Workshop within the project "Raising Public Awareness and Reducing Marine

Litter for Protection of the Black Sea Ecosystem" (LitOUTer) in Trabzon, Turkey

On October 7-8 2021, in Trabzon, Turkey (in the conference hall of the Hotel Mercury), the international workshop within the project "Raising Public Awareness and Reducing Marine Litter for Protection of the Black Sea Ecosystem" (LitOUTer) was organized by the Black Sea Technical University (KTU). It was held with the financial support of the EU Black Sea Basin Cross-Border Cooperation Program.  This project is regional (implemented in 2020-2022) in cooperation with four partner countries - Turkey, Georgia, Romania and Bulgaria. The project partner from Georgia is the International Business and Economic Development Center (IBEDC).

Overall objective of the project is raise awareness of public and local decision makers and all stakeholders like: Environmental agencies, Maritime Agency, Businesses, Fishing companies, Environmental NGO’s, Research Institutions and Universities, Students, schoolchildren, General Public, Housewives from the target region.

The Black Sea is a fragile marine environment; countries continue to dump their pollutants/ wastes/ litters via river basin discharges. A solution coming from a single country is worsted nothing while litter carrying by rim current flow all around the Black Sea coasts. By this approach, four coastal countries should be in cross border cooperation under this project to improve the permanent solution to reduce litter discharges to the Black Sea. We, as partners, believe that LITTER “OUT” is not a dream for the Black Sea environment.

The event was attended by 60 participants, namely: project partners from Georgia, Romania and Bulgaria, stakeholders, representatives of the state, scientific and civil society. The opening ceremony was welcomed by the Black Sea Technical University Vice-Rector and local government officials. The delegation from Georgia was represented by the project coordinator Davit Tsiskaridze, Khelvachauri Municipality City Council member Guranda Dolidze and Euro- 200 Batumi School teacher, Tamar Bauzhadze. The project partners, academic circles and local institutions represented reports and presentations on project topical marine waste issues. In addition, the project approaches and materials on how to raise awareness of the public and stakeholders of marine litter were discussed.

The 2nd day of the visit was full of various events and activities. The day started with a visit of project partners in Surmen Municipality. Then, we visited the school, where the event was opened in a festive atmosphere with a cultural-educational program. It was attended by the Mayor of Surmen Municipality and local authorities. The main topic of the event was pollution of the Black Sea and awareness-raising activities. In addition, an exhibition of children's paintings, works and educational literature on marine litter was organized. The project team also visited the Department of Marine Sciences of the Technical University, where we got acquainted with modern technologies and achievements. The final visit was to Trabzon-Rize solid waste recycling company, where we got acquainted with the waste recycling production process and modern management methods.

Project executive KTU team, Georgian, Bulgarian and Romanian project joint institutions, specialists of KTU Faculty of Marine Sciences, Trabzon Governor, Assistant to KTU Rector, National Education director, related branch and specialists, environment and city management Assistants, specialists, Agricultural Province director and specialists, Health Province wise, wise. their helpers, their specialists, B. Head and specialists of the Environmental Department of Municipality, Municipality, Assistant and Specialists of Sürmene Municipality, Deputy and Specialists of the Miilli Parks Branch and Specialist, Sürmene National Education Müd, teachers, Ş.K. Safitürk Elementary School director and teachers, Assistant of Surmene Mufti and Imams, Ziraat Head of the Müh Chamber, Sea Chamber of Commerce and TURMEPA Trabzon representative, Trabzon Port Business director, head and members of the Feminart association, members of the NATURE History association, TISAD tourism association, supporting the project, chiefs, and press representatives following the project participated. We would like to thank them for their support and contribution to the reduction of sea garbage.

The ultimate goal in the LitOUTer project which will continue until the end of 2022; to make the community aware of the solution from being part of the problem of marine garbage, transportation, savings, ecosystem and the impact of human health.

The LitOUTer project includes various activities such as raising stakeholders` awareness through training and information meetings, organizing clean-up and information days, exchanging experiences and ideas between partner countries and participants, and sharing successful practical results, ultimately creating new opportunities for economic cooperation. Website - www.ibedc.ge