| TITLE | “Circular Sediment Management and Nature-Based Restoration of Aquaculture Ponds” – ACRONYM: DANUBE SED LOOP |
| FOUNDING PROGRAM | European Union, throught the European Commmission programme Horizon Europe |
| PERIOD | 24 months, starting from 01 September 2026 |
| PARTNERS | 1. The Research and Development Institute for Aquatic Ecology, Fisheries and Aquaculture – Galați, Romania (Coordinator)
2. Association International Initiatives for Cooperation- Bulgaria 3. ATU TULUCESTI, Romania 4. AGENCY OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND EUROPEAN INTEGRATION “LOWER DANUBE EUROREGION”, Ukraine 5. YUG STONE, Bulgaria |
| OBJECTIVES | The overall objective of the project is to develop, demonstrate and validate a community-led, circular and nature-based framework for sustainable sediment management in aquaculture ponds in the Lower Danube region, improving water quality, ecosystem functioning and the socio-economic resilience of local fish farming communities. Special Objective 1 – Quantify and characterise sediment-related pressures in aquaculture ponds to assess sediment accumulation rates, nutrient content and associated impacts on water quality and aquaculture productivity using a robust BACI monitoring design. Special Objective 2 – Demonstrate integrated nature-based solutions for pond restoration to design and implement pilot interventions combining controlled desilting and constructed wetland systems for nutrient reduction and water quality improvement. Special Objective 3 – Develop and validate a circular sediment management pathway to test and evaluate the feasibility of valorising dredged sediments through pilot applications (e.g., anaerobic digestion, soil amendment), reducing waste and supporting the circular bioeconomy. Special Objective 4 – Establish and operationalise a community-led governance model to co-create and implement a Pond Stewardship Contract defining roles, responsibilities and best practices for sustainable pond management. Special Objective 5 – Ensure replication and policy integration at regional level to translate pilot results into transferable guidelines and policy recommendations, supporting uptake across the Danube–Black Sea region. |
| OUTCOMES | The project outcomes are:
1 – Baseline and Monitoring Dataset (BACI design) |
| SUMMARY | The Galați–Tulucești area in the Lower Danube region features a high density of traditional aquaculture ponds that support local food production, small and medium-sized fish farmers, and aquatic biodiversity. In recent years, these systems have faced increasing problems due to sediment buildup and nutrient overload, caused by agricultural runoff, decreased hydrological connectivity, and climate-driven changes in water regimes. These issues lead to lower water levels, poorer water quality, and decreased aquaculture yields, which in turn raise operational costs and make local producers more vulnerable. Currently, sediment removal is performed in an uncoordinated and ad-hoc way, without proper technical guidelines, environmental safeguards, or strategies for adding value. There is no local framework to combine sediment management with ecosystem restoration or to assist fish farmers in adopting sustainable practices. Local stakeholders, including fish farmers and UAT Tulucești, have identified the need for intervention. They report: • more frequent desilting operations; • lack of technical guidance for sustainable sediment management; • absence of coordinated community efforts; • limited access to nature-based and circular economy solutions. The project suggests a community-driven approach through a Pond Stewardship Contract, where fish farmers, local authorities, and community organizations will work together to define practices for sediment management, water quality improvement, and monitoring responsibilities. The roles of the partners include: • P1 – ICDEAPA Galați (Coordinator): providing scientific validation, technical expertise, environmental assessment, and methodological guidance. • P2 – Association International Initiatives for Cooperation: facilitating community involvement, capacity building, and participatory processes. • P3 – UAT Tulucești: integrating policies, aligning with local development strategies, and supporting implementation at the territorial level. • P4 – Agency of Sustainable Development and European Integration “Lower Danube Euroregion”: regional coordination, dissemination, and cross-border knowledge sharing. • P5 – YUG STONE: supporting pilot activities and developing sediment valorization pathways. By combining grassroots governance with scientific expertise and pilot demonstrations, the project directly addresses locally identified needs, enhances community ownership, and develops practical, scalable solutions for sustainable pond management in the Lower Danube region. |
| BUDGET | Total budget € 999 687, 50 |
| LINKS | https://asas-icdeapa.ro/danube-sed-loop/
https://www.facebook.com/p/Danube-SED-LOOP-61595890536435/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/danube-sed-loop-sos2learndbs-02a91b447/ |
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