inferred by variations of the basin-averaged winter and annual-mean sea surface temperature and the May-November mean temperature of the Cold Intermediate Layer, the Black Sea upper layer water column has experienced a cooling trend of about 0.7oC from 1880 to 1910, followed by an approximately 1.0oC warming trend during 1910-1970 modulated by sub-decadal scale fluctuations, roughly 1.5oC cooling trend during the next 20 years up to 1993, and an equally strong warming trend afterwards during 1994-2002. The latter warming trend brought the temperature back to its level at the begining of 1970s, indicating that Black Sea did not build up a net warming after the 1970s contrary to a steady global warming trend. The Black Sea interannual temperature variations on the order of 2.0oC therefore appear to be much more pronounced and distinctly different than ~0.4oC global temperature rising trend after 1970. The warming trend observed in the Black Sea winter temperature during 1910-1970 is however consistent with the global one with the exception of more pronounced fluctuations. The presence of large temporal variations observed over the basin is also subject to considerable regional variability. For example, winter sea surface temperature may vary as much as 3oC between colder interior basin and warmer peripheral zone and/or between the northwest and southeast sectors. In general, regional meteorological conditions in the eastern part favor milder winters and warmer winter temperatures in the surface mixed 23 layer. The western coastal waters that receive the freshwater discharge from Danube, Dniepr and Dniestr rivers and are subject to more frequent and stronger cold arctic air outbreaks, on the other hand, characterize the coldest part of the Black Sea. Based on examination of 12 tide gauge records around the Black Sea for 1923–1999, the sea level rise varies between a minimum of 2.0 mm yr-1 and a maximum of about 4.0 mm yr-1 over the last 60 years. The satellite altimeter data reveal a higher rate of rise of about 7.5 mm yr-1 during 1993-2007. This is slightly higher than the global average rise of 1.8 mm yr-1 from 1961 to 2003 (IPCC, 2007), 1.7 mm yr-1 in Atlantic Ocean and 1.1-1.3 mm yr-1 in the Mediterranean. We note a relatively minor contribution of thermosteric effect to the overall sea level rise. In fact, the sea level due to thermosteric effect decreased during 1970-1993 in response to excessive cooling of the sea whereas actual sea level has been rising. On the other hand, the thermosteric effect is a significant contributor and explains much of the observed global sea level rise in the second half of the 20th century. Furthermore, temporal changes of net fresh water input into the Black Sea (the river inflow plus precipitation minus evaporation) indicate a net long-term positive trend in consistent with the sea level changes. The positive trend is contributed by increasing river discharge as well as increasing precipitation and decreasing evaporation rates. Subdecadal-to-decadal changes in the net fresh water input also agree well with the mean detrended sea level anomaly. Periods with low fresh water input generally correspond to those of relatively low sea level that also coincides with relatively low sea surface temperature. Since the beginning of industrialization, the ocean has taken up approximately one third of total anthropogenic CO2 emitted to the SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin atmosphere. The continued uptake of menmade CO2 triggers changes in ocean carbonate chemistry and pH refers to as anthropogenic ocean acidification. At present, the mean pH of ocean surface waters is already 0.1 units lower compared to pre‐industrial times and a decrease by 0.4 units is projected by the year 2100 in response to a business‐as‐usual emission pathway. This change in pH drives profound changes in carbonate chemistry and is likely to affect the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems. Albeit extreme importance of the subject, no comprehensive studies exist dealing with the climate related changes on the recent state of acidification in the Black Sea. Biological consequences of climate change and variability: Similar to the tropicalization of the Mediterranean, an increase in the rate of new Mediterranean species arriving and establishing new niches in the Black Sea (i.e. an increasing rate of Mediterranization of the Black Sea) has been suggested as an unequivocal signature of global warming during the second half of the 20th century. Warming also facilitated phenological changes in some fish species like the gilt-head (sea) bream Spratus aurata, the salema Sarpa salpa. They were used to seasonally migrate to the Black Sea for spawning and feeding, but they now intensively reproduce and stay longer for overwintering in the Black Sea. In addition to some suggested impacts of anthropogenic global climate change on the Black Sea ecosystem, the natural modes of climate variability introduces even stronger impacts synergistically with other environmental stressors. Some examples reported by BSC-SoE (2008) are as follows. Bacilariophycae abundance (i.e. mostly diatoms) in western coastal waters displays by a linear rising trend in relatively cold years 24 1970 to 1993 and vise versa during the intense warming period after 1993. A similar decrease is also noted during the warming phase before 1970. Mesozooplankton biomass of the centraleastern Black Sea tends to increase (decrease) in warm (cold) years. The boreal cold-water organism N. scintillans maintains a more favourable reproduction capability during cooler late-spring (May– June) temperatures following more severe winters along the Bulgarian coast. Noctiluca biomass therefore increased an order of magnitude during the 1970s cooling period and then declined gradually during the subsequent warming phase of the 1990s. But factors like species food competition and prey-predator interactions should also contribute to their biomass changes. Relatively high Mnemiopsis abundance (>2000 ind/m2) in the eastern Black Sea during August of 1989-2003 is positively correlated with warm temperatures (2627oC) during 1989-1991 and 2000-2001. Similarly, the relatively cold periods (~24oC) of 1992-1993 and 2003-2004 are characterized by an order of magnitude lower abundances (~200 ind/m2). The doubling of annual-mean oxygen concentration from 170 μM to ~300 μM in the layer between σt ~14.45 and 14.6 kg m-3 density surfaces, corresponding roughly to the base of the euphotic zone, in the northeastern basin from the early 1980s to the early 1990s is consistent with the cooling trend of the May-November mean CIL temperature. Conversely, the subsequent decreasing trend for another 10 years up to 2002 follows the warming trend in the CIL temperature. Relatively higher subsurface oxygen concentrations during cold years should be associated with higher rate of ventilation of the euphotic zone and accumulation of more oxygen in the water column. SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin Cold years also characterize relatively higher phytoplankton biomass. Normally, years with high phytoplankton production are expected to have low oxygen concentrations due to more intense oxygen consumption associated with more intense remineralisation process. The positive correlation between the subsurface oxygen concentration and phytoplankton biomass may suggest that the rate of oxygen production during cold years is apparently a more dominant process than its consumption due to more enhanced plankton production over the year. The small pelagic fish (mainly the sum of anchovy and sprat) catch is higher during the climatic cooling phase of the 1970s and 1980s and vice versa for the 1990s. The anchovy catch size along the Turkish coast is positively correlated with the monthly temperature changes of November-February period and the number of fishing days with an optimum temperature range of 9.414.5oC. Link between regional climate and teleconnection patterns: There is a high and significant correlation between the basinaveraged winter-mean SST and the wintermean air temperature anomaly and the NAO index. They provide compelling evidence for regulation of the regional hydrometeorological conditions in the Black Sea by large scale climatic teleconnection patterns. The long-term (1910-1970) warming trend coincides with declining NAO index values toward more negative values whereas the subsequent cooling up to the mid-1990s is related to strengthening of the NAO toward its more positive phase. Therefore, more positive NAO values imply colder, drier and more severe winters in the Black Sea that is opposite to the conditions of wetter and milder winters in the northwestern European seas. The changes in long-term detrended average sea level reveal a negative correlation with the winter-mean NAO index. In general, 25 positive NAO index values are associated with relatively low sea level. In addition, the North Sea - Caspian pattern (NCP) is also shown to explain some of the variability on the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas hydro-meteorological properties. On the other hand, while El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon constitutes a major source of interannual climate variability over much of the globe, it introduces a weak influence on the climate of the Eastern Mediterranean-Black Sea region. Key research issues: Effects of climate-induced changes in hydrographic, hydrochemical structure and circulation patterns on structure and function of the food web. Feedback mechanisms between the dynamic processes leading to anthropogenic global warming and natural modes of climate variability. Identification of ecosystem vulnerability (resilience) during abrupt transitions in response to climate change. Climate-adaptation management strategies to preserve ecosystem goods and services Develop knowledge of multiple sources and scales of ecosystem change to design management strategies. 5.1.3. Changes in biodiversity and habitats, noting the introduction and impacts of invasive species Due to its specific features the Black Sea is characterized by a naturally low species diversity (about 3 times lower) than for example the Mediterranean sea. Even if emerging from its highly degraded state during 1980-1990s, the Black Sea ecosystem is still considered in a transitional phase which makes it particularly sensitive to external drivers basically related to cooling and warming events (SoE, 2008), and the SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin continuous anthropogenic pressures over the basin. and natural Better understanding of the ecosystem structure and functioning supported by in situ experiments and integrated monitoring at required temporal and special scales is of crucial importance. The monitoring activity will also provide the necessary information to update the list and conservation status of BS threatened species, as well as their critical habitats. Understanding the value of all the various components of marine biodiversity (as an integrity of species, habitats, structure, function and the related ecosystem processes) is essential if we are to minimise the negative impacts of human activities and advise adaptive management policy. Habitat loss or damage in the Black Sea shelf is evident and areal coverage of a well known macrophytobenthos species has decreased substantially from 1970s to 2000 (SoE, 2008). It is also necessary to mention that the spatial distribution of benthic flora and fauna is not adequately studied, thus habitat mapping is not well advanced. To this end, and as targeted in the Black Sea SAP (2009), the inventory has been developed and should be finalized and a mapping system for the Black Sea habitats is to be established. Based on this information, rehabilitation methods (e.g. artificial reefs) could also be investigated to restore the habitats. The basin needs more protected areas at coastal and marine regions to protect biodiversity and also sustain the stocks of living resources. This has been proposed as a network of protected areas at the regional level and some countries should have had the priority to designate these areas in their national waters or in transboundary areas in cooperation with neighboring countries. 26 Identifying ecologically or biologically significant marine areas in need of protection in coastal and open-sea waters is a task of high priority in the Black Sea. The criteria to designate such areas as protected include uniqueness or rarity; special importance for life-history stages of species; importance for threatened, endangered or declining species and/or habitats; vulnerability, fragility, sensitivity or slow recovery; biological productivity; biological diversity; and naturalness. Relevant scientific studies should be organised in a systematic mode. Introduction of any non-native species might have destructive effects on the Black Sea ecosystem as it had happened during the introduction of Mnemiopsis leidyi in late 80s with ballast waters, a period known as ‘jellies replaced the fish’. The trend began during the phase of the intense eutrophication in the Black Sea and the invasive establishment of Mnemiopsis leidyi was preceeded by zooplankton shift in favour of non-trophic species (Noctilluca scintillans and Aurelia aurita) and the wasp-waist control of gelatinous zooplankton then contributed to the very low level of fodder mesozooplankton, which in return supplemented the over-fishing in the reduction of the stocks of valuable commercial species. After mid 90s, when Beroe ovata settled in the Black Sea, Mnemiopsis population started to decrease, favouring the recovery of edible zooplankton both in species composition and abundance. Ironically, some other invasive species such as the Japanese snail Rapana venosa has become commercially important fishery target, despite its great damage to the benthic ecosystem through predation on the native Mediterranean mussel populations. Research and monitoring efforts are needed to assess the abundance and present state of non-indigenous species and assess the impact SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin of invasives, including economic valuations of degradation and long run commercial profits (as in the case of Rapana) to recommend mitigation activities. Fig. 5:Iinvaders: Rapana eats black mussel. Determination of the ratio between invasive non-indigenous species and native species in some well studied taxonomic groups (e.g. fish, macroalgae, molluscs) shall provide a measure of change in Black Sea species composition. Relevant inventories are in process of development and their advancement needs to be further supported. Besides, monitoring of invasive species in ballast tanks and within harbour surveys, the assessment of risks of their transfer via maritime transportation is necessary. Black Sea is notorious for its many unintentionally introduced aliens. Shipping is the main vector delivering alien species to the Black Sea coast. One strong reason that makes the Black Sea a favorable host for new comers is its unbalanced and damaged ecosystem structure. Since the system is at its transitional phase, as mentioned above, in addition to the monitoring special attention should be given to risk analysis for target species of high potential to become established in the Black Sea. 27 Biodiversity, in general, is fragmentarily studied:comprehensive inventories of species (check-list) are not finalized for some groups; a lot of uncertainties exist in the proper taxonomic identification of species; there are serious gaps in the investigation of important phylla of marine biota (microbes and viruses, fungi); modern methods of taxonomic revisions (genetic analysis) are of limited application. Further research is needed to better understand the fundamental role of biodiversity in the provision of ecosystem services: energy transport through the foodweb, plankton/benthic coupling, life-cycle traits, role of secondary metabolites (infochemicals as mediators), functional biodiversity, synthesis of biodiversity results into operational indicators of ecological state in addition to provision of goods and services of socio-economic importance. Key research issues: Develop of novel tools for research and monitoring of non-native species and ecological impact assessment. Habitat mapping design for development of a classification system of Black Sea habitats including pelagic domain). Assessment of the effects of marine biodiversity in food-web energy transfer (structure and functioning) and ecosystem resilience. Synthesis of biodiversity results into operational indicators of ecological state (MSFD/GES relevant) based on scenario analysis and model simulations under various natural and anthropogenic pressures. Taxonomic revisions of species based on modern research tools (genetics and genomics) including microbes and viruses. SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin 5.1.4. Understanding and governing eutrophication of the coastal and open parts of the sea: biogeochemical and primary biological basic processes, mechanisms and consequences The process of eutrophication, which means an increase in the flux of organic carbon in an aquatic system, is often resulted from a proportional increase in the load of nutrients and leads to ecologically destructive changes: loss of water quality, decline in biodiversity, loss of marine biological resources, etc In order to address these problems, basic processes governing eutrophication should be investigated in detail. This is about fundamental changes in the biogeochemical structure, C,N,P,Si cycles, oxic/anoxic conditions, dramatic changes in the structure of biological and microbiological communities and associated changes in fluxes of energy due to perturbations in the processes of carbon transformation. The knowledge on nutrient inputs, ratios, distributions, recycling, and elimination has been critically important for the Black Sea ecosystem since the 1960's. However, the 1980's and early 1990's were the only periods of intensive basin-wide studies. An efficient monitoring and research system including the open sea does not currently exist and a harmonized assessment of atmospheric deposition, river inputs and inputs from the Straits is in lack. Sporadic research activities, though high quality and good for studying specific problems, are poorly connected. As a result, very limited knowledge on sequences and consequences is available limiting scientific support of integrated management at the ecosystem level. Available data demonstrate that the concentrations of both N and P were increasing towards the early 1990's. They have 28 decreased since that time, but remain at a higher level, as compared to the 1960's. The concentration of Si in the upper waters decreased by an order of magnitude from the early 1960's to the middle of the 1980's, and remained stable after that. Though these changes in the load and distribution of nutrients have been demonstrated to cause dramatic eutrophication, depletion of oxygen, build-up of sulfide, changes in the structure of biological communities, shifts in the carbon cycle, acidification, etc., the importance of other driving forces, like climate changes, trends in the fluxes of CO2 at the sea-air boundary, invasive biological species, etc., have been poorly evaluated/quantified, but often merely claimed. Changes in N/P and other nutrient ratios and their effects on the biogeochemical processes are to be assessed, quantified and parameterized for numerical modeling. The diagnostic and predictive capacity based on robust understanding of the causal effects of such ratio changes on the Black Sea ecosystem functioning has to be developed. For those, systematic studies, monitoring and modeling tools would be required. A nutrient modeling tool was asked to be developed in the SAP (2009) for source apportionment estimates to be done to improve existing understanding of nutrient sources that would directly improve the targeting and efficiency of management actions. Yet, to efficiently develop and run such models the mechanisms and basic biogeochemical, biological and microbiological processes are to be studied in detail, parameterized and quantified for the Black Sea conditions. The trophic level and the frequency of associated hypoxic events, as well as of the phytoplankton bloom events in the Black Sea shelf waters have decreased (SoE, 2008). SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin However, the pelagic system has often become dominated by coccolithophores and heterotrophic dinoflagellates. The biodiversity (eukaryotes, cyanobacteria, etc.) of this changing oxic environment has to be further studied and ecosystem models have to be expanded to include their dynamics. The latter will improve our understanding of the pathways and intensities of the energy flows in the Black Sea ecosystem, and of the type of its functioning (‘microbial-loop’ vs. ‘grazing’, fast sinking vs. slow sinking organic matter, Nfixing vs. denitrification, etc). Where it comes to the coastal areas, abundance of perennial seaweeds and seagrasses (e.g. fucoids, eelgrass etc) adversely impacted by decrease in water transparency will be important to more efficiently study for better knowledge on the scale of eutrophication and assimilation capacity of coastal waters for nutrients. Finally, the role of bacteria in eutrophicationrelated hypoxia/anoxia events in the shelf area has to be investigated. It is known that there are shallow hydrothermal vents in the Black Sea similar to the Mediterranean that are populated with bacteria. Some of these vents have been recently studied near the Crimea coast (data from the EU HYPOX project), but the scale and the overall effect of these processes for the Black Sea has to be investigated and evaluated. 29 Key research issues: Evaluation of different sources of nutrients (rivers and other land-based sources (including diffuse), atmosphere, regeneration and recycling (including microbial processes), N-fixation, denitrification, fluxes in water and from sediments), their importance for the stock and distribution of nutrients in waters. Understanding the impact of changes in physical conditions and climatology, changes in the load, stock, distribution and N/P and other nutrient ratios on the rate and pattern of eutrophication or distrophication (increase or decrease in the flux of organic carbon in the system). Understanding the impacts of eutrophication on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (primary production vs. chemosynthesis, trophic cascades vs. eutrophication, microbial loop vs grazing, bottom up versus top down control, energy flows, etc.) and on the C, N, P, Si cycles and biogeochemical dynamics of shelf and open sea ecosystems (oxygen loss, sulfide buildup, CO2 removal by coccolithophorids, changes in pH (acidification) and carbonate system, including Ca(Mg)CO3 precipitation and dissolution, etc.). Modeling scenarios and relevant economic valuations of eutrophication consequences and nutrient reduction schemes. The role of coccolithophorids in removal of CO2 in the BS with respect to potential impact of pH increase. SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin 5.1.5. Ensuring Good Water/Sediment/Bioresources/Beach Quality for Human and Ecosystem Health (including litter) Reduction of pollution and eutrophication has been a major target in the region, however, investigations and investments were almost only focused on point sources of pollution. Hence, atmospheric deposition and landbased diffuse sources from rural and urban areas are poorly understood and have priority for conducting further research/monitoring/modelling. However, despite of the long-term and often comprehensive studies on river discharges, there is no harmonization of river monitoring strategies in the Black Sea region, hence there is no clear understanding of the loads stemming to the Black Sea (both for pollutants and nutrients). Water/Sediment/Biota qualities are studied with different success, based on different methodologies and mainly in coastal waters. The distribution of major pollutants (TPHs, trace metals, detergents, pesticides, etc). is poorly known, especially for sediments and biota. The Black Sea is known for its heavy shipping traffic, including extensive oil transportation. However, illegal discharges from ships are not well known for their frequency and impact in the Black Sea. There is no properly organised monitoring of operational and accidental pollution (e.g. in ports, platforms, ship accidents, etc.). The influence of dredging and dumping activities is not well known as well. The relation between pollution/eutrophication investigated. erosion and is poorly harmonization of standards and approaches to the assessment of the state of the bathing water. Harmonization of methodologies and environmental quality standards is required for the region (SAP 2009 target) and further development of common classification scheme for water/sediment/biota quality is desperately needed for the state assessment of the Black Sea. Although the key contaminants are determined at the regional level by the Black Sea Commission, additions and deletions are required to be identified for the Black Sea, together with the sources of the new pollutants and their effects on the water and sediment quality, biota and humans. Based on above, and in combination with biological and biotoxicological studies, good environmental status (as recalled in MSFD) should be identified so that contaminant concentrations will not adversely affect marine ecosystems. Studies on the input, transport and dispersion of pollutants from local to the basin or a subbasin scale have to be conducted with the use of monitoring coupled with modelling tools. This would also provide for building of pollution reduction schemes. The regional marine litter assessment undertaken in the Black Sea (UNEP/GPA/BSC, 2009) has revealed the scale of the problem, gaps in knowledge and became the basis for the draft Strategic Action Plan for the Management and Abatement of Marine Litter in the Black Sea Region (BS-ML-SAP, http://www.blacksea-commission.org/_publML.asp,). The plan contains concrete actions aimed to reduce and eliminate where possible the ML problem in the Black Sea region. In support to research the Plan calls for: common methodologies, unified standards, guidelines and reporting format for the Bathing water quality is monitored by all BS coastal states (not the same for the quality of the beach), however, there is no SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin 30 monitoring and assessment of floating, submerged, sea-bottom and coastal litter, its sources and effects. Research needs have to be prioritized in line with the objectives of this Plan. The Plan stipulates the following needs in monitoring and assessments: spatial and temporal patterns of marine litter distribution, accumulation and transportation on the sea surface, within the water column, over the seabed and along the seashore with regard to hydrological, hydrochemical and hydrophysical peculiarities including the pronounced verticall stratification of the Black Sea, presence of stable and transient sea currents, seasonal and other fluctuations of sea level, etc. mapping of sources, hot spots factors influencing the input and accumulation of litter at sea and on coast, (e.g. role of rivers, floods, studies on storm waters effects and retention in sewage plants, fishing related litter – ghost nets, etc) adverse effects of marine litter on the environment, biota, public health, economics and social life predominating types of ML, microplastics at sea and in sediments, origin of ML modeling of ML distribution, backtracking of ML- biodegradability of litter, rates of degradation under the anoxic conditions of the BSdevelopment of novel methods and automated monitoring devices (hydroacoustics, ultrasound, etc.) One of the most effective ways of understanding impacts of human activities on marine ecosystems is monitoring the seafloor integrity and benthic habitats. 31 Key research issues: Identification of key contaminants for the Black Sea with their sources, levels and effects on water/sediment/bioresources quality,biota and human health (MSFD relevant). Common (environmental quality objectives) EQOS or GES has to be identified to obtain better regional assessments as a first step of management procedures (MSFD relevant). Origins, quantity, quality and impacts of marine litter (MSFD relevant). Condition of benthic community based on multi-metric indexes and other parameters. Deep sea research The biogeochemical processes regarding the Black Sea oxic-anoxic layer have been of great interest of different research groups where both observations and modelling efforts were considered. However, the existing notion have to be re-visited and further developed based on new monitoring findings to understand the effects of both natural and anthropogenic forcing on the characteristics of the suboxic/anoxic layers. Methane emissions and gas hydrate dissociation should also be further explored in the Black Sea deep waters and bottom. The influence of gas seepage on methane sources and sinks, aerobic and anaerobic oxidation of methane and the mediating microbial organisms as well as bacterial chimneys formation in the Black Sea should further be investigated. Characterization of the variability in seep phenomena requires an interdisciplinary and integrated approach so that to reveal their impact on sea budgets. Microbial reefs are of particular interest as a biogeochemical barrier, which catches considerable portion of methane seeping from the seafloor. SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin Mud volcanoes are also an important target for more detailed investigations because they are the only source of the seeping methane below the water depth of the upper boundary of methane hydrates stability zone in the Black Sea (i.e. > 725 m). The biodiversity of the anoxic bacteria is not well known in the Black Sea. Knowledge on this is important not only for their potential use in biotechnology, but also to be better prepared before starting the utilisation of the resources (e.g. H2S) from this huge layer. Phototrophic sulfur bacteria, such as Chromatium warmingii and Thiocapsa roseopersicina. In addition, Chlorobium phaeovibrioides are able to survive at depths of 660 and 2,240 m. There are some publications on higher forms than bacteria living in the anaerobic zone, but these data are still in need to be additionally proven. The general perception is that the found higher level organisms do not inhabit the anoxic zone but have been brought to it by currents or sliding sediments. Conservation properties of the deep see sediments – there are evidences that cysts and spores well survive on the bottom of the Black Sea under anoxic conditions. This interesting phenomena is investigated currently rather actively and further research has to be focused on providing the assessments, by the sediment dating methodology, of maximal age of the living cysts and spores. Radioactive pollution: Owing to its geographical location, the Black Sea has been one of the marine basins most contaminated with artificial radioactivity. During the preChernobyl period, the main source of radioactive contamination of the Black Sea was the global fallout from the atmospheric nuclear weapon tests, which peaked in 1962 32 before the 1963 Test Ban Treaty was signed between the main nuclear states. As maximum global fallout was observed within the 40–50oN latitude band that runs exactly across the Black Sea, this semi enclosed water body received high levels of the fallout radionuclides derived from the atmospheric weapons testing. Being a closest marine body to the Chernobyl NPP site, the Black Sea and its broad drainage areas have received substantial amounts of the long-lived artificial radionuclides, particularly 90Sr, 137Cs, and plutonium isotopes, released into the atmosphere from the damaged nuclear reactor and delivered with the air masses moving south and westward from the accident area. Besides direct atmospheric deposition, the Black Sea received (and continues to receive) additional radioactive input by river runoff, particularly to its northwestern area from the Danube and Dnieper Rivers. Resulting from contribution of the abovementioned sources of radioactive contamination of the Black Sea, the 90Sr concentration in its water ranks second after the Irish Sea, and third after the Baltic Sea with respect to 137Cs concentration in seawater. Post-Chernobyl tracing of the Black Sea radioactivity has revealed a higher capability for self-purification of its waters against soluble and particle-reactive radionuclides, as compared to Mediterranean Sea. Further research of environment halflives and removal fluxes of these radionuclides in the different Black Sea waters are highly required to update assessments of maximum permissible inputs of both nuclear elements. SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin Key research issues: Assessment of ecological and environmentforming role of methane seeps and the active mud volcanoes in the Black Sea anoxic basin. Evaluation of significance of the methanederived microbial reefs as a biogeochemical barrier controlling the input of the seeping methane to the Black Sea water column and atmosphere. Study of conservation properties of the Black Sea anoxic sediments for cyst, spores and the possible influence of this factor on the biodiversity in contemporary Black Sea ecosystems. Assessment of the current levels and trends of radioactive contamination of the Black Sea environments with special focus on development of radiotracer techniques to identify sources, pathways, cycling and trapping of redox-sensitive nuclear and non-nuclear pollutants in anoxic waters and sediments. Development of models evaluating the carbon sequestration in the Black Sea. 5.2. Applied Research: Science supporting Society & Maritime Economy 5.2.1. Renewable energy Within the next decade, modern world is determined to increasingly ‘go green’ from food products and construction materials, to social services and power generation. The UN and EU final polish to the Greening Concept through means of declarations, strategies and initiatives contributed to making the Greening Processes irreversible, not to mention to freeing-up resources required to finance a Green Economy transition20. The concept has been gaining in popularity with every passing year bringing into the focus brave and 20 Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication - A Synthesis for Policy Makers, UNEP, 21 February 2011, www.unep.org. 33 innovative scenarios of reducing the energy sector dependence on fossil fuels by increasing the energy efficiency and reliance on alternative/renewable non-fossil energy sources. By ‘renewable’ or RES is meant the energy that is capable of being renewed by the natural ecological cycle, while its sources would be wind, solar, geothermal, wave, tidal, hydropower, biomass, landfill gas, sewage treatment plant gas and biogases21. While biomass, hydro, geothermal, solar and wind energies are increasingly utilized for power generation, the ocean thermal, wave, and tidal action still wait for their sophisticated application technologies in order to come to the market. Marine Renewable Energy is understood here as Renewable Energy production which makes use of marine resources or marine space. Various potential sources of such energy include offshore wind, waves, tides, ocean currents, marine biomass (micro- and macroalgae), osmotic, thermal and chemical gradients. The vision of the Marine Board, which is a pan-European partnership of national organisations involved in marine scientific research is that “By 2050 Europe could source up to 50% of its electricity needs from Marine Renewable Energy.“ The implementation of this vision would require, among others sustained research to feed both innovation demonstration, and to develop appropriate environmental monitoring protocols. The below proposition for strategic development is focused on the environmental issues and does not address industrial and policy aspects. Hence, it is aimed to highlight the potential of marine renewable energy in the Black Sea and associated opportunities and identify the needs of the region and relevant research. 21 Directive 2003/54/EC, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/ SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin There is a consensus that high marine renewable energy resources around Europe exist off the coasts of Norway, UK, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and France. In the Black Sea area tides are insignificant for energy extraction, wind and waves resources are not enough quantified, but they are perhaps not as large as in the mentioned areas. Nevertheless, relatively strong winds in some areas along with somewhat shallow continental shelf make it easier to harness the wind energy by deploying wind turbines. Recently, Bulgaria and Romania started using and exploring the opportunities in depth for marine renewable wind energy options and plan to install offshore wind turbines. The offshore wind and wave power potential of the Black Sea should be assessed on a monthly, seasonal and annual basis. The assessment should be based on model simulations of high spatial resolution combined with observations from satellites and in situ observations. For the coastal areas where offshore wind farms are most likely to be sited, high-resolution wind maps should be provided. Osmotic gradient which is enhanced by the river runoff around Europe could support the production of 28TWh per year by 2040 (European Ocean Energy Association). Given the significant amounts of freshwater from the Black Sea rivers this source needs to be evaluated. The main challenges relate to membrane design. The next big challenge is to explore the usability of the potential of energy stored in the area of sharp gradients of chemical and biological substances. The potential of using micro-algae species in the production of biofuel has also not been extensively investigated for the Black Sea. All these new areas of research oblige: 34 An improved coordination between industry and research, including development of collaborative networks and consortia Education and training coupled with public and stakeholder support ensuring next generation scientists. Research and education efforts must target developing new areas of expertise in technology, ecology, and marine environmental monitoring. Development of relevant policies and infrastructures. Improving resource predictions for planning purposes and operations and providing open access databases and real-time information on ocean climate and related environmental parameters. Key research issues: Perform an inventory of the potential of various marine energy resources in the Black Sea.(mapping). Investigating the interaction between waves and (floating or moored) structures, and the optimum positioning of wind turbines within an array. Conducting wind wave climate reanalyses and forecasting (short-, medium- and longterm). Measuring, monitoring and mitigating environmental impacts of the use of renewables (alteration of water circulation and sediment transport patterns, physical and biological disturbance of the seabed and benthic habitats). 5.2.2. Maritime transport The rapid rise of maritime transport activities (ships, offshore platforms, oil pipelines and terminals, coastal installations and ports) has created major risks and threats to the environment, including marine pollution from oil, chemical and dangerous cargoes, air pollution, underwater noise and marine litter, SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin with adverse effects on bottom habitats, ecosystem health and fish migrations. Emerging energy corridors transporting huge volumes of crude oil and gas across the Eurasian continent expose the Black Sea and its coasts to significant pollution and other environmental risks that are amplified by the existing congestion at straits, near large cities, oil and gas terminals and commercial ports. Sea Straits have special significance for Black Sea maritime transport. The Bosphorus and Dardanelles are unique among the 264 sea straits used by shipping worldwide, because these narrow waterways provide the only access to international waters for traffic converging from the Black and Caspian Seas and the Eurasian hinterland. Next in congestion is the comparatively wider Kerch Strait, connecting the Azov Sea to the Black Sea, and carrying part of the ship traffic reaching the Caspian Sea through the VolgaDon Canal. Linking three continents, the TSS is four times busier than the Panama Canal, with about 10% of the ships carrying dangerous cargo, Roughly one half of the various accidents result from poor visibility, strong currents or winds in the Bosphorus, a narrow channel only 700m wide at its narrowest point and several almost 90 degree bends in its course with navigable channels of only 200m in width and often serving ships of greater size. Ferries carry 1.5 million people daily between the two shores of the Bosphorus, and swarms of fishing boats add to the congestion. Immediate environmental threats affecting safety and health of the Turkish Straits System are internationally recognized, while precautions taken since 1990’s have significantly decreased but obviously have not eliminated the risks. 35 Data analyses, risk assessments, management strategies and integrated ocean services for navigation and ship routing should aim to reduce risks associated with maritime transport. Advanced monitoring, detection and decision support systems are needed to provide assistance to controllers in complex traffic and accident situations, based on multidisciplinary data assembly, environmental forecasting and platform specific response characteristics. Analyses, mapping of risks and the development of integrated ocean services: Analyses of information on navigational routes and loads, ship and cargo characteristics, vessel risks and casualties (collisions, fires, groundings etc.) and the detection of environmental, operational and human factors in accidents, determination of the effects of ship handling (harbour and piloting services, load management) and queues at congested areas (such as straits, oil terminals and commercial ports), geospatial and mapping of the temporal occurrence frequencies of accidents are essential elements of research aiming to assess and reduce accident risks resulting from marine transport. In particular, near-real-time data acquisition based on satellite and in-situ sensor networks (currents, waves, sea level and hydrometeorological fields, pollution levels, hydrocarbons and underwater noise), integrated with forecasts of hydrometeorology, interaction of waves and SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin currents, fog, visibility, gust probability and storms at extended periods, ecosystem parameters, spreading and fate of oil spills, publicly shared on a large scale can aid navigation and ship handling strategies and safety at sea, while minimizing environmental risks. Decision Support Systems at Sea Straits: The saturation of traffic carrying capacity makes sea straits extremely predisposed to accidents, ending in collisions, grounding, fires and explosions involving ships, and oil spills presenting extreme risks for potentially irreversible damage to ecosystems, threatening the very safety of the maritime transport itself, and the surrounding population centers. Decision Support Tools integrated with forecasting models and observing systems (satellite detection and tracking of navigation conditions and distress, the existing information from Vessel Traffic Management Systems – VTMS, computer optimization, and critical path methods for ship routing), enabling continuous monitoring of environmental conditions will lead to the development and testing of scenarios for ship handling in waters of high risk, and emergency measures during accidents, considering all operational and environmental conditions together. These expert systems would need fine technical excellence, considering ship hydrodynamics, ship vibrations, manoeuvring and command-control dynamics, hydrometeorological and operational conditions, in order to reach a good level of expertise enabling early warnings and proper decisions in critical situations. 36 5.2.3. Fishery and aquaculture with focus on preservation and sustainable use of marine living resources Black Sea marine living resources (MLR) have been under the pressure of various transboundary environmental problems as well as unsustainable fishing activity (including illegal fishery), therefore, had a collapse period during late 80s and early 90s. Available statistical data and surveys show that MLR has improved during 2000-05, however, the stocks are still not fully recovered compared to the baseline state in 1970-1988 (SoE, 2008). Little effort has been invested in measures to manage the decline of MLR – hatcheries, protection/restoration of habitats, aquaculture, control on illegal fishing, etc. A major gap is indeed the lack of regular fish stock assessments with a cooperative common approach adopted in the region. Regional harmonization efforts have focused on only a few species but not to all that are commercially important. Besides, existing national assessments are mostly out of date. It is a basic need to understand the condition of stocks and to assess them at species level., Thus, statistics on fish catches is in need for improvement, and stock assessments require harmonization and regular update to ensure the rehanilitation and sustainable use of Black Sea commercial fishes and other marine living resources as required by the SAP (2009). Introduction of ecosystem based bioresources management will require stablishing the linkages with other trans-boundary problems such as habitat loss due to pollution and eutrophication, invasions, climate change, etc., and development of modelling and relevant decision-support tools. A network of marine protected areas for biodiversity and MLR conservation and rehabilitation should be built based on relevant scientific investigations. SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin The socio-economic impacts of the decline in Black Sea fisheries has to be thoroughly studied. Losses of employment and income for local communities would then be assessed and alternative occupation would be proposed. Cetaceans are also under threat due to bycatch (turbot fisheries, abandon nets, etc.), pollution and illegal captures.. Stock asssesment is needed to evaluate their current role in the food web of the Black Sea. Besides, regional by-catch and stranding networks are in need for establishment. to the fish schools’ passage through the Straits, in addition to the fishing and pollution pressures exerted during their migration. It may well be that the decease of some fish species known to have had spawning migration through the TSS and have almost disappeared may be related to such effects. Underwater Noise, Algal Blooms and Pollution Effects on Fish Migration through the Turkish Straits System: Fisheries have always been vital for the Black Sea population. In ancient times, fish migrating from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean were intercepted in the Bosphorus, led into the Golden Horn22 and trapped there by currents, where they were fished extensively. One of the main threats to Black Sea fisheries arises as a result of the spawning migration of some fish species from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. These fish become subjected to the extremely deteriorated conditions in the Straits and the Sea of Marmara during their migrations, and either become depressed by these conditions or even become exctinct. Underwater noise from ships, amplified in the shallow Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits has been found elevated by about 20-30 dB above the ambient spectrum levels compared to the deep ocean. The noise level is one the highest measured in the world ocean and threatening 22 The Golden Horn (photo above) is a flooded prehistoric inlet (estaury)of the Bosphorus dividing the city of Istanbul and forming a natural harbour that has sheltered Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and other ships for thousand of years. .. 37 The other effects on migrating species passing through the TSS are the exceptional levels of pollution, algal and jellyfish blooms that include toxic algae in the Sea of Marmara. The polluted conditions and ‘dead water’ zones of the Sea of Marmara with lack of currents and ventilation in summer months have been found to result in fish kills. There are cases of mucilage and toxic dinoflagellate blooms, characterized by complex aggregates covering parts of the Turkish Straits and becoming more frequent over the years. The highest chlorophyll and bacterial concentrations in the entire region including the adjoining seas is observed in the Turkish Straits System. In addition there is a considerable effect of overfishing in the Sea of Marmara and the Straits that curbs the populations of migrating fish, despite all efforts to ban illegal and uncontrolled fisheries. The Black Sea fisheries decline and loss of biodiversity have been previously explained by different factors, yet missing the effects of the TSS on the fish migration, which is a serious shortcoming calling for attention. SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin Key research issues: Understanding the condition of stocks and assessments at species level, including the spawning stocks of major commercial fish species via agreed methodologies (MSFD relevant). Evaluation of stock enhancement and aquaculture development. Assessments of the biological safety limits for commercial exploitation of marine living resources, impacts on biodiversity and habitats. Investigations of fish habitats, illegal and ghost fishing. Development of model-based management tools. Investigations on the effects of the Turkish Straits System (local fishing pressure, acoustic and chemical pollution, algal and toxic blooms, mucilage, jellyfish) on the migrating fish of the Black Sea. Impacts on the market and non-market economic values of the losses in fisheries and fish biodiversity. Integration of socioeconomic indicators towards ecosystembased bioresources management. 5.2.4. Marine biotechnology The Black Sea (BS) harbours a huge potential stock of marine plants – more than 2000 species of plankton and benthic microalgae and over 300 algae and sea grasses. The sea grasses produce large amounts of natural biomass that might be irrevocably withdrawn to 1 million t cast a year and used for energy or some valuable substances, while withdrawal of other algae, which are markedly less abundant, would undermine ecosystem of the Black Sea. An alternative path suggests farming of biologically valuable micro/macroalgae, especially Black Sea microalgae with high restocking rates. Researches in managed growth and biosynthesis of microalgae are the basis of the industry of valuable products and biologically 38 active substances (BASs) and of the efficient exploitation of microalgae of the Black Sea, this natural photosynthetic component of biosphere, In Black Sea countries the principal hindrance to practical realization of marine algotechnology methods is the absence of the theory of management of microalgal growth and biosynthesis; without the theory profitable farming of Black sea microalgae is out of question. Another important aspect is acquiring and manufacturing valuable organic and mineral commodities from microalgae; pertinent examples are food proteins, oils, vitamins, compounds of high bactericidal action, toxicants, volatile oils, gelling agents, cytochromes, amino acids, chlorophyllcarotene complexes, etc. Search for commercially promising microalgal species, in particular inhabiting the Black Sea, to be used as BAS producers is among actively developing trends of the biotechnology of microalgae and a pressing problem, too, because of: high biological importance of natural BASs as strong antioxidants, immunomodulators, radio-, UV- and chemoprotectors, antitumor agents, immune, cardio-vascular and nerve systems stimulators; the broad spectrum of application (pharmaceutics, production of nutriceutics, natural food colorants, dietetic foodstuffs, fodder additives for aquaculture, poultry and cattle breeding, cosmetics, etc.); the steadily increasing market need for natural BASs in response to the World Health Organization initiative for complete elimination of synthetic BASs from food and forage manufacture. SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin 5.2.5. Cross-cutting issues Key research issues: Growth management of cultured BS microalgae: the theoretical and experimental simulation. Microalgal screening for commercially promising producers of biologically active substances (BAS). Growing microalgal biomass as a biochemically optimal fodder stimulating growth and survival rates of different developmental stages of cultured bivalve molluscs, fishes and crustaceans. Designing the biotechnology for acquiring biologically important pigments from BS microalgae. Screening macrophytes having adapted to the present BS environment as commercially interesting objects for the biotechnologies. For rational use of BS microalgal biomass, it is important to work out biotechnologies for culturing new species fit for the fodder with optimal biochemical composition meeting the physiological needs of aquaculture objects. Therefore elaboration of new approaches to producing BS biomass of micro/macroalgae and the corresponding BASs is the essential background for advancement of small- and medium-scale business related to marine biotechnologies. Development of a more interdisciplinary understanding and expertise in marine biotechnology, and in response to this, new training activities as well as change in education scheme at graduate level in marine science are required. 39 5.2.5.1. Natural Hazards and Risk Assessments Coastal area, as a boundary between sea and land, is highly attractive both for settlement and for different human activities, which caused rapid urbanization of the coast and development of infrastructures, industry, transport system etc. Coastal zones cover only one small part of the Earth area, but they concentrate about 60% of the global world population. The Black Sea coastal zone has also recorded a great population increase and has become an overcrowded area. In the same time the marine-related natural hazards become more and more dangerous for local communities in highly populated coastal areas. The 2004 Indian Ocean and 2011 Pacific Ocean Tsunami events reaffirmed the notion that the protection of coastal communities from marine-related hazards is not just dependent on the existence of an effective technological warning system and communication network. These tragic events highlighted widely across the regions the high vulnerability of coastal communities, infrastructure and ecosystems in coping with such high pressures. Coastal populations are also impacted by a variety of other natural hazards, including erosion, saltwater intrusion, subsidence, and floods due to both storm surges and swollen rivers. The severity of the impacts of these natural hazards can be affected by some local factors, for example, the exposition of the coast to the sea, the presence or absence of natural protection (sand barrier, dunes, vegetation) etc. Exposure to such natural hazards is expected to increase due both to growth in population density in low-lying coastal areas and the effects of global climate change. Some of the coastal management responses that are SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin relevant to tsunamis apply similarly to the mitigation of these other hazards. The terms “hazard”, “risk”, and “vulnerability” can be defined as: RISK= HAZARDS × VULNERABILITY Since the 90’s several recent international agreements recommend the concept of Integrated Coastal Area Management (ICAM) and environmental decision-makers have taken it as the more suitable way to achieve the sustainable management of the coastal zones. Therefore, it is imperative to integrate hazard, vulnerability and risk within the ICAM context in order to better address management of these issues in coastal areas. In this context, the questions that rise up are: How can hazard awareness and mitigation be embedded in the ICAM process? What sorts of ICAM indicators may be used to assist the risk management process? What is the appropriate level of country response to some coastal hazard (considering the uncertainties, and if the perceived risk is scientifically justified)? What are the short and long term societal and economic benefits of hazard risk management and vulnerability reduction within ICAM? Trying to address these questions, the IOC, through its ICAM programme, is developed a set of guidelines on Mainstreaming awareness and risk mitigation of natural hazards in ICAM. Such guidelines cover the following aspects: 1) Quantifying hazards: how countries determine the frequency and magnitude of hazard impacts on their coasts? 40 2) Measuring vulnerability: What is “vulnerability” in the ICAM context? How to assess/measure vulnerability? 3) Risk assessment: what is a “risk” in ICAM context? How can risk be quantified? 4) Managing the risk: which policies and management plans, in the ICAM context, should be developed to improve the countries’ capacity of managing their coastal risks? 5) Hazard awareness and emergency preparedness: how to build capacity at community, national, and transnational levels to cope with hazard impacts as a response to the perceived risk, thus enhancing community, local authority and national – and transnational – resilience? 6) Strategic mitigation and adaptation: in the ICAM context, what are the strategic responses that countries can make at local, national and transnational authority levels to manage the assessed risks of catastrophic and long-term progressive events in the coastal areas? 7) Indicators of achievement: Which are the indicators of hazard awareness and mitigation (within the ICAM context)? The subject is in connection with the Tsunami Warning System projects being coordinated by IOC, in relation to the IOC’s Intergovernmental Coordination Group Tsunami Early Warning System and Mitigation System in the North Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas (ICG/NEAMTWS), especially subgroup which deals with tsunami early warning system in Black Sea. These activities should cover other marine-related hazards, notably storm surges and wind-forced waves, as well as the much more slowly impacting hazards of coastal erosion and sea-level rise. The topic is also inline with EU Flood Directive SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin (FD: 2007/60/EC, “on the assessment and management of flood risks”). Key research issues: Quantifying hazards: determine the frequency and magnitude of hazard impacts on Black Sea coasts. Measuring vulnerability: assess/measure vulnerability. Risk assessment: Preliminary Flood Risk Assessments, Flood hazard and flood risk maps. Managing the risk: policies and management plans should be developed to improve the Black Sea countries’ capacity of managing their coastal risks with the aim of reducing adverse consequences for human health, the environment,cultural heritage and economic activity. Hazard awareness and emergency preparedness: build capacity at community, national, and transnational levels to cope with hazard impacts as a response to the perceived risk, thus enhancing community, local authority and national and transnational resilience. Strategic mitigation and adaptation: the strategic responses that Black Sea countries can make at local, national and transnational authority levels to manage the assessed risks of catastrophic and longterm progressive events in the coastal areas. Indicators of achievement: the indicators of hazard awareness and mitigation. ecosystem. While no estimate is available of the aggregate magnitude of these values, they certainly amount to tens or perhaps even hundreds of millions of dollars per year. Degradation of the Black Sea marine system has resulted in the loss of some of the values referred to above. This environmental degradation in the Black Sea Region has been documented in the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (2008) and the State of Environment report (SoE 2008). Underlying the more proximate causes of degradation has been a number of social and economic pressures such as: 5.2.5.2. Socio-economic research The Black Sea supports a range of ecosystem service values, associated with coastal areas and marine living resources. Aside from the more obvious provisioning service values, there is a number of other biodiversity, biochemical and hydrological services performed by the marine system. Surprisingly little valuation of these wide ranging ecosystem goods and services has been carried out for the Black Sea marine 41 poorly regulated discharges (inflows of nutrients, resulting in eutrophication; inflows of pollutants); overfishing and use of destructive equipment (declines in populations of various living marine organisms; loss of habitats; and, the loss of higher trophic level predator species, which has altered food chain structure); intensive shipping (introduction of exotic species, especially the jellyfish Mnemiopsis leidyi); modifications in river flow regimes, which have affected the salinity of the Black Sea, sediments flow and had other effects; mismanagement of coastal zone (erosion of coastlines and others). The pressures cited above have led to changes in the environmental state of the Black Sea marine system, but these are only the intermediate environmental effects, as they have further impacts in social and economic terms. Impacts on the key sectors of fisheries and tourism have been studied to a limited degree, as have impacts on human health (SoE 2008). Sufficient information for other sectors to consider the environmental impacts of Black Sea degradation is not as available and SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin relatively little work has been done in these areas. Policy and institutional factors also play a role and can inhibit progress in addressing the problems of degradation. For example, most living marine resources are not owned but shared, and may be subject to regulated open access and the dissipation of economic benefits from environmental improvements. Use of the Black Sea and its tributaries for the disposal of wastes is free (un-priced) and so this ecosystem service is overused, imposing external costs throughout the region. On the policy side, general public policy failures include an inadequate regulatory framework, poorly coordinated planning mechanisms and a lack of enforcement of existing laws and regulations. Finally, insufficient international coordination, given the transboundary nature of most living marine resource stocks, contributes further to the problem. Key research issues: development of socio-economic data systems and analytical capability to support research, especially offering integration of natural with social and economic data sources. social impacts of environmental disruption (e.g. health concerns, loss of employment, reveniu, etc.) environmental governance and institutional analysis at the national and regional levels, development of indicator-based reporting. integrated ecological-economic modelling, with special emphasis on the socioeconomic implications of non-linear processes and ecological thresholds in the Black Sea marine system. bioeconomic models of fisheries and other commercially important resources to determine optimal management strategies. non-market valuation of ecosystem services associated with the Black Sea marine system. development/refinement of sustainability indicators for the Black Sea region (see SOE 2008). apply DPSIR model to evaluate socioeconomic drivers and their relation to environmental pressures and state changes, leading to social and economic impacts and, finally, policy responses . 5.2.5.3. Marine spatial planning and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) MPAs are most often established to promote the conservation of marine biodiversity, although they can also be used to benefit other interests such as fisheries and recreation. Marine spatial planning (MSP) has a much broader remit, providing an overall framework for managing activities in the marine environment. Using MSP, there would also be an improved ability to minimize conflicts of use in existing and future MPAs, and to take into account cumulative and in-combination 42 SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin effects in decision-making. This would provide information on where pressures are greatest, specific management is needed and where MPAs may best be placed. A framework of MSP would also make it possible to be forward looking and provide a clear, easily accessible mechanism for stakeholder involvement in planning and managing activities in the marine environment. During the last 20 years, countries in the Black Sea region have made certainly progress towards developing more effective conservation policies and implementing international commitments. Several marine protected areas (MPAs) have been established in the Black Sea waters in recent years (especially under the Habitats Directive in Bulgaria and Romania) and probably more are likely in the near future, taking into account the requirements of the Maritime Strategy Directive. Resolving the challenges of enforcing regulations within these areas will become more urgent as fishing depletes coastal resources. The implementation of the EU legislation in the new member states contributed significantly to the effective protection of the MPAs. However, the extent of protected areas still falls significantly short of Western European figures (World Database on Protected Areas, http://www.unep-wcmc.org/wdpa). Consequently, many Black Sea habitats remain seriously damaged and in need for legal protection23. At present, a regional strategy for conservation areas does not exist in the Black Sea. The process of designation of marine and coastal protected areas is in development 23 List of habitats critical to survival, reproduction and recovery of threatened flora and fauna species in the Black Sea was presented in the TDA (2008). 43 based on the national strategies and plans available in all countries. The increase of protected areas and the improvement of conservation of species, ecosystems and habitats, with particular attention to marine protected areas, and the management of them in a sustainable and environmentally sound way aiming at establishing the Black Sea Ecological Network of MPAs are among the core targets of the BS SAP2009 specified as follow: Consider the necessity of creation of new and/or expansion of existing protected areas, including transboundary areas in consultation with the relevant Black Sea countries with particular attention to marine protected areas. Establish or extend these areas where necessary, taking into consideration not only the status of benthic habitats but also the most important breeding, feeding and wintering grounds and migration routes of fish and marine mammals and birds; Conduct relevant scientific work prior, apply integrated index of biological significance of aquatic objects, etc. Establish a regional mechanism for regular information flow between authorities dealing with PAs management; Develop management plans; Monitor and facilitate the progress in the implementation of nationally developed management plans of the protected areas; Develop an inventory, classification and a mapping system for BS habitats; Develop ecologically coherent networks of MPAs. The principles of identification and designation of MPAs in the different Black Sea states stay non-harmonised, the practices are not shared, and this is another urgent issue SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin pending in the regional agenda of environmental protection. Guidelines for the establishment of marine protected areas in the Black Sea, recently developed by the ECBSea project (http://81.8.63.74/ecbsea/en/documents/rele vant/index.html) in cooperation with the Black Sea Commission, is an important harmonisation tool to take into account for studies underlying identification, designation, expanding and networking of MPAs in the Black Sea region. There is a draft List of Black Sea Habitats developed in cooperation with the EU Topic Center on Biodiversity. The List is pending for finalization; habitat mapping based on modern techniques should be the follow up. To facilitate the establishment of fishery-free zones and PAs, relevant mapping has been initiated in 2007 by BSC/PS and BSERP24 project. Total 44 regional maps (excluding Turkish waters) were prepared for areas of wintering, spawning and fattening of adults, juveniles and larvae and total distribution of species (for fishes – seasonal distribution, for mollusks – annual distribution). While being property of the BSC, these maps and similar mapping need to be further developed, better communicated to decision-makers and used in works related to development of MPAs network. 24 Key research issues: Determine new and/or expand of existing protected areas, including transboundary areas in consultation with the relevant Black Sea countries. Zoning in PAs. Development of indicators for assessing the management effectiveness in designated marine protected areas. Develop MPAs networks. Development of spatial planning (in the sea), taking into cosnideration multiple uses, economic benefits and sensitivity of ecosystems. A robust, ecologically coherent network of MPAs in the Black Sea as a whole will both contribute to, and depend on, achievement of other protection/conservation objectives (not least in pollution reduction, sustainable fisheries management, improvement of legislation and enforcement, and capacity building) set out in the updated Black Sea Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and Strategic Action Plan. For some species, such as dolphins and fish, offshore areas could be important for designating as MPA. Since such areas are utilized by multiple users at the sea –energy, industry, transport, fishery, aquaculture, etc-, a wider approach as Marine Spatial Planning could be applied. Introduction of energy, including underwater noise, is among the parameters which need to be defined to better substantiate conservation efforts. UNDP/GEF Black Sea Environment Recovery Program 44 SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin 5.2.5.4. ICZM, links with MSP & IRBM, coastal sciences & engineering Analysis of issues in marine and coastal areas and those originating from catchment basins reveals (TDA, 2008), that underlying causes of individual problems in many cases interact with each other, sometimes have common basis, and may frequently lead to effects of combined and cumulative nature. One of the root causes leading to wide range of such issues is poorly regulated development and resource use in coastal zones, and a brief tour around the region immediately reveals the large scale of this. Obviously, the multiplicity of interdependent problems there can only be dealt with and responded in a holistic and integrated manner. The Black Sea coastal countries, cooperating within the framework of the Bucharest Convention, agreed therefore to employ common governance methodologies based on ‘ecology tenet’, that coastal economic development (associated with the coast and the sea itself) to be sustainable should take full account of marine and coastal environment safety and consider also developments upstream in the wider catchment areas that may negatively impact the state of the Black Sea. the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Black Sea from Land-Based Sources and Activities (LBSA, 2009), which is urging countries (Article 4f) to endeavour applying the integrated management of coastal zones and watersheds. BS-SAP (2009) shares the common definition of ICZM with the Communication 2000 (547) from the Commission of the European Communities to the Council and the European Parliament on Integrated Coastal Zone Management: A Strategy for Europe (EU, 2000)25. In the context of Ecosystem Approach the harmonization of ICZM and MSP/MPA processes would be the manifestation of the principle of integration of terrestrial and marine domains26. The planning at landward and seaward should therefore be conducted in truly coordinated manner if the fulfilment of the ‘ecology tenet’ is looked for. In that way, MSP-MPA, ICZM-MSP and ICZM-IRBM links has to be established with legacy, planning practices, etc. for sustainability of the governance and environmental protection. Furthermore, sound scientific knowledge and information on coastal margins (lands and waters) and proper management of human development and activities in these areas are 25 In particular, through signing the BS-SAP (2009) countries confirmed (Article 3.1) to adhere to the following governance and management approaches: Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM); The Ecosystem Approach; and Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM). Combined application of ICZM and IRBM was repeatedly confirmed as a legally binding general obligation in the updated Protocol on 45 Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) is a dynamic, multidisciplinary and iterative process to promote sustainable management of coastal zones. It covers the full cycle of information collection, planning (in its broadest sense), decision making, management and monitoring of implementation. ICZM uses the informed participation and cooperation of all stakeholders to assess the societal goals in a given coastal area, and to take actions towards meeting these objectives. ICZM seeks, over the long-term, to balance environmental, economic, social, cultural and recreational objectives, all within the limits set by natural dynamics. (BS-SAP, 2009), (EU, 2000) 26 "Integrated" in ICZM refers to the integration of objectives and also to the integration of the many instruments needed to meet these objectives. It means integration of all relevant policy areas, sectors, and levels of administration. It means integration of the terrestrial and marine components of the target territory, in both time and space. (EU, 2000) SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin indispensible for achieving all four Ecosystem Quality Objectives (EcoQOs) set by the BS SAP (2009). In 2007-2008, the BSC ICZM AG27, based on analysis provided by the UNDP/GEF BSERP Project, made the following conclusions with regard to the medium- and long-term priorities for ICZM in the Black Sea region: Legal framework and strong management instruments are needed in all Black Sea countries to facilitate ICZM implementation on the ground. The Black Sea region should agree on and apply a coherent system of indicators for an integral assessment of the state of the coastal zones in the Black Sea, and the progress with implementation of ICZM. ICZM Guidelines should be developed to serve as a solution in a medium term. ICZM legal instrument, such as protocol to the Black Sea Convention, could be developed and adopted in the medium to long term perspective. Based on these conclusions, the BS-SAP (2009) contains two broadly defined targets (and related outputs) in the field of ICZM: (i) to further recognise and implement integrated coastal zone management principles (through development of ICZM Guidelines); and (ii) to disseminate the knowledge of ICZM at various levels of governance (through development of education packages and delivery of practical training). statements of the ICZM Communication mentioned above (EU, 2000), concerning the generating information and knowledge about the Coastal Zone (Section E), in which the European Community pledges to (i) promote the research that meets coastal zone management needs; (ii) put special emphasis on definition of indicators for the coastal zone; (iii) support education and training in ICZM. It should also be recognized, that the coastal management tasks and governance objectives can not be achieved without the application of sound science and its integration with coastal decision-making. Therefore, in the spirit of the Shared ICZM Governance Platform with Mediterranean, the strategic research agenda for coastal sciences is proposed to follow the two decades of best practice applied in this partner region as well as in the Black Sea area (see Annex 2, source: http://medcoast.org.tr). Based on the experience of almost 20 years of ICZM work within the framework of the Bucharest Convention and BS-SAP, as well as on the extensive collaboration with EU initiatives towards the Black Sea and other regional seas, the following key governance, policy and management oriented research areas are proposed for inclusion in the field of ICZM as part of the BS-SRA: These targets (and related research and development needs) are in line with the 27 Black Sea Commission Advisory Group on Development of Common Methodologies for Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Black Sea countries (ICZM AG) provides recommendations to the Black Sea Commission on integrated governance of the coastal areas and facilitates links with relevant national authorities, as well as with the international and national scientific expertise. 46 SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin Key research issues (ICZM, links with MSP & IRBM, coastal sciences & engineering): Research to support the development of ICZM legal instrument, such as protocol* for the Black Sea. Develop monitoring and research capacity in the Black Sea region to comprehensively study the state of the coast, with special focus on sensitive coastal resources and ecosystems (beaches, dunes, wetlands, estuaries, lagoons, bays, river mouths, etc.). Compile data in agreed formats for regular calculations of statistical, spatial and progress indicators for ICZM, including indicators defined for MSP and IRBM needs, and harmonized with coastal sustainability indicator schemes applied in other European regional seas. Adapt, develop and implement comprehensive set of training and education packages (based on experience from other regional seas) oriented towards the scientists, decision makers and practitioners involved at various levels in coastal research and management. Further promote and implement the strategic research agenda for coastal sciences & engineering** in support of ICZM in the Black Sea region, building on networking experiences of international scientific fora, such as biannual Medcoast and Black Sea Outlook conference series. Extend the research and application of the Shared ICZM Governance Platform developed under the FP7 PEGASO Project***. Establish on an operational basis the observation system of the Black Sea catchment, following the key recommendations of FP7 enviroGRIDS****. 28 * Protocol is proposed to prescribe ICZM governance themes of institutional and legal nature, such as geographical coverage in application of ICZM; coastal management legislation; instruments for horizontal and vertical integration; integration of various coastal policies, strategies, programmes, plans and projects; and administrative rights for the public to challenge them; participation in strategic and environmental assessment; performance monitoring and review mechanisms; and some other issues related to transboundary, national and local coastal management arrangements, including coastal conservation and sustainable resources use. ** Outlined in Annex II. 47 Research support and cross-cutting issues for fundamental and applied research 5.3.1. Development of support tools for policy implementation Development/implementation of environment-related legal/policy documents, strategies, plans, management programmes and informed decision-making all require problem-oriented scientific research at various temporal and spatial scales, and the subsequent assessments/diagnostic analyses provided. Data/information for these efforts in the Black Sea region comes from in situ and remote sensing data collected in the frames of different monitoring programmes and projects. Yet the data collection is not enough29, there must be an associated data management, data products production, and communication infrastructure. This infrastructure needs to provide data/information freely and in a timely fashion to both researchers and policy makers. So far little has been achieved in the development of such infrastructure and data sharing in the region. The regional data management tools are also poorly advanced30. The Black Sea Data-Information-KnowledgeDecisions ‘pyramid’ analysis revealed *** PEGASO (http://pegasoproject.eu) project (with duration from February 2010 to January 2014), among many other objectives, is building and promoting the shared ICZM governance platform in the Black Sea, capacity building and dissemination to arrive to a legal agreement framework for ICZM in the Black Sea, similar to ICZM Protocol for the Mediterranean. See Footnote for *, **, ***, **** . 28 5.3. **** EnviroGRIDS @ Black Sea Catchment (http://envirogrids.net) project (with duration from April 2009 to March 2013) is targeting the needs of the Black Sea Commission to help bridging the gap between science and policy by assembling an observation system of the Black Sea catchment that will address several GEO Societal Benefit Areas. 29 Obviously, for three centuries a huge amount of data have been collected for the Black Sea. 30 SeaDataNet/UBSS provides for meta data only. Most of the projects (EC, NATO, UNDP/GEF) created data bases which are not available at present for wider use. SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin significant gaps at all levels preceding the ecosystem-based management of environment protection. The relevance of the existing monitoring, data management tools, decisions, and assisting capacity of scientists and decision-makers are doubtful as reflected in different documents developed by the BSC. For instance, the ‘Diagnostic Report’ to guide improvements to the regular reporting process on the state of the Black Sea environment, elaborated in 201031, specified the achievement and the gaps in the national monitoring systems and in BSIMAP, as well as provided assessment of suitability of data obtained within the BSIMAP and external data sources (projects and national programmes) for indicators’ development as supporting tool for policy implementation in the Black Sea region. The analysis of identified datasets and BS monitoring/observation systems revealed gaps in regularity and coverage in the national monitoring systems, and non-compliance with commitments in terms of reporting, problems with data accessibility, compatibility and suitability to produce indicators. Further analysis of the accessibility of data and relevance of monitoring systems, availability of data management tools and their products usage at the level of decision-making, capacities and potential for change is required to recommend improvements. The MSFD requires the application of an ecosystem approach to the management of human activities and the achievement of good environmental status in the Community’s marine environment addressing North-East Atlantic, Baltic, Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The concept of Good Environmental Status (GES) is the core target of the Directive as described qualitatively in Annex I and Member States have to achieve it by 2020. These descriptors identified for eleven environmental issues have recently (COM 2010/477/EU) been transformed to sets of indicators guiding quantification of GES descriptors. The Directive will be implemented in two-phases: Preparation for GES (how it will be expressed for each specific region and made operational by 2014), and achievement of GES (development of programmes of measures by 2015 and implementation). Preparation phase consists of assessment of environmental status (initial assessment), setting environmental targets (objectives) both in scientific and operational terms and monitoring. Having said the background requirements above, the following are proposed for consideration to support the implementation of the MSFD (where applicable) or harmonise the efforts of the non-EU coastal states with the EU-member states. Beyond the need of the improvement of the monitoring and data management system in support to the regional and EU Policies; specifically the MSFD, environmental targets and GES indicators, taking into consideration Annex I and III of the MSFD, as well as the corresponding criteria and methodological standards are to be developed for the Black Sea. 31 EEA&BSC Project 48 SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin Key research support issues: Identification of suitability and introduction to routine monitoring of new parameters to improve the BS state of the environment assessment under the new conditions (recovery from eutrophication, climate change) Harmonization of monitoring and assessment methodologies used in the region, including fish and other marine living resources, cetacean surveys, marine litter in the sea, contamination of marine sediments and marine biota Development of methods and indicators allowing to monitor and rate the biological and ecological value of coastal zones Setup assessment criteria and methodology for GES descriptors. Determination of GES and decision on GES objectives/targets relevant for the Black Sea, in line with ecosystem quality objectives and management targets established in the BS SAP 2009 Build realistic and feasible management scenario avoiding conflicts between environmental objectives and socioeconomic development Development of socio-economic indicators to assess the associated impact of management scenarios 5.3.2. Observation and forecasting systems for operational oceanography The marine environment is a complex and turbulent system, characterized by strong interactions between physical, chemical, and biological processes. The study of these processes with meaningful observations is difficult because of their high spatio-temporal variability (1-1000 km horizontal; days-yearsdecades+). The wide range of scales makes it important to carry out in-situ observations at high spatial and temporal resolutions over long periods. The aim of operational oceanography is to provide in “real time” reliable information and 49 forecasts for the marine environment in order to support human activities at sea, exploitation of resources and the protection of the environment. The development of forecasting based on operational oceanography tools improves the understanding of the processes contributing to the actual state of the ocean in the shortterm, because better predictions require these processes to be adequately and precisely represented, while it is also most likely that the long-term response is also represented by the same processes averaged over time. Observing platforms such as the traditionally employed oceanographic ships, moorings, and floats are tools for multidisciplinary measurements of the ocean, but not always with the required spatio-temporal resolution. The key point here is to avoid any aliasing effect leading to erroneous conclusions. The last 30 years have seen an increasing number of actions dedicated to estimate the ocean state or observe how climate change has unfolded in the ocean. International programs such as the GOOS and ARGO have been instrumental in spreading and making available the observational tools of operational oceanography on a global scale, and also at regional scale (e.g. EuroGOOS, MedGOOS, MOON, MedARGO programs in the Mediterranean region). Despite the Black Sea regional initiatives such as Black Sea GOOS and occasional uses of ARGO and other drifters in the Black Sea, and the participation in the MyOcean program, there is much ground to be covered through regional cooperation. Operational oceanography encompasses (i) specialized observing systems such as repeated transects and mooring arrays (ii) multi-disciplinary observatories to monitor short-term as well as multi-decadal patterns in SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin specific areas (iii) general operational oceanographic tools such as ships of opportunity, XBT’s, floats, drifters, ferryboxes, AUV’s and gliders used to monitor significant ocean variables through continuous campaigns; (iv) remote sensing. projects level. Sustainability might be problem or might still lack of all information. Recommendations for the networking at the regional level might be provided for the implementation strategy of this regional research plan. Further development of operational observing systems and networks in the Black Sea is much needed to better address diagnosis and prognosis of circulation and ecosystem state, in general, under climate and anthropogenic forcing of various temporal and spatial scales. Marine research infrastructure, in general terms, include research vessels, submersibles and unmanned vehicles, research aircraft, moored instruments, tide gauges, Lagrangian observations facilities, coastal and marine observatories, marine laboratories, satellite oceanography centers, modeling and data centers, and ships of opportunity. The existence of, and access to complex and modern research infrastructure is a prerequisite to a successful research strategy over the Black Sea level. They support both fundamental and applied scientific research on climate change, domestic offshore energy production, marine shipping, and severe storm tracking, sustainable fisheries, and changes in marine ecosystem services. Besides, sustained observations are essential at a sufficiently high frequency to explore the temporally varying properties of the sea environment and the complex interrelations between processes and properties from the top of the sea to the seabed beneath. A comprehensive range of marine research infrastructure will be needed to overcome the present challenges in marine science, and more interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research will require a growing suite of innovative infrastructure. Key research issues: Creating collaboration objectives among riparian countries for the development and support of observing systems infrastructure in the Black Sea, real-time in-situ data collection, process studies, coastal and open sea moorings, profiling systems, research vessels and ships of opportunity, observing platforms such as floats, gliders, ferry-boxes etc. Development of earth systems forecasting capacity, integration of atmospheric, hydrological, ocean and climate models, improving predictability through data assimilation. Integration and experimental design of observing systems, common data transmission, storage and backup facilities. Data sharing policy development, availability of observing and forecasting system products to the general public and the special users. Integration and collaboration with existing operational oceanography initiatives and development of common operational strategies. 5.3.3. Marine research infrastructure Summary of existing inventories of marine stations, research ships, research marine organizations, national and international projects. MIR has been still sustained at the 50 Despite the strategic and economic significance of marine resources, the Black Sea countries have national marine resource development and marine RTD policies or strategies. As a result, management of existing marine RTD infrastructures (vessels, observing systems, etc) and the planning of future marine research infrastructures is based on SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin and reflects national priorities. On the other hand, significant components of infrastructure in the Black Sea countries are aged, obsolete, or insufficient to perform high quality scientific research. Moreover, current barriers have inhibited collaborative efforts to plan for the operation and maintenance of major, high-cost, critical infrastructure assets such as ships, and observing systems platforms. The Black Sea countries should establish and maintain a coordinated plan for critical shared ocean infrastructure investment, and maintenance. Such a plan should focus on trends in scientific needs and advances in technology, while taking into consideration life-cycle costs, efficient use, surge capacity for unforeseen events, and new opportunities or national needs. It is recommended that development, maintenance, or replacement of marine research infrastructure assets should be prioritized based on (1) usefulness for addressing important science questions; (2) affordability, efficiency, and longevity; and (3) ability to contribute to other missions or applications. Among the European Seas, the Black Sea has very limited capabilities in terms of carrying out the state of art research in Operational oceanography due to the lack of sufficient data to be assimilated into the operational models, except the satellite-based information. It is appropriate to link the initiatives taken for the Black Sea marine research infrastructure with the concept of the European Research Area (ERA, which aims to coordinate research activities and facilitate the convergence of research and innovation policies at national and EU levels). 51 Key research issues: Identify important marine research infrastructure gaps and needs, and longterm marine research infrastructure requirements and investments. Identify the cost-efficiency of mechanisms to shift from project based short-term and unsystematic observational programs to long-term and long-time series sytematic sustained observations. Identify mechanisms to link marine research infrastructure needs with funding opportunities. establish an interactive web-based information system to provide access to information on Black Sea and Europe’s marine research infrastructures. Establish Marine Infrastructures Strategy Group and Forum for the co-ordination of existing marine research infrastructures and planning of future infrastructures (in the context of a European Marine Research Area). 5.3.4. Human Capacity Building Human Capacity Building activities and programmes are crucial both for supporting and creating new capacity of marine scientists and managers. In order to consider this huge gap (aging of scientists but increase of RTD demand), review and modification of education/training programmes could be suggested especially to support the new research topics and multi-diciplinary research. In order to achieve next generation scientists in marine and maritime research for the region, an Association of Young Scientists (http://www.em-a.eu/) should be encouraged to be established for the Black Sea. The platform should have incentives and be informed with policy/strategies regarding marine and maritime research. Good examples of similar initiatives could be contacted for advise SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin (http://www.eurocean.org/np4/file/2002/EuY mast_Forum.pdf). In parallel, a regional center/forum to coordinate trainings, regional mechanisms to exchange expertise and experts could be organized. Existing schemes of education and training should be used especially for the support of multi-diciplinary research such as the “Black Sea Universities Network” . The Black Sea Universities Network (www.univ-ovidius.ro), a network that involves more than 100 member universities from the region, is one of the frameworks suitable to strengthening the inter-university cooperation for improving the quality of higher education programs and facilitation of the involvement of students in marine and maritime research. At present, BSUN is coordinating the UN “Academic Impact” hub on sustainable development that is a platform for cooperation between the universities worldwide and the UN in promoting education for sustainable development (www.unaisustainability.org ). 52 SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin 6. HIGH‐LEVEL ROADMAP 6.1. Short Term Short term implementation strategy of this SRA is closely linked with the tasks of the SEAS-ERA project. One of the objectives of the project is to foster synergies at regional and pan-European level, mobilising competitive and non-competitive funds for research in a more coordinated way, through common programs and joint calls, so as to reach a critical mass to address major cross-thematic marine and maritime research challenges. Moreover, SEAS-ERA will be a step forward towards achievement of the Joint Programming concept that promotes the efficiency of funding returns by avoiding fragmentation and enhancing cooperation between partner countries research programmes. Common programming: Common Programming is an independent Work Package (WP2) in the SEAS-ERA Project. This WP is given the responsibilities to coordinate and to harmonize a step-by-step approach between the different regions to address a process towards common programmes, mostly based on non-competitive funds operated directly by the research performing organisations (RPOs). It will facilitate the exchange of methodologies among the marine regions and will monitor the progress being made during their implementations. It will be in charge of implementing the common transversal programmes at the pan-European level. More precisely it is expected to: define and share a common vision by the participating member-states on the application of marine and maritime research strategy to fulfil the requests by the society; combine and strengthen existing national programmes in a long term perspective; fill the existing gaps in cooperation by proposing new programmes; propose test cases for common programmes including the setting of the best common practices to reach excellence; implement common programmes at the pan-European level. Description of work Within WP2 firstly, the programmes implemented by the Research Performing Organisations (RPOs) will be addressed. It will provide programmes developed by the partner countries. For the programmes which present a high level of priorities, project analysis's will be achieved including relevant information such as objectives, content, duration, manpower involved, total costs, partnerships, infrastructure requested... which are parameters necessary to collect for entering in the process of combining programmes. All programmes will be identified independently of their funding sources e.g. direct funding from state ministries to RPOs, competitive funding by various national funding agencies, European agencies, international agencies and private funding (foundations, industries...). The inventories already produced by the previous ERA-Nets (i.e. MariFish, MarinERA and AMPERA) will be used, completed and updated as most of the information refers to competitive funding. Then, a synthesis will be provided to allow comparing the common priorities. They will be matched with the identify the right strategy to involve ministries as well as national research funding and research performing organisations in the decision and resourcing processes (based on the outcomes of WP1); SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin 53 priority issues devised in WP1 using the foresight exercise developed there, the longterm objectives being to help and steer the building of common visions of the main priorities of marine and maritime research. These visions will be addressed both at the pan-European level in this WP, and at the regional level (Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Sea) by the dedicated regional WPs. Secondly, the Strategic Research Agenda will be transferred into a list of eligible common programmes and a specific and precise organisational system for the key scientific challenges. In this regard, Common Programming Task (Task 8.2) will be the regional component of the WP2 in the Black Sea. Task 8.2 is expected to be one of the main tools to achieve realization of the implementation of this SRA. It aims at identifying the right strategy to bring together national ministries, research funding and research performing organizations to define a mechanism for the implementation of the common research component of this SRA funded with existing resources. This task will build and enrich the information gathered in the scientific component of the SRA, going more in-depth into the analyses of the current activities of the research performing organizations and the instruments for supporting regional science policy in the area of marine research. Call: Joint Calls are one of the core components of the ERA-NET Scheme. They are an important instrument in support of the development of the ERA, for improving the coordination of national and regional research activities and programmes, and enhancing European competitiveness. The potential RTD themes for pilot competitive calls will be selected among the 54 scientific component of this SRA. The call will be launched during the third year of the project (month 30). This will be a major milestone of the WP8. The results of the call and proposals for follow-up actions will be examined in a dedicated workshop at the end of the project. Black-Sea Era.Net: The marine related ERANet experience of the Black Sea Region in FP6 was poor since there were no participants in the ongoing ERA-Nets. However, in FP7, the research funding organizations of the region established BS-ERA.NET which became operational by January 2009. BS-ERA.NET is a networking project aimed at integrating the participating countries from the Black Sea extended region in the European Research Area by linking research activities within existing national, bilateral and regional RTD programmes. The project is financed by the European Commission within the FP7 and managed by a consortium of 17 institutions from 13 European countries, namely Romania, Greece, Italy, Turkey, France, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Germany, Ukraine, Moldova, Malta, Georgia and Bulgaria. The initiative has a major objective, amongst the others, of improving the coherence and coordination of national and regional research programs in the BS Region by designing a tum-key ready BS Research Programme. This will provide a good complement for the development of the Black Sea component of SEAS-ERA. A pilot joint call was implemented under the BS-ERA.NET Project and 11 Joint projects have been decided to be supported under this call. The thematic distribution of these porojects are as follows: Water pollution prevention options for coastal zones and tourist areas – 6 projects SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin Hydrogen production from H2S rich Black Sea Water – 2 projects CO2 capture and storage technologies for zero emission power generation in the Black Sea Region – 2 projects Exploitation and transport of mineral resources - impact on environment – 1 project Looking at the distribution of the supported projects and taking into consideration that more than 70 percent of the project applications were submitted in the area of environment, one can conclude that marine science is a very important common area of research for the countries of the Black Sea. In this regard, a synergy between two projects has to be created. This document may be used as a guide to the possible future calls under the planned Black Sea Research Programme. Keeping in mind that BS-ERA.NET is in its finalization process, possible ERA.NET Plus or Article 185 actions which will target this region have to be considered as important possible implementation areas of this SRA. 6.2. Long Term JPI Oceans: Joint programming is a concept introduced by the European Commission in July 2008 and is one of five initiatives aimed at implementing the European Research Area (ERA). The concept intends to tackle the challenges that cannot be solved solely at the national level and allows Member States and Associated Countries to participate in those joint initiatives where it seems beneficial for them. The Objective of JPI is to increase the value of relevant national and EU R&D and infrastructure investments by concerted and joint planning, implementation and evaluation of national research programmes. 55 Member States and Associated Countries are expected to coordinate national research activities in the broadest sense, group resources, benefit from complementarities and develop common research and innovation agendas, as a basis for long-term cooperation in order to face grand societal challenges. The Joint Programming Initiative Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans (JPI Oceans) is a coordinating and integrating long-term platform, open to all EU Member States and Associated Countries who invest in marine and maritime research. While bringing together the interested Member States and Associated Countries the JPI Oceans aims to add value by: avoiding fragmentation and unnecessary duplication planning common and flexible initiatives facilitating cooperation and foresighting establishing efficient mechanisms for interaction and knowledge transfer between the scientific community, industry & services, and policy makers at high level to more effectively solve the grand challenges. In its role as a coordination platform, the JPI will focus on the so-called institutionalised money within national research budgets which represent 85% of the EU marine funding. One of the JPI’s goals is to develop joint research programs in which countries can be involved on a voluntarily basis (variable geometry). Participating countries will also decide what contribution to make: this may include institutional, project-related or new funds. The JPI Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans will be run by a high-level Management Board with two representatives from each country with sufficient authority to SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin agree on joint action plans and potential funding initiatives across Europe. The Management Board will put in place a Strategic Advisory Board of high-ranked scientists, technologists, economists and representatives of industry. They will be tasked with developing a strategic research and innovation agenda (SRIA) and advising on the implementation tools needed. The Management Board will adopt the SRIA which will be used to produce an implementation plan. The JPI Oceans will be built on the principle of variable geometry. Participating countries will decide which actions to participate in and which contributions to provide. In doing so the JPI will seek to use the broadest range of funding and instruments available for research, infrastructure and innovation at national, regional and European level: additional funds, in-kind capacities (human resources, infrastructure and institutionalised money), structural and cohesion funds, grants, foster networking and research alliances (across the innovation chain), and mechanisms to foster open access to knowledge, data and information. The ERA-NETs have a lot of experience in solving the issues of cross border funding and the JPI could benefit from this experience to learn from best practices. Also in the development of its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda the JPI should take the know-how of the ERA-NETs into account. In this regard, SEAS-ERA is expected to provide significant contribution to the JPI Oceans. This SRA can be perceived as the contribution of the Black Sea region to the JPI Oceans. 56 The SRA implementation will be supported by the two main regional organizations – BSEC and BSC. BSEC, founded with the purpose of enhancing peace and stability through cooperation among the BSEC countries, has been an active player in many fields through its special Working Groups, including fostering of scientific research.The BSEC project-oriented policy is supported by two Funds: Project Development Fund (PDF) and Hellenic Development Fund (HDF). The Working Group on cooperation in science and technology is an important one among these worth mentioning, as it deals with horizontal issues which also includes marine sciences. The Ministers responsible for Science and Technology of the BSEC Member States have adopted in May 2010 the “2nd Action Plan on Cooperation in Science and Technology 2010-2014”, an important policy document regarding general S&T cooperation in the region. With its focus on four pillars of policy orientations, namely human resources, capacity building, research infrastructure and innovation, the document denotes the willingness and commitment of the BSEC countries for the enhancement of cooperation in areas which marine research should also benefit from. From a more particular approach, the efforts of the Working Group on Environmental Protection are also crucial. The Action Plan on Environmental Protection which was endorsed by the Ministers of Environment of Member States in 2006 calls for enhanced cooperation in specified areas, such as international cooperation, harmonization of environmental legislation, protection of the Black Sea marine and coastal environment, and environmental education and training. At the Meeting held in May 2011, the Ministers in Charge of Environmental Protection, decided to update SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin the Action Plan, according to the new challenges and priorities of the region. The Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the BSEC Member States held in November 2010 adopted the Joint Declaration on Combating Climate Change in the wider Black Sea area (“Thessaloniki Declaration”). The Council established a Task Force, within the Working Group on energy to promote Green Energy by identifying common aspects of Green Growth policies pursued by the Member States and exploring ways to develop Green Energy projects and investments, in particular on renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and environmentally friendly technologies. All these efforts are crucial, in the sense that they show the needs and expectations of people and civil societies in the region are properly adressed and suported at the political level. The Black Sea Commission is presently the regional Focal Point in environmental protection, dealing with monitoring activities, policy and legislation development, state of the environment assessments, decisionmaking, harmonization in different aspects (standards, methodologies, policies), emergency situations, etc. BSC is made up of one representative from each of the Black Sea coastal states, parties to the Bucharest Convention (Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine). The institutional structure of the BSC includes subsidiary bodise: Permanent Secretariat, based in Istanbul, and six Advisory Groups working in the fields of environment safety aspects of shipping (ESAS), pollution monitoring/assessments (PMA), land-based sources of pollution (LBS), integrated coastal zone management (ICZM), biodiversity protection and conservation (CBD), and management of living resources (FOMLR). The 57 advisory Groups serve not only as specialized technical bodies but also as an intermediary between the Commission and the national authorities and other stakeholders. The Article XV “Scientific and technical cooperation and monitoring” of the Bucharest Convention stipulates Contracting Parties to cooperate in “conducting scientific research aimed at protecting and preserving the marine environment of the Black Sea...”; conducting studies on assessment of pollution and of its effect on the ecosystem, establishing a pollution monitoring system for the Black Sea. The respective function of the BCS is to “receive, process and disseminate to the Contracting Parties relevant scientific, technical and statistical information and promote scientific and technical research”. The Black Sea Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (BSIMAP) is implemented by the Black Sea Commission since 2001. The BSIMAP is addressed to the main transboundary environmental problems in the Black Sea region: eutrophication, water pollution and water quality, biodiversity change and decline, habitats destruction and overfishing. The main purpose of the BSIMAP is to provide data for the state of the environment reporting, impact assessments of major pollutant sources, and transboundary diagnostic analysis. The final version of BSIMAP was adopted in 2006 at 13th Meeting of the Commission. The BSIMAP is based on the national monitoring and assessment programs. It is operational, providing common format reports to the BSC annually. The data from the reports are loaded into the Black Sea Information System (BSIS) and used to evaluate changes over time in the coastal and marine environment. Following the recommendations of the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan (BS SAP 2006), the SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin BSC is regularly organizing bi-annual Black Sea Scientific Conferences to strengthen the scientific foundations of the decision-making in the Black Sea region. First Conference was organized in Istanbul, Turkey in May 2006, second – in Sofia, Bulgaria in October 2008, and third - in Odessa, Ukraine in November 2011. The updated BS SAP 2009 was adopted at the Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Bucharest Convention held in Sofia, Bulgaria in April 2009. The need to support scientific activities was reconfirmed in its Management Target 25: “Support coordinated scientific studies, increase resources to marine science and improve capacity particularly through targeted training programmes supporting scientific projects/programmes”. Facilitating establishment of regional scientific programs is included in the Work Program of the Black Sea Commission. The Work Program contains provisions on integration of Black Sea scientific projects in the work of the BSC. Furthermore, the BSC promotes addressing SAP targets in national and international projects dealing with the Black Sea. Scientific news are published on the web page of the Black Sea Commission (www.blackseacommission.org). 58 SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin Annex 1 GENERIC EVALUATION OF STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT & MANAGEMENT IN BLACK SEA TRANSBOUNDARY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES (TDA 2007) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. Biodiversity Pollution Fisheries Degree Impactedby Issue Nutrients Biodiversity Pollution High Medium Low Fisheries Directly Indirectly Not Involved Management Involvement Nutrients Stakeholder Involvement And Impact Description Degree Impacted: Management of issue: Water, Hydro-meteorological Department Environmental Ministry32 Industry Ministry Energy Ministry Economic Ministry Foreign Affairs Ministry Defence Ministry Internal Affairs Ministry Agriculture Ministry Fisheries Agencies Social Welfare / Public Health Ministry Labour Ministry Public Administrator/ planning agency Regulator agent official/ Enforcement agent Shipping Agencies Parliamentary committees33 Inter ministerial Committees/Basin Committees Non Governmental Organization Scientists Manufacturing industry Agro-industry Live stock industry Shipping industry Fishing industry Harbour/port administration Regional government official District water management official Environmental Protection Agencies official Municipal Government Municipal waste manager Nature reserve staff Community based organization Worker on a state owned farm Worker on a privately owned farm Fisherman small-scale Educator/teacher Student Public health care provider Member of coastal community Tourism/Recreation industry Press and media International Funding Inst. 32 Natural Resources, Ecology, Water, Forestry, Sustainable Development 33 Parliamentary committees for environmental protection 59 SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin Annex 2 STRATEGIC RESEARCH AGENDA FOR COASTAL SCIENCES & ENGINEERING COASTAL SYSTEMS, CONSERVATION ISSUES Physical features; Geography, coastal geology, geomorphology, sedimentology; Coastal oceanography; Coastal and marine ecosystems, biology and ecology; Marine mammals, problem of exotic & invasive species; Conservation issues, biodiversity, endangered species, Coastal ecosystem management; Rehabilitation of damaged ecosystems; Coastal and marine protected areas; Coastal landscapes. INTEGRATED COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT Theoretical framework and case reports; Coastal management tools and instruments, databases; Coastal and marine policy, science and policy integration; Coastal governance, institutional arrangements; International, national and local efforts and programs pertinent to ICZM; Legal, economic and social issues; Environmental and ecological economics, instruments; Training and education, public involvement & NGO role, media role; Evaluation of ICZM impacts, coastal management indicators; Demonstration pilot projects. COASTAL MANAGEMENT ISSUES Coastal wetlands, coastal dunes, estuaries, deltas and lagoons; Beaches and their management; Coastal water resources and watershed management; Water quality management, water and sediment pollution, land based sources, hazardous wastes, algal blooms, bio-indicators of pollution and monitoring, pollution control, sea outfalls, waste water treatment, reuse and recycling; Marine litter, solid wastes management; Trans-boundary pollution issues; 60 Coastal and environmental impacts, coastal degradation, environmental impact assessment (EIA) for coastal projects, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA); Environmental risk management; Climate change impacts and adaptation strategies; Coastal and submarine archaeology; management of ancient sites, monuments and ship wrecks. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL AREAS Sustainable development concerns, indicators, sustainable development of coastal and sea resources; Coastal and maritime spatial planning; Urban development issues; waterfront renovation; Coastal tourism planning and management, facility siting, alternative tourism, ecotourism, recreation; Marine tourism, cruises, yachting, marinas; Living resources, fisheries, mariculture; Transportation issues: oil transport and pollution; Siting of major industrial facilities. COASTAL ENGINEERING, MODELLING, DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND DATA MANAGEMENT Coastal, environmental and ecosystem modelling; Coastal hydrodynamics; Coastal sediment transport and erosion; Coastal processes; shoreline management and erosion control; Coastal and ecocoastal engineering; Water level changes, sea level rise and consequences; Monitoring of coastal environment; Use of remote sensing technology and geographic information systems in coastal management. SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS Overall Coordination of the Work and the first drafting of the SRA is done by Dr Çolpan Polat Beken (TÜBİTAK/MRC) and Tarik Şahin (TÜBİTAK). Dr. Violeta Velikova (ex-programme officer for the BSC) and Prof Ahmet Erkan Kıdeyş (ex- Executive Director of BSC) introduced valuable inputs for overall consistency of the SRA via reviewing each section and helped TÜBİTAK in providing experts contacts. SRA Part EXPERTS CONTRIBUTED TO THE TEXT Lead authors/supporting contributions E-mail Introduction A Shared Vision For the Black Sea The Black Sea Basin: Regional Specificities and the Context A Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin: Objectives and Benefits Specific Research Priorities for the Black Sea Basin Physical climate, hydrological cycle, ventilation and Prof. Emin Özsoy inter-basin coupling Understanding climatic variability and climate Prof. Temel Oğuz change impacts on coastal and offshore ecosystems in the Black Sea including the effects of ocean acidification Changes in biodiversity and habitats, noting the Prof Dr. Snejana Moncheva, Prof. Ahmet introduction and impacts of invasive species Kıdeyş, Dr Violeta Velikova Understanding and governing eutrophication of the Prof. Sergey Konovalov coastal and deep parts of the sea: biogeochemical and primary biological basic processes, mechanisms (Supported by SoE (2008) and inputs of and consequences BSC officers and experts) Ensuring Good (Developed basing on SoE (2008) and Water/Sediment/Bioresources/Beach Quality for inputs of BSC officers and experts) Human and Ecosystem Health (including litter) Deep sea research Prof. Sergei Gulin Marine renewable energy Dr. Emil Stanev Maritime transport Prof. Emin Özsoy Fishery and aquaculture with focus on preservation (Developed basing on SoE (2008) and and sustainable use of marine living resources inputs of BSC officers and experts) Marine biotechnology Dr. Vitaliy Ryabushko Natural Hazards and Risk Assessments Prof. Atanas Palazov Socio-economic research Dr. Duncan Knowler Marine spatial planning (MSP) and Marine Protected Prof. Ahmet Kıdeyş, Dr. Violeta Velikova, Areas (MPAs) Dr. Tania Zaharia, Dr Valeria Abaza ICZM, links with MSP & IRBM, coastal sciences & Dr. Mamuka Gvilava engineering Development of support tools for policy Dr. Violeta Velikova, Dr. Çolpan Polat implementation Beken, Dr. Valeria Abaza Observation and forecasting systems for operational Prof. Emin Özsoy oceanography Marine research infrastructure Prof. Temel Oğuz Human Capacity Building Prof. Eden Mamut (supported by all experts) 61 SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin EXPERTS PARTICIPATED IN THE FIRST STRATEGIC WORKSHOP – 11 March 2011, Ankara # Name Institution E-mail 1 2 Çolpan Beken Ahmet Kıdeyş TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center Black Sea Commission 3 Emin Özsoy 4 5 Bayram Öztürk Ahmet Cevdet Yalçıner 6 Ertuğ Düzgüneş 7 Erdinç Güneş 8 9 George Kordzakhia Mamuka Gvilava 10 Kakha Nadiradze 11 Nicolaie PANIN 12 Marian Traian GOMOIU 13 Viorel VULTURESCU 14 Atanas Palazov 15 16 Volodymyr Novikov Olga ANDRIANOVA 17 Tamara KUKOVSKA Middle East Technical University Institute of Marine Sciences Istanbul University Middle East Technical University Department of Civil Engineering Ocean Engineering Research Centre Karadeniz Technical University (KTU) Faculty of Marine Science Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, General Directorate of Agricultural Research The National Environmental Agency Black Sea Commission Permanent Secretariat (BSC PS) Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, Sustainable Development Department Romanian Academy, National Institute of Marine Geology and Geo-ecology – GeoEcoMar Romanian Academy, GeoEcoMar – National Institute for Marine Geology and Geoecology, Ovidius University Constanta National Authority for Scientific Research (ANCS) Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanology National University “Lviv Politechnic Hydroacoustic Branch of Marine Hydrophysical Institute, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine State Science Institution "Department of Marine Geology and Sedimentary Ore Formation NAS of Ukraine" [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 62 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin EXPERTS PARTICIPATED IN THE SECOND STRATEGIC WORKSHOP – 16 December 2011, İstanbul # Name Institution E-mail 1 2 Çolpan Beken Ahmet Kıdeyş [email protected] [email protected] 3 Emin Özsoy 4 5 Bayram Öztürk Ertuğ Düzgüneş 6 Erdinç Güneş 7 Temel Oğuz 8 9 10 Volodymyr Myroshnychenko Violeta Velikova Mamuka Gvilava 11 Marian Traian GOMOIU 12 Atanas Palazov 13 14 15 Eden Mamut Amb. Aliosha Nedelchev Tania Zaharia 16 Viorel VULTURESCU 17 Olexander Polonsky 18 19 Volodymyr Novikov Sergey Gulin 20 Sergey Konovalov 21 Snejana Moncheva TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center Middle East Technical University Institute of Marine Sciences Middle East Technical University Institute of Marine Sciences Istanbul University Karadeniz Technical University (KTU) Faculty of Marine Science Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, General Directorate of Agricultural Research Middle East Technical University Institute of Marine Sciences Black Sea Commission Permanent Secretariat (BSC PS) SURDEP Black Sea Commission Permanent Secretariat (BSC PS) Romanian Academy, GeoEcoMar – National Institute for Marine Geology and Geoecology, Ovidius University Constanta Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanology Ovidius University of Constantza Organisation of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) National Institute for Marine Research and Development (INCDM) National Authority for Scientific Research (ANCS) National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU) - Marine Hydrophysical Institute National University “Lviv Politechnic National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU) - Institute of Biology of Southern Seas National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU) - Marine Hydrophysical Institute Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) Institute of Oceanography 63 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin SEAS-ERA BLACK SEA PARTNERS TÜBİTAK The Scientific and Technological Reseach Council of Turkey, Turkey UEFISCDI The Executive Agency for Higher education, Research, Development http://www.uefiscdi.gov.ro/ & Innovation Funding, Romania MEYS Ministry of Education, Youth and Science, Bulgaria http://www.mon.bg KyivCSTEI Kyiv State Center for Scientific, Technical and Economic Information, Ukraine http://www.cntei.kiev.ua/index_e.php SRNSF Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation, Georgia http://rustaveli.org.ge/index.php 64 http://www.tubitak.gov.tr/ SEAS-ERA D.8.1.1 – Strategic Research Agenda for the Black Sea Basin
