The Black Sea has a unique ecosystem increasingly pressured by human activities and climate-induced stressors. Strengthening the Black Sea’s blue economy requires that its ecosystem services and their resilience to these stressors be effectively assessed, predicted, and managed through the development and application of state-of-the-art management tools.

Over the past four years, BRIDGE-BS has made substantial progress in assessing the effects of multi-stressors on the Black Sea. It has advanced data integration, modeling, and risk-based assessment tools to support sustainable ecosystem management. Through innovations in biodiversity monitoring, climate scenario modeling, and resilience analysis, the project is establishing a foundation for a science-based approach to safeguard the long-term sustainability of Black Sea ecosystem services.

Beyond scientific research, BRIDGE-BS actively engages citizens through a wide range of activities, workshops, trainings, and campaigns. One flagship initiative, the mobile and interactive “Experience the Black Sea” citizen science campaign, provides hands-on marine science experiences, ocean literacy activities, educational contests, and gastronomic events. This recipe book was developed within the framework of this campaign, celebrating the rich culinary culture and heritage of the Black Sea region.

Compiled under the EU-funded BRIDGE-BS Project, this book was created with the support of our partner organizations: METU-IMS, IBER-BAS, Marine Cluster Bulgaria, NIMRD Grigore Antipa, NIRD GeoEcoMar, the Department of Tourism and Resorts of Ajara (Georgia), TÜDAV, and UkrSCES.

Featuring seafood recipes from across the Black Sea countries, from anchovy and turbot to sea snail, the book invites readers to explore the region’s culinary diversity. Alongside these delicacies, a dedicated chapter outlines fishery regulations in each country, highlighting the importance of responsible and sustainable seafood consumption.

Through this holistic approach, BRIDGE-BS not only advances scientific understanding of the Black Sea’s marine ecosystems but also empowers communities to take an active role in shaping a more sustainable future for the region.