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Associated Regions

Ukraine: Restoring Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Resilience in the Odessa Region through Innovative Area-Based Solutions

Geographical Area

The Odessa region, situated along the northwestern coast of the Black Sea, is home to diverse and ecologically significant marine and coastal ecosystems. Odessa is the third most populous municipality in the country and a major seaport and transport hub located on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea. Its unique geographical setting includes a blend of coastal wetlands, estuaries, sandy beaches, and rocky shorelines. Among the region’s key features is the Danube Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which, together with the nearby marine environments, forms a biodiversity hotspot. Submarine seagrass meadows, rocky reefs, and lagoons such as the Kuyalnyk Estuary serve as critical habitats for a variety of species.  

Additionally, the area is of significant economic importance, with fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism playing vital roles in the livelihoods of local communities. The port of Odessa further enhances the region’s prominence as a major hub for maritime trade.

What BioProtect Solutions will be replicated

  • BioProtect PPGIS Analyser
  • BioProtect Good Practice Recommendations on Improved Governance
  • BioProtect Marine Planner
  • BioProtect Biodiversity Toolbox

The initiative directly aligns with BioProtect’s objectives by employing various BioProtect tools, including the Biodiversity Toolbox, Marine Planner, and PPGIS Analyser, to ensure science-based, inclusive marine spatial planning and ecosystem restoration. Through activities like participatory mapping, biodiversity monitoring, toolkit evaluation, and climate impact forecasting, the project addresses major threats such as pollution, habitat degradation, and overfishing. This action supports the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” by integrating innovative governance practices, enhancing community engagement, and strengthening ecosystem resilience against climate change. ​ 

Ecosystem Characteristics

In Ukraine, the Emerland network encompasses numerous sites dedicated to protecting biodiversity, including several in the Odessa region. 

Under the BioProtect project in Odessa, efforts will focus on restoring and protecting the following habitats and species: 

Coastal Wetlands and Lagoons: Areas like the Kuyalnyk Estuary are vital for numerous bird species and serve as crucial stopover points for migratory birds. These wetlands are threatened by pollution, habitat alteration, and climate change.

Submarine Seagrass Meadows and Rocky Reefs: These underwater habitats provide essential breeding and feeding grounds for various marine species. They are susceptible to damage from activities like trawling, anchoring, and coastal development.

Challenges

  • Pollution is one of the most pressing issues. Industrial discharges, agricultural runoff, and oil spills have introduced hazardous chemicals, heavy metals, and nutrients into the Black Sea.  
  • Eutrophication, creating “dead zones” devoid of oxygen and incapable of supporting life. 
  • Plastic waste 
  • Habitat degradation due to coastal development, including urbanization, tourism infrastructure, and port expansion. 
  • Disrupted natural hydrological processes, sediment transport, and ecosystem connectivity due to large-scale marine construction projects. 
  • Overfishing and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. 

Despite its rich biodiversity and economic significance, marine ecosystems in Odessa face numerous challenges that threaten their health and sustainability. Pollution remains one of the most pressing issues. Industrial discharges, agricultural runoff, and oil spills have introduced hazardous chemicals, heavy metals, and nutrients into the Black Sea. This has led to eutrophication, creating “dead zones” devoid of oxygen and incapable of supporting life. Plastic waste, another major pollutant, poses severe threats to marine species through ingestion and entanglement, further exacerbating biodiversity loss. 

The region’s ecosystems have also suffered extensive habitat degradation. Coastal development, including urbanization, tourism infrastructure, and port expansion, has resulted in the destruction of critical habitats such as dunes, wetlands, and estuaries. Additionally, large-scale marine construction projects, such as the Kerch Bridge, have disrupted natural hydrological processes, sediment transport, and ecosystem connectivity. These impacts weaken the integrity of the region’s habitats and their ability to support marine life. 

Overfishing and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing have compounded the challenges facing marine biodiversity. Iconic species like the Black Sea turbot and sturgeon are overexploited, destabilizing food webs and threatening the economic sustainability of local fisheries.

Responsible Team

 

Wojciech Szpociński

Senior sustainability and fundraising expert
[email protected]

Regina Mogorean

Senior Communications expert
[email protected]

Marcin Jarzynowski

Project implementation expert​
[email protected]​

Natalia Horshkova

City coordinator for Odesa
[email protected]