Blue Transitions in the Black Sea: Multi-Actor Forums to Advance a Sustainable Blue Economy

The Blue Economy, encompassing coastal, oceanic, and sea-related economic activities, is crucial for sustainable global development. The Black Sea, located between Asia and Europe, has significant potential for expansion.. DOORS Black Sea, an EU-funded initiative, aims to revitalize the Black Sea by fostering "blue economy" opportunities through collaboration among industry, academia, and local communities, addressing climate change and human activities' effects on the marine ecosystem. Multi-Actor Forums (MAFs) facilitate the col-laboration of diverse national stakeholders from Georgia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey in order to assist scientists in the prioritisation of Black Sea issues, with an emphasis on innovations to address gaps and blue economy policies. This method also contributes to the co-design of the region's System of Systems, which provides the necessary datasets for researchers to address environmental challenges and advance the blue economy. The results from the first round of MAFs show the sectors which should be prioritized in the Black Sea and the most significant challenges per country that need to be put at the forefront of the public dialogue.