Odesa, Ukraine, 31 October 2024 – A book for general public, titled “My friend the Black Sea” was presented in Odesa on occasion of the International Black Sea Day. This publication is partly a translation of Yuvenaliy Zaytsev’s renowned work “Your Friend the Sea” updated with current research and with augmented reality features showcasing underwater life. 

The book also addresses for the first time the main impacts of the war on the Black Sea. This publication was made possible due to support from the EU-UNDP funded project “European Union for Improving Environmental Monitoring of the Black Sea” (EU4EMBLAS), the findings of which are including in the book. 

Commenting this publication, EU4EMBLAS Team Leader Jaroslav Slobodnik said the new book successfully blends old and new knowledge: “We believe that this book has succeeded in combining the best of the past experiences with the latest knowledge backed by new data, thereby demonstrating respect for Zaytsev’s scientific legacy even under the present difficult conditions,” Slobodnik said.

The book provides an integrated description of Black Sea biodiversity, the human-induced impacts on it – including the current effects of military actions – and offers practical advice for the public on how to support the Black Sea in their daily lives. It is expected to be used in schools and as family reading material to raise awareness about the sea. The book is available for free in electronic form here.

Background: 

The EU4EMBLAS project is the fourth phase of a joint EU/UNDP initiative, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP in partnership with the governments of Ukraine and Georgia. The project’s goal is to enhance environmental protection in the Black Sea. Previous phases have addressed limitations in the availability of accurate, reliable, and comparable data on the marine environment, and building the national capacities in both countries to monitor marine conditions in accordance with the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and Water Framework Directive (WFD). Moreover, the project has aided Georgia and Ukraine in raising public awareness about Black Sea environmental issues and promoting engagement in conservation and protection efforts. Since its inception in 2013, EU4EMBLAS has received a total of EUR 6.65 million in EU funding. For more information, visit https://emblasproject.org.

Media enquiries:

Olena Marushevska, olena.marushevska@gmail.com or at +380 67 9 062 061.

Yulia Samus, yuliia.samus@undp.org.