From Source to Sea: Restoring Marine Ecosystems in the Black Sea

Oceans are the lifeblood of global trade – 90% of the world’s trade moves across the seas – and protecting marine ecosystems is essential for both business and society. Ensuring that these waters remain healthy and resilient is fundamental to DP World’s sustainability ambitions.

At the heart of this is our Source to Sea (S2S) programme, which reflects the intergenerational value of inland, coastal and marine water ecosystems. Through S2S, DP World aims to restore water ecosystems, enhance natural carbon sinks, support biodiversity and sustain local water-reliant economies. By investing in water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, we also protect human health and reduce pollution in rivers, lakes and seas, creating lasting social and environmental benefits.

To coincide with World Water Day, we have just launched a new project in Romania on the Black Sea coast near DP World’s Constanța South Container Terminal, aimed at restoring marine habitats and supporting biodiversity. It serves as a case study of DP World’s broader approach to sustainability, because it:

• will deliver tangible, measurable impact.
• is innovative and rooted in science.
• is being delivered through partnerships with other organisations which complement DP World’s own capabilities and expertise.
• places a strong emphasis on education, helping to raise awareness and deepen understanding among local communities – particularly young people – about the importance of protecting marine environments.

Before exploring these elements in more detail, let me explain what the project is about:

Restoring vital habitats in the Black Sea

Cystoseira barbata (also known as Gongolaria barbata) is a perennial brown macroalga that grows in shallow waters where sunlight penetrates, supporting photosynthesis. The species provides critical habitat for marine organisms, including crustaceans, gastropods and other invertebrates, as well as a nursery area for juvenile fish. It also supports carbon sequestration. Historically abundant along the Romanian coast, its populations have been significantly reduced and degraded in recent decades due to human activity and pollution. 

The project, which will be delivered over five years, aims to restore this species, thereby strengthening coastal resilience, enhancing biodiversity and improving carbon sequestration.

In Year 1, existing Cystoseira barbata habitats will be analysed. Areas that are suitable for restoration, and for nursery sites where new Cystoseira barbata populations can be cultivated, will be identified. Scientists will then deploy artificial surfaces in areas where the algae already grows to collect zygotes in situ, enabling the growth of Cystoseira barbata directly in its natural marine environment. 

In Year 2, these preparations will lead to the planting and installation of new Cystoseira barbata individuals in selected sites, followed by intensive monitoring to assess growth rates and support the long-term establishment of the restored populations.

It is an innovative approach which reflects both the urgency of protecting our marine ecosystems and the opportunity to take practical, measurable action at a local level.

But why else does this project encapsulate DP World’s broader approach to sustainability?

1. Delivered through partnerships

DP World cannot deliver on its sustainability commitments by itself. We work with partners not only to guide us, but also to help us deliver on our commitments. 

In the case of this initiative, we are collaborating with Mare Nostrum, a Romanian NGO which specialises in marine conservation and will take a leading role in the delivery of the project. The other partners are the Institute of Biology Bucharest (whose role is outlined further below), and the DARVIC association, a team of specialist divers with extensive experience in scientific activities related to marine biodiversity research. DARVIC will contribute to all of the underwater work and will also help build specialised skills in underwater ecological restoration among participating teams.

This partnership-based approach is consistent with DP World’s broader sustainability strategy. Beyond Romania, we engage with organisations such as WaterAid, the Jane Goodall Institute, the Earthshot Prize and the Blue Marine Foundation. These collaborations improve every aspect of our sustainability work, ensuring that our environmental programmes are effective and far-reaching.

2. Rooted in science

Scientific research is also central to our approach. As noted above, the Institute of Biology Bucharest, part of the Romanian Academy of Sciences, will play a crucial role in the project. Its scientists will help analyse sites suitable for the restoration of the species, and then assess the health of the newly-restored populations. 

This will extend the project’s impact by enhancing our understanding of western Black Sea ecosystems and providing a replicable model for future marine restoration initiatives

3. Education at its core

I began my career as an educator and have long understood the crucial role that knowledge-sharing plays in advancing sustainability. The educational dimension of this project is therefore particularly close to my heart.

Through this project, we will deliver community engagement sessions under the banner “#60deminuteinadancuri” – literally “60 minutes underwater”. School children and other young people will be a particular focus. The sessions will immerse them in the marine environment to help them understand the importance of species such as Cystoseira barbata in the sea close to where they live. By empowering the next generation in this way, we are creating long-term advocates for the health of the oceans.

Approaching water stewardship holistically 

In all of these ways, this project exemplifies our Source to Sea philosophy: we are not simply restoring an ecosystem, we are reinforcing the social, economic and environmental links that sustain it. Healthy marine habitats support fisheries and local economies, provide carbon storage, and create opportunities for education and employment. By approaching water stewardship holistically, we ensure that both nature and communities thrive.

The Black Sea restoration project in Constanța shows the way. By integrating science, partnerships, community engagement and education, DP World is demonstrating how the private sector can play a transformative role in sustaining natural resources for future generations.