Bulgaria officially joins the European project SEAGROW, which aims to develop sustainable and environmentally friendly models for seaweed cultivation. The country's participation is carried out through the Via Pontica Foundation and is focused on the Black Sea region – an area with great potential, but also extreme environmental sensitivity.

SEAGROW brings together scientific organizations, non-governmental structures and entrepreneurs from several member states of the European Union. The goal is to demonstrate how seaweed cultivation can be both economically sustainable and beneficial to marine ecosystems. Seaweed is not only a resource for food, cosmetics and biotechnology – it also has natural abilities to purify water and support the restoration of marine habitats.

Bulgarian participation is particularly important, as it will allow for the first time to investigate the practical applicability of such environmentally friendly approaches in the waters of the Black Sea. The research will show whether seaweed cultivation can offer new sustainable income opportunities – both for fishermen and marine entrepreneurs, as well as for coastal communities seeking an alternative to traditional fishing activities.

"For the Black Sea region, the project is a valuable opportunity to explore how regenerative seaweed cultivation can support both sustainable production and the restoration of marine ecosystems," commented Ina Agafonova, founder of the Via Pontica Foundation – the Bulgarian partner in the project. She added that "SEAGROW will generate scientific evidence that will show to what extent it is possible to apply such models in sensitive marine basins such as the Black Sea."

Within the framework of the initiative, scientific and practical data will be collected and analyzed, which will serve as a basis for future policies and decisions in the field of the blue economy. With co-financing from the European Union through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), the SEAGROW project will provide guidance on how to responsibly and sustainably develop seaweed cultivation in Europe – including along the coast of Bulgaria.

The project is of particular importance for people and organizations that see seaweed cultivation as a new opportunity for business or social initiative. It will provide a practical insight into how nature and innovation can intertwine to benefit both the economy and the marine environment.