Please Join us and Celebrate the Black Sea Action Day on the 31st of October, 2020!

EVENT:  TUDAV Regional Conference on the Occasion of the 24th Black Sea Action Day

Online Meeting (with Turkish and English Presentations)

Join us to celebrate the Black Sea Action Day together with leaders, activists, scientists and policy makers – let’s discuss the current scientific findings, ongoing projects and potential solutions in safeguarding Black Sea biodiversity and in transforming the Black Sea into a sustainable marine resource.

Background

24 years ago, on 31 October 1996, the six Black Sea countries signed the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea to achieve the mandate agreed to by the Bucharest Convention.  The countries jointly declared that festive day as the Black Sea Action Day.

We are pleased to announce that we shall celebrate the 24th anniversary of the signature of the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan by having panel discussions with scientists, experts, policy makers and civil society. We, as TUDAV, have been actively involved in the first Black Sea Action Day 24 years ago and will remain dedicated in ensuring the protection and preservation of the Black Sea.

We are celebrating the Black Sea Action Day amidst a world epidemic….

This year’s Black Sea Action Day has arrived while the world is facing the coronavirus pandemic, a global epidemic unlike any other most of us have experienced. It’s a time we have all learned, firsthand, about the importance of adaptability and resilience. It is critical that we, as Black Sea coastal countries, celebrate this Black Sea Action day with the awareness that we need to take action to increase our resilience to future shocks. For that purpose, we need to increase our scientific knowledge and information.  To prepare adaptation plans, we need the contribution of experts, the enabling capacity of policy makers and the ownership of local communities. The impacts of the pandemic for Black Sea coastal countries have not been assessed yet with regards to the blue economy. Fish is clearly among the region’s most widely traded food commodity. Impacts to fishermen and all those whose livelihoods depend on the fishing sector are not known. Impact on ports have not been studied. Ports provide economic activity with the movement of goods, services and people; ships coming from ports, let’s say, from the Mediterranean, pass through the Istanbul Strait, go in and out of ports in all the Black Sea coastal countries. This increases the risk of outbreaks.

The pandemic has most likely impacted marine transport, economic activities in harbors, in ports, fishing communities and all those whose livelihoods depend on the blue economy…

Despite the challenges we are facing due to the pandemic, we are grateful for the rich resources of the Black Sea and must celebrate what it offers. It is critical to take action now to protect and preserve our Sea!

Science, Policy and Capacity Development …the Sine Qua Non of Preservation

Over the years, there have been numerous scientific studies and plans to improve the scientific knowledge base in the Black Sea and its coastal areas. There have been numerous stakeholder networks focusing on Black Sea environmental protection and sustainable development.  Civil society organizations have been involved in capacity development activities, education and awareness raising events. There have been many activities to interlace the link between science, policy and action. These efforts are all in line with the vision of the UN Decade of Ocean Science. It is our sincere belief that the Black Sea coastal countries welcome the UN Decade of Ocean Science.

The Black Sea Day is a celebration of communities living along the coasts of the Black Sea.

Please join us on the 31st of October and let’s celebrate, discuss, brainstorm together!

PLEASE CLICK TO CONFERENCE PROGRAM

PLEASE CLICK TO REGISTER

PANEL 1

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE BLACK SEA REGION

PANEL 2

MARINE POLLUTION IN THE BLACK SEA

PANEL 3

BIODIVERSITY AND FISHERIES

Discussions will focus on:

  • Scientific findings and efforts in preserving marine habitats and ecosystems;
  • Climate change impacts on the marine environment, potential socio-economic impacts to Black Sea coastal communities and adaptation efforts;
  • The critical role of the Black Sea in ensuring food security and supporting local livelihoods;
  • Civil society development and influence;
  • Aquaculture as the main component of a Blue Economy
  • International and national ambitions around the Sustainable Development Goals

Connect with speakers who will share their experiences and insights on ensuring a healthy vibrant and resilient Black Sea.

Speakers include:

  • Bayram ÖZTÜRK, Istanbul University, Faculty of Aquatic Sciences; Director, TUDAV, TURKEY (Opening speech)
  • Ülgen AYTAN, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Faculty of Fisheries, TURKEY
  • Irina MAKARENKO, LL.M Permanent Secretariat of the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution, TURKEY
  • Mustafa AYDIN, European Environment Agency (EEA), DENMARK
  • Jaroslav SLOBODNIK, Project Team Leader EU/UNDP EMBLAS-Plus project
  • Mihaela CANDEA MIREA, Director Executive, ONG Mare Nostrum, ROMANIA
  • Yavuz EROĞLU, President, Turkish Plastic Industry Foundation (PAGEV), TURKEY
  • Nato KIRVALIDZE, Director, Environmental Information and Sustainable Development Centre RIO; founder of the REC Caucasus, GEORGIA
  • Levent BAT, Sinop University, Faculty of Aquaculture, TURKEY
  • Laura BOICENKO, Researcher, National Institute for Marine Research and Development “Grigore Antipa”, ROMANIA
  • Osman PARLAK, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Samsun and Sinop City Union of Aquaculture Producers, TURKEY
  • Serap USTAOĞLU TIRIL, Sinop University, Faculty of Aquaculture & Society for the Conservation of Sturgeons, TURKEY
  • Derya URKMEZ, Sinop University, Scientific and Technological Researches Center – Hydrobiology and Microscopy Laboratories, TURKEY
  • Atilla ÖZDEMİR, Fisheries & Aquaculture Consultant, TURKEY
  • Traian CHEBELEU, Deputy Secretary General, Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)-PERMIS
  • Hasan DEMİRHAN – Vice President, Banking, Black Sea Trade and Development Bank
  • Yavuz EROĞLU, Turkish Plastics Industry Foundation (PAGEV) President, TURKEY

PLEASE CLICK TO PRESS RELEASE

About Arda Tonay