Dr. Barry António Costa-Pierce of Ecological Aquaculture International (EAI) has been contracted by the World Bank to assist assessments of the aquaculture potentials in selected Black Sea countries (Turkey, Moldova, Georgia) and briefly review relevant advances in Romania and Bulgaria. The roles of innovation and technology in enhancing sustainable aquaculture practices will be highlighted, especially the IUCN Global Standards for NbS and the FAO Ecosystem Approach to Aquaculture (EAA) to enhance the sustainability of aquaculture systems. Activities underway are:

• Assessing current aquaculture practices and stakeholders, identifying gaps in policies and regulations that hinder sustainable development, and offering legislative recommendations.

• Evaluating and recommending integration of innovative practices and digital tools to enhance efficiency and sustainability.

• Suggesting how to harmonize aquaculture development frameworks across the region, ensuring they are conducive to sustainable practices, and aligned with EU guidelines.

• Promoting adoption of aquaculture practices that can be classified as Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) to mitigate pollution and decarbonization, thereby contributing to the mitigation of pollution and climate change impacts and enhancing biodiversity.

The project scope includes evaluating NbS options in aquaculture based on their environmental impact (pollutant reduction), carbon footprint (emission reduction), biodiversity enhancement (ecosystem health), water quality improvement (nutrient cycling), and socio-economic benefits (job creation for women and marginalized groups).