On Sunday, May 25th, 2025, as part of the annual “ΑΠΘ την Κυριακή - AUTh on Sunday” event—organized by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki to open its campus to the public and highlight scientific work and social engagement—Associate Professor Antigoni Zafeirakou, scientific coordinator of the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin project “Care Sea,” led an impactful awareness activity together with the student volunteer group Eco-Hydro Engineers, which she supervises.

On March 13-14 of this year, the second Steering Committee meeting of the project was held at the Panagia Hotel in Trabzon, Turkey. The meeting was organized by the project partner, Professor Kadir Seyhan of Trabzon Karadeniz Technical University. The first day of the meeting dealt with the problems that arose during the first reporting period of the project, which mainly concerned procurement.

A two-day seminar/discussion was held on March 10-11 on the topic: Sources of macro- and microplastic pollution in the wetland habitats of the Chorokhi River Delta (sea, river, freshwater ponds). The first day, March 10, was dedicated to raising awareness among public school students about the causes of macro- and microplastic pollution and ways to reduce it. The seminar was attended by students from Batumi N 20 public shool, Pirveli Maisi school of Keda, Khelvachauri Municipality, Charnali and Erge villages; Chakvi N1, St. Andrew the First-Called Theological Gymnasium of the Municipality of Kobuleti and Georgian-American International School “Progress”.

A working meeting was held at BSU on the joint development of a curriculum for monitoring and responding to marine pollution. The meeting was attended by professors and students of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Health of BSU, employees of the National Environmental Agency, Adjara Autonomous Region Agriculture and Environmental Protection, professors of the Maritime Academy, the head of the Poti Coastal Protection Department, and representatives of the Kobuleti Coastal Protection Department. The meeting, held in a hybrid mode, planned to develop joint training curricula, which will include the following modules:

An educational meeting was held at Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University on the occasion of the International Day for the Conservation of Wetlands Protected by the Ramsar Convention. The event, titled "Love the Ocean: Love the Black Sea", was held within the framework of the 2025 Ramsar Convention slogan - "Protecting Wetlands for Future Generations". The meeting was organized within the framework of two important international projects: the CARE SEA project of the EU Interreg NEXT Programme for the Black Sea Basin Countries and the DOORS Black Sea (Developing Optimal and Open Research Support for the Black Sea) programme of Horizon 2020. The organizers included "Geographic" LLC and "Georgian Greens Movement - Friends of Georgia".