On March 20, 2026, the State Institution “Institute of Market and Economic-Ecological Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine” hosted another training and information workshop dedicated to the development of updated training programs for responding to marine pollution challenges in the Black Sea ecosystems.
The event was held within the framework of the international RESPONSE project, which aims to develop response mechanisms to contemporary environmental threats in the Black Sea region. The meeting brought together representatives of scientific institutions, environmental organizations, local government authorities, port businesses, and international partner structures from Ukraine, Moldova, Turkey, Romania, Georgia, and Bulgaria.
The workshop opened with welcoming remarks from the Institute’s administration, represented by Doctor of Economics, Professor Oleksandr Laiko, who emphasized the importance of marine ecosystem protection and the potential of network cooperation under the impact of military actions.
International coordinators and project partners joined the welcoming remarks, including Professor Antonios Mazaris from Greece, Emma Gileva from Bulgaria, and Mamuka Gvilava from Georgia. They emphasized the urgency of developing unified approaches to training specialists capable of effectively countering environmental risks in the Black Sea basin.
An important part of the opening session were the presentations by Kristina Korotkih, Director of the Municipal Establishment “Sustainable Development Agency of Vyzyrka Rural Territorial Community,” and Natalia Beznoshchenko, the Agency’s Project Manager. They emphasized the urgency of developing unified approaches to specialist training at the local level and the necessity of adapting educational tools to new environmental security conditions.
Special attention during the event was paid to engaging the youth sector in addressing the region’s environmental issues. Anastasiia Hlan, a representative of the Youth Council of the Vyzyrka Rural Territorial Community, joined the event, and her participation highlighted the active role of youth in shaping sustainable environmental policy.
The main part of the event was dedicated to a detailed analysis of the types and sources of Black Sea pollution and their impact on the state of ecosystems.
Participants discussed the role of research infrastructures as a foundation for emergency response, as well as contemporary approaches to the monitoring and assessment of the marine environment.
Special interest was raised by the issues of modernizing the oil spill response training system in Ukraine and the practical aspects of engaging volunteers in activities during environmental incidents.
The event concluded with an open discussion, during which international experts and local stakeholders-including representatives of the Vyzyrka Rural Territorial Community and the largest port operators-discussed the prospects for further cooperation.
The joint efforts allowed for the alignment of strategic approaches to improving training modules and adapting educational tools to the new environmental security conditions in the region. The workshop became an important platform for deepening professional dialogue and enhancing readiness to overcome the consequences of anthropogenic and military impacts on the Black Sea.
