Over the past week, the city of Trabzon, Turkey, has become a center of discussion on the sustainable management of marine resources and the future of the “Blue Economy”. Representatives of the Burgas Municipality, a partner in the project “Empowering Blue and Smart Transformation of Black sea Basin- Blue Gates”, funded by the Interreg BSB NEXT program, also participated in the opening event of the project. The participants in the event examined key issues such as the development of aquaculture, innovations in the maritime industry and cross-border cooperation, which has the potential to transform the Black Sea region into a leading zone for blue, digital and green innovations. Among the highlights of the conference were the panel discussions, in which experts presented the opportunities for the development of yacht tourism, investments in fishing and yacht ports, as well as an in-depth analysis of the value chain in aquaculture and the effect of climate change on marine ecosystems.
In the presentation of the Municipality of Burgas, the Deputy Mayor of Burgas, Mr. Stanimir Apostolov, emphasized the importance of the Blue Gates project, for strengthening the economic and friendly ties between the partners and the transformation of the Black Sea coast into an even more attractive destination for tourism. Mr. Apostolov emphasized the ambition of Burgas to become a leading center for the development of the blue economy in Bulgaria and the importance of cross-border cooperation for achieving sustainable growth.
The event, organized by the Eastern Black Sea Development Agency (DOKA), brought together representatives of international and national organizations, including the Black Sea Universities Network (BSUN) from Romania, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University in Trabzon, Burgas Municipality, Odessa National Maritime University and others.
The meeting also included visits to key sites in the region, such as the National Aquaculture Gene Bank, where participants learned about the activities of the institution, which aims to preserve the genetic material and breeding of Black Sea aquatic species and the sustainable management of water resources. Trabzon, being strategically located on the Black Sea, is a major location for projects related to fish farming and marine resources in Turkey. The National Gene Bank in Trabzon plays an important role in the sustainable management of fish populations, not only focusing on improving these populations, but also on minimizing the negative impact on ecosystems.
The Trabzon Forum provided a platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience, defining the future steps for the implementation of the Blue Gates project. Discussions touched on important topics such as sustainable fish farming, minimizing the impact on ecosystems and promoting investments in the region. Participants united around the vision of creating the Black Sea region as a recognizable innovation valley that combines economic growth with environmental sustainability.
This meeting laid the foundations for deepening cooperation between the partners and launched a series of initiatives, such as the creation of the Black Sea Hub, which will support the transformation of the Black Sea region through innovation and sustainable development.
