Overview
Context
DOORS (Developing Optimal and Open Research Support for the Black Sea) is a €9m EU research project will link citizens, science, and industry for critical Black Sea regeneration, stimulating a new wave of ‘blue economy’ opportunities. DOORS is bringing together the best expertise and technology from 35 institutions from the Black Sea region and European countries to address the human and climate change impacts in the marine ecosystem.
The Black Sea is widely considered as the world’s most polluted sea. It holds double the level of marine litter found in the Mediterranean and suffers from extensive eutrophication – high levels of phosphorus, nitrogen, and other plant nutrients. The poor water quality has had a serious impact on fish stocks and species diversity is under severe threat.
Mission
DOORS will bring the four pillars of the “Black Sea Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda” (SRIA) into reality. The project will harmonize research and provide infrastructure to better understand the Black Sea, the characteristics of the typical ecosystems, develop the framework to support blue growth and start-ups development, and provide the scientific basis for policy-makers in decision-making. To reach its ambitious objectives, the project team will work closely with stakeholders from the start to develop an open research system and establish a framework to support continuous stakeholder dialogue.
Objectives
• Engage stakeholders through communication, dissemination and training activities to raise awareness, build capacity and foster a stronger Black Sea identity
• Harmonise data collation, analysis and access to optimise data use in decision and policy making
• Strengthen the Black Sea scientific network through new collaborations, and bridge the gap between science and policy
• Provide a range of products to support Black Sea innovation and enterprise
DOORS will have long-lasting impact by giving stakeholders in the region the skillsets and understanding to:
• Implement key policies and legislation
• Improve environmental quality and reduce pollution risk
• Design measures to mitigate pollution and remediate historically contaminated areas
• Become resilient communities
• Realise and sustainably develop potential economic growth for future well-being
• Build capacity in existing industries, develop new start-ups and become actively involved in delivering Blue Growth
• Create ocean informed citizens to better understand Black Sea’s potential
Observational and data capacities in the Black Sea
This web-based mapping tool illustrates the main marine observing capacities and marine data infrastructures identified in the Black Sea: https://www.doorsblacksea.eu/observationtool.