FAO’s latest seaweed trade update shows quite different trends across markets. Recorded global exports of edible seaweed and agar-agar fell by 13.3% in the first quarter of 2026, largely because of lower Chinese demand for raw material.

Over the same period, exports from the Republic of Korea rose by 7.1%, and Japan’s seaweed imports increased…

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Mykhailo, this may be useful for the monitoring work you mentioned. Copernicus Marine has satellite-derived chlorophyll data for the Black Sea going back to 1997, with a user manual and information about data quality.

Hanna’s comment about spotting AI errors is also worth picking up on. Sharing the sources alongside the findings we discuss here…

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We’ve also started working with our Deep Trekker ROV at Via Pontica. Our first underwater deployment in March focused on getting familiar with the equipment and recording footage.

https://viapontica.org/en/underwater-deployment-of-the-deep-trekker-rov-under-the-algae-revive-project/

We have a similar situation in Bulgaria with the rapa whelk. It has affected mussel populations along our coast, but it’s also become an important catch for local fishermen. The European Commission has also featured a company in Varna that processes it for local sales and…

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The main concern is that a new invasive species might prove dangerous to the ecosystem. A telling example is the rapa whelk, which wiped out a large portion of the mussel population before the situation eventually recovered. Even more dangerous was the Mnemiopsis, which triggered an ecological catastrophe in the late 1980s.

Hello.
In cases where a highly concentrated culture was required, we used PBR equipped with mechanical agitation. The PBR consisted of a vertical cylinder with an agitator shaft running through its center, from which blades extended horizontally. Even at the minimum rotation speed, the entire culture remained in suspension, preventing it…

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Even now, amidst the war, large industrial enterprises continue to operate in the Odesa region. It would be highly interesting to apply the purification method you proposed to the wastewater from these facilities.

Such research would be interesting and useful for the Odesa region of the Black Sea basin. At present, due to the hostilities, we are unable to conduct such studies; however, once the war has ended, we would be interested in carrying out research using remotely operated underwater probes.

Greetings.
We addressed this task by draining the nutrient solution containing the microculture once biomass had accumulated. Following this, the photobioreactor was cleaned. While this method might not be suitable if the goal is to obtain a highly concentrated culture, it is straightforward and can be used to produce significant quantities of biomass.

I would like to congratulate my colleagues on the completion of a significant piece of scientific work! Publication in such a high-impact scientific journal serves as recognition of the importance and relevance of this work within the global scientific community!

Today, anthropogenic activity is the primary source of pollution in natural water bodies. The significant volume and diversity of wastewater complicate efforts to treat it and reduce the unnatural chemical burden placed on aquatic environments. The agricultural sector generates drainage water and livestock-related wastewater, as well as…

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We are pleased to share the completion of one of our AlgaeRevive pilot studies, marked by the publication of a joint Romanian–Bulgarian research article in Agronomy, a Q1 journal.

Black Sea region — collaboration between Ovidius University of Constanța, Romania, and Bulgarian colleagues from Burgas State University, within the AlgaeRevive…

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How can ROV-based monitoring support the early detection and assessment of algal blooms in coastal waters?

We are sharing an example of our routine monitoring activities along the Romanian Black Sea coast, where an ROV equipped with a multiparameter water-quality sonde and water-sampling accessories is used to investigate algal bloom events and…

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In horizontal tubular PBRs, for microalgae cultivation, biomass deposition known as biofouling is a very common experience. Various methods have been developped to prevent it, for example as referenced by Nawar et al (2017), introducing spike balls in the PBR for physical abrasion in order to remove the…

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Dear Sabina, thank You for high evaluation of our joint work. Yes, of course, project envisages informational and raising awarness events in every partner country. And of course they are announced through our official project channels – this platform as well as social media FB:…

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Divers exploring the seabed off Odesa’s Cape Bolshoi Fontan came across something unexpected: Chorda tomentosa, a brown macroalga native to the icy waters of the Arctic and North Atlantic, thriving 5–8 meters deep in these far warmer waters. This wasn’t a lone drifter — a full, patchy population was documented, with thalli stretching up to 85…

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Unfortunately, Ukrainian legislation differs significantly from European legislation and pays insufficient attention to these issues. As an activist and representative of a public organization, I am interested in disseminating information about the European Union’s environmental initiatives so that as many people as possible in Ukraine can…

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I’ve always been amazed and fascinated by algae, how despite minimal public, media, and government attention, they can have a colossal impact on the biosphere and humanity. Despite their invisibility, they have enormous potential to influence all biocenoses on Earth.

Hello, colleagues. We also used large-scale language models (LML) for some aspects of our analysis of a large dataset on the distribution of green algae in Ukrainian waters. This tool allowed us to discover some previously unnoticed patterns.

Hello. The “valley of death” effect, discussed in the EU Bioeconomy Strategy 2025–2040, is very widespread in Ukraine. A huge number of promising developments by research institutes and universities fail to receive further funding and are either forgotten or transferred to other countries, where they are used completely free of charge. Thus, the…

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This chapter from the Handbook of Microalgal Culture dives into oxidation (stabilization) ponds — one of the oldest and most elegant wastewater treatment technologies. Instead of energy-hungry mechanical aeration, these systems rely on algae photosynthesizing oxygen, which fuels bacteria that break down organic pollutants. The result: a simple,…

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Hello. I’m not an algae expert; I represent a non-governmental organization that works on environmental issues. Since I lack sufficient knowledge of biology, hydrology, and ecology, I often have to use AI in my work. This leads to erroneous and even paradoxical results. The errors made by AI aren’t always easy to spot, especially for a non-expert.

Our organization is currently conducting primary environmental research to develop a set of measures to restore the damaged ecosystems in southern Ukraine following Russian military aggression. The document you provided will help complement our strategy for rehabilitating damaged ecosystems.

Hello. If we’re talking about hydroponic effluent collected after watering hydroponically grown plants, it should be similar in composition to traditional nutrient media (such as Tamiya). To prevent the Chlorella from settling on the walls and to keep it suspended, it’s necessary to ensure the liquid is agitated. This is most easily achieved…

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Hello, and thank you for your thoughtful observation! This is a pilot-scale bioreactor, and we are currently investigating the replacement of the conventional synthetic growth medium with nutrient-rich hydroponic effluent. This transition can affect the culture conditions, including biomass growth and attachment to the PBR surfaces.…

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At our department at Odessa National Mechnikov University, we study the influence of photosynthetic processes on the rate of wood accumulation in higher plants. We hypothesize that the humic acid-based enhancers you proposed are similar in their chemical structure to the lignin compounds found in wood.

Hello. Judging by the attached photo, the color of the nutrient medium is not green enough, indicating low Chlorella levels. At the same time, a significant accumulation of dark sediment can be seen on the lower walls of the reactor tubes. It can be assumed that optimal growing conditions were not met, leading to sedimentation of the Chlorella.

This is interesting information. I’d like to post about you on our social media, where we highlight the activities of Odessa-based environmental organizations.