A New Chapter for Innovation in Black Sea Fisheries & Aquaculture
Four years after the successful completion of the original TIMMOD project, a new chapter of regional cooperation and innovation has officially begun. The TIMMOD-NEXT project was launched on 18 – 19th May 2026 in Varna, Bulgaria, bringing together leading research institutions and innovation organizations from across the Black Sea region under the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme.
Led by the Institute of Fish Resources – Varna (IFR, Bulgaria), the consortium includes the Black Sea Danube Association for Research and Development (BDCA, Bulgaria), the Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development (DDNI, Romania), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh, Greece), the National Environmental Agency (NEA, Georgia), and the Central Fisheries Research Institute (SUMAE, Türkiye).
Building upon the achievements of the original TIMMOD initiative, which successfully demonstrated the value of advanced technologies for fisheries monitoring and marine research, TIMMOD-NEXT expands both its geographical reach and thematic scope. For the first time, the project brings together partners from five Black Sea countries and places a stronger focus on the growing aquaculture sector alongside sustainable fisheries management.
Over the next 24 months, the partnership will work to strengthen research and innovation capacities through the establishment of a Black Sea Innovation Network of Open-Air Labs (OALs), where researchers, fishermen, aquaculture operators, technology providers, and public authorities will jointly test and validate innovative solutions under real operational conditions.
The project will explore and promote the use of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, hydro-acoustic methods, autonomous drones, satellite monitoring, smart biomass assessment systems, selective fishing gears, and digital decision-support tools. These technologies will be tested through a network of five interconnected Open-Air Labs and supported by an interactive web portal designed to facilitate knowledge sharing, training, and cross-border cooperation.
TIMMOD-NEXT represents a shared commitment to a more sustainable, resilient, and innovation-driven future for the Black Sea fisheries and aquaculture sector. By connecting science, industry, and policymakers, the project aims to accelerate the uptake of modern technologies, improve environmental monitoring, support evidence-based management, and strengthen regional cooperation across the Black Sea Basin.
Project: TIMMOD-NEXT (BSB01206)
Programme: Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme 2021–2027
Duration: March 2026 – February 2028
Lead Partner: Institute of Fish Resources – Varna, Bulgaria