The Government of the Russian Federation has approved the Strategy for the Sustainable Development of the Azov Sea region for the period up to 2040, together with a detailed action plan for its implementation. The document was the result of joint work by the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, federal agencies and regions of the Azov Basin.
The adopted Strategy forms a unified management approach to the development of the Azov Sea region as a complex coastal territory covering seven subjects of the Russian Federation. The document synchronizes economic, environmental and infrastructural priorities, reflecting the transition from disparate programs to systematic management of the region's development.
The key focus is on restoring the ecosystem of the Sea of Azov and coastal areas, modernizing the basic infrastructure and creating conditions for sustainable socio-economic growth. The strategy builds a consistent logic of actions — from environmental stabilization and solving water management problems to unlocking the tourism and recreational potential of the region and improving the quality of life of the population.
The central instrument for the implementation of the document was a comprehensive plan, which includes 79 activities in 18 areas. They cover issues of water supply, transport connectivity, environmental protection, tourism, fisheries, and adaptation to climate change.
As noted by Deputy Minister of Economic Development Svyatoslav Sorokin, the plan is focused on a phased solution to the systemic problems of the region.:
"The Strategy implementation plan is focused on the phased solution of key infrastructural and environmental problems of the Azov Sea region, the development of tourism, the creation of facilities for the tourism industry and sanatorium-resort business. The focus is on monitoring the state of the environment, reducing pollution of water bodies and atmospheric air, ensuring sustainable water supply, strengthening the coastline and developing transport connectivity. This approach allows us to build the development of the region based on reliable data and consistent solutions, linking environmental, infrastructural and economic areas into a single system."
One of the significant projects of the Strategy will be the creation of a federal year-round seaside resort "Primorsk" in the Zaporozhye region by 2035. At the same time, the development of engineering and transport infrastructure is envisaged, which should ensure a steady increase in the tourist flow and investment attractiveness of the territory.
A separate block of events is dedicated to the ecological restoration of the Sea of Azov. It includes the development of the state system of hydrometeorological and environmental monitoring, the formation of a reference network for monitoring the state of the subsoil, reducing pollution of water bodies and a phased solution to the problem of shortage of drinking and industrial water. It also provides for the renewal of the water resources management system and the strengthening of the coastline.
In the field of economics and environmental management, the Strategy provides for the development of the fisheries complex and the restoration of biodiversity. It is planned to modernize and build enterprises for the reproduction of aquatic biological resources, including sturgeon species, as well as measures to preserve rare and endangered species of flora and fauna.
Additional attention is paid to transport connectivity and environmental safety of navigation. The launch of passenger water transport and the phased disposal of wrecks should increase navigation accessibility and reduce the environmental burden on the waters of the Azov basin.
It is expected that the implementation of the Strategy will make it possible by 2030 to improve the quality of public services for 2.58 million people, create comfortable living conditions for 750 thousand residents of coastal territories and generate a tourist flow at the level of 23.6 million trips per year. The measures will be implemented within the framework of existing government programs and development tools.
