To support the collection and sharing data on the marine environment and fish stock, the project Promoting Technology Innovation in Environmental Monitoring & Modelling for Assessment of Fish Stock and Non-Fish Resources – TIMMOD has been set up and delivered in partnership with six organizations from five countries in the Black Sea region.

Since May 2020, the TIMMOD project has implemented a wide range of activities to improve joint environmental monitoring and modelling for assessing fish and non-fish living resources in the Black Sea, through technological innovation and cross-border data sharing.

First and foremost, TIMMOD’s work is grounded in the latest research on innovative technology tools and best practices, via an overall inventory of relevant technologies (including future and emerging technologies) and delivering three technical reports with recommendations on the technological upgrade of monitoring and numerical modelling for assessment of the abundance of fish and other species.

The achievements were then put into practice through pilot demonstration actions conducted in coastal areas near Varna (Bulgaria) in June 2021 and Batumi (Georgia) in October 2021 and April 2022. The latest hydro-acoustic devices were used to monitor the biomass in the water column, which gives a whole new perspective on the fish stock assessment in the Black Sea.

As the overarching result of project activities, the TIMMOD team elaborated an Innovation Strategy supporting the technological upgrade of monitoring & modelling activities – based on research and stakeholder consultations and discussions on the national, and regional levels, involving more than 100 key stakeholders from Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova and Romania.

This Innovation Strategy will further leverage the project results in the coming years – this way the project TIMMOD is also looking to the future.