Brussels, 4th July 2023 - The Common Maritime Agenda (CMA) for the Black Sea made another step forward during the recent Steering Group Meeting held in Brussels on 4 July. The main achievement is the activation of the first technical group under the CMA dedicated to Sustainable Aquaculture. The work of the group will pave the way for enhanced collaboration, technological transfer, and the promotion of sustainable aquaculture practices in the region. The proposal was supported by the national coordinators of CMA participating countries Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Turkey, and Ukraine.
Under the moderation of the Romanian CMA 2023 Coordinator, and at the presence of various European Commission services, the Steering Group provided valuable contributions to further strengthen collaborative efforts on sustainable blue economy development in the region.
Speakers presented a range of regional initiatives and projects designed to benefit Black Sea stakeholders and to boost Blue Economy in the region. These included the EcoDaLLi Project, the SRIA implementation plan, 4bizproject, the Black Sea Accelerator (by DOORSBlack Sea and BRIDGE Black Sea projects), and the DBAN projects.
Regional partners and observers, such as the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR), the Black Sea Commission (BSC), the Managing Authority of the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), and the World Bank provided the Steering Group with insights into regional work and ongoing initiatives.
Acknowledgment and appreciation were extended to the National Hubs for their contributions to the CMA implementation. Their essential work offers tailored guidance on project development, funding opportunities, partner matchmaking, and addressing local priorities. Their active engagement highlighted the collective determination to shape the future for the blue economy in the Black Sea, raising awareness of the CMA via national and regional events and initiatives.
Stay tuned for further updates as the Black Sea region embarks on an exciting journey towards a sustainable and thriving future of the aquaculture sector and wider sustainable blue economy.