The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, in cooperation with the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub, Istanbul, Türkiye, held an inception workshop of the GEF/UNDP/UNESCO “Implementing Ecosystem-Based Management approaches in the Black Sea LME” on 15-16 June 2026.
This UNESCO/UNDP/GEF Project aims to fill in the gaps and remove overlaps in the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable management of living resources in the Black Sea in Georgia, Türkiye and Ukraine. It will assist three national governments, as well as the main regional players (Black Sea Commission, Black Sea Economic Cooperation, etc.), to revise and strengthen their commitments in the field of biodiversity and the blue economy.
The Project will exploit existing and new cooperative arrangements with other regional projects and partners, including the European Union, UNEP/Mediterranean Action Plan, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, IMO, etc. This will enable the creation of synergies with other initiatives and the transfer of best practices to stakeholders in the Black Sea region.
The RESPONSE project, with its strategic input to strengthening the regional regulatory frameworks for marine pollution monitoring and response, will seek close collaboration with the Black Sea LME project in the partner countries, including updates of RAPs, monitoring data for BSIMAP, and collaboration with IMO and EMSA on regional issues.