Building Response Frameworks under existing and new Marine Pollution Challenges in the Black Sea

ongoing

The key objective of RESPONSE is to develop and test new training schemes and curricula for the monitoring, reporting, management and mitigation of marine pollution, with particular attention to pollution caused by armed conflicts. The stakeholders’ societal needs and requirements will drive the co-creation of the framework for the establishment and operation of an advanced training system. In RESPONSE we will Identify all types and impacts of marine pollution, that should be tackled, and prioritize the potential environmental risks (including hazardous substances, eutrophication, litter, noise, microplastics) and the threats to marine and coastal biodiversity of the Black Sea. We will work on this issue with key stakeholders, engaging them to co-create an effective, advanced and applicable training scheme. We will monitor and assess the framework upon commonly agreed, meaningful indicators and measurements, and will improve it accordingly. We will co-design, co-implement and co-assess the advanced and new training scheme and curricula, while we will propose and apply operating models for key authorities/organizations that are in charge of the marine environmental pollution response at National and Regional scale. Towards this direction we will explore and address the challenges, resources, needs and structure of these authorities/organizations aiming to provide tailored training schemes which will be performed, but also updated, on a regular basis for a long period. To seal the sustainability of these processes, RESPONSE will develop specific Action Plans to ensure a continuous interactive process with evaluation and fine-tuning well beyond the project, and the introduction of incentives for further participation and uptake.