The Black Sea Basin is a shared and interconnected marine environment. Environmental pressures, pollution, ecosystem degradation, and climate-related risks do not remain within national borders. Addressing these challenges therefore requires stronger cooperation among public authorities, research institutions, universities, private-sector actors, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders involved in marine and coastal management.

The BS-SEOS stakeholder webinars were designed to support this cooperation by creating an accessible platform for discussion and knowledge exchange. During each session, participants received an overview of the BS-SEOS project, its objectives, planned activities, and expected contribution to smart environmental monitoring in the region.

The national project teams also presented their respective implementation perspectives, enabling participants to understand how the project responds to both common regional challenges and country-specific priorities.

Rather than functioning only as information sessions, the webinars encouraged participants to contribute directly to the project's development. Through open discussions and interactive questionnaires, stakeholders were invited to share their expectations, identify priority areas, and reflect on the potential application of the project's technological solutions.

A central topic throughout the webinar series was the use of unmanned surface vehicles and integrated digital technologies for marine environmental monitoring.

Participants discussed how these systems could support activities such as water-quality monitoring, bathymetric mapping, environmental data collection, pollution detection, and the observation of sensitive marine and coastal areas. Particular attention was given to the operational value of technologies that can collect data more regularly, access difficult or potentially hazardous locations, and complement existing monitoring infrastructure.

The discussions also demonstrated that technology alone is not sufficient. For smart monitoring systems to create meaningful environmental impact, they must respond to the practical needs of their users.

Stakeholders highlighted the importance of reliable and accessible data, user-friendly interfaces, interoperability with existing systems, clear data-visualisation tools, and mechanisms that support informed decision-making. These points will be particularly important for the development of the BS-SEOS platform and for ensuring that project outputs can be effectively used by institutions with different technical capacities and responsibilities.

The interactive sections of the webinars helped the project consortium gain a clearer understanding of the expectations of potential users and beneficiaries.

Participants were asked to reflect on the environmental monitoring functions they considered most important, the challenges they currently face, and the areas in which BS-SEOS solutions could provide added value. Their feedback addressed not only technological capabilities, but also wider institutional and operational considerations.

Several recurring themes emerged across webinars.

The need for more timely and consistent environmental data was one of the most prominent issues. Participants also underlined the importance of strengthening coordination among institutions, improving access to monitoring results, and supporting the integration of different data sources.

Capacity building was another important theme. The effective use of advanced monitoring tools requires technical knowledge, institutional readiness, and opportunities for continuous learning. Stakeholders therefore emphasised the value of training, practical demonstrations, knowledge exchange, and long-term cooperation among project partners and end users.

These insights demonstrate that environmental monitoring should be considered as a broader ecosystem that combines technology, data governance, institutional capacity, and stakeholder cooperation.

The webinar series also provided an opportunity to connect BS-SEOS with other initiatives operating in the fields of marine research, environmental protection, and Black Sea cooperation.

During these sessions, participants were introduced to relevant initiatives and good practices from the region. These project showcases helped illustrate how different initiatives address common challenges through research, technological development, data collection, stakeholder engagement, and cross-border collaboration.

Creating links between projects is essential for avoiding duplication, building on existing experience, and identifying opportunities for future cooperation. The discussions therefore contributed not only to the visibility of BS-SEOS, but also to the wider exchange of knowledge within the regional marine and environmental community.

The completion of the three stakeholder webinars represents an important step in the BS-SEOS project's engagement process. The feedback collected during the sessions will support the consortium in refining its activities and ensuring that the project's technological and digital outputs are aligned with real user needs.

The insights provided by stakeholders will be considered in the further development of the BS-SEOS monitoring approach, the design of the project platform, and the preparation of future demonstration and capacity-building activities.

This participatory approach is particularly important for ensuring the long-term relevance and usability of project results. By involving potential users at an early stage, BS-SEOS can move beyond a purely technology-driven model and develop solutions that are informed by practical experience and regional realities.

The webinar series confirmed that there is strong interest across the region in smarter, more coordinated, and more accessible environmental monitoring.

It also demonstrated the value of bringing together stakeholders from different professional and institutional backgrounds. Although participants may approach the Black Sea from different perspectives, they share a common interest in improving environmental knowledge, strengthening institutional cooperation, and protecting the region's marine and coastal ecosystems.

The discussions held in Türkiye, Romania, and Georgia will continue to inform the next stages of the BS-SEOS project. They also provide a foundation for deeper collaboration among stakeholders as the project moves from consultation toward implementation, demonstration, and wider regional engagement.

Through continued dialogue, technological innovation, and cross-border cooperation, BS-SEOS aims to contribute to a more informed, resilient, and sustainable future for the Black Sea.