Multi-Actor Forums and Innovation Pathways in the Black Sea: The case of Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Marine Tourism sectors

The Black Sea possesses significant potential for a thriving blue economy; nonetheless, it encounters distinct hurdles in achieving sustainable growth of marine businesses. DOORS Black Sea, a European Union-funded initiative, seeks to tackle these challenges by creating an open research support system. DOORS implements a system of systems (SoS) to mitigate the effects of human activity and climate change on the marine ecology, fostering 'blue economy' opportunities and revitalising the Black Sea. Engagement with stakeholders is essential for the effectiveness and usefulness of DOORS, as it links residents, research, and industry. Multi-Actor Forums (MAFs) assemble national stakeholders from Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Turkey, and Ukraine to aid scientists in prioritising Black Sea concerns. This paper delineates the MAF findings in the formulation of sectoral innovation paths for the Black Sea, integrating the outputs of the MAFs from all Black Sea nations. This approach facilitates the co-design of the region's System of Systems, equipping researchers with the requisite datasets to tackle environmental challenges and promote the sustainability of the Blue System. This study investigates the potential implications of the findings on the long-term development of the blue economy and associated policies in the region.