Lecture on seagrasses during a research trip to St. Anastasia Island

On the occasion of International Black Sea Day, a special research trip was organised on board the catamaran Anastasia with the participation of scientists, active citizens, and representatives of organizations involved in marine conservation. 

During the voyage, Diana Pavlova from the BLUE CONNECT project gave a lecture on seagrasses and their key role in the health of marine ecosystems. She explained the differences between seagrass and algae, shared information about the status of species in the Black Sea, and presented global efforts to restore underwater meadows as a measure to combat climate change and biodiversity loss.

Passengers showed great interest in the topic and actively asked questions - where sea grasses can be observed along our coastline, at what depth they thrive, how long they live, and how everyone can contribute to the conservation of coastal habitats.
Representatives of Burgas State University "Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov" and Burgas Free University also took part in the trip. Assistant Professor Elena Mollova presented the methods and technologies for scientific monitoring of the marine environment, and PhD student Desislava Geneva talked about the species diversity of the Black Sea and the fish presented in the museum on the island. Measurements of seawater parameters were also taken on site, which showed values within the limits of good ecological status.

The event was organized by the team on St. Anastasia Island. The island's manager, Pavlin Dimitrov, is a member of the Local Stakeholder Working Group (LSWG – Burgas Bay) for the BLUE CONNECT project, which contributes to sustainable cooperation between the scientific community, institutions, and local communities.