THE SEA IS OUR FUTURE

Our Mission

TUDAV ( Turkish Marine Research Foundation ) is a non-profit organization funded primarily through donations. It was established in 1996 by academicians, scientists and nature lovers working in the field of marine protection and preservation. This joint effort was initiated especially because of the lack of research and protection efforts in the Turkish Seas. Although Turkey is surrounded by the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, very few people and institutions specifically conduct research on marine life and habitat. Without adequate research it is impossible to preserve marine biodiversity, to optimize the economic benefits of the Sea and to fully enjoy what it offers us.

The overall mission of TUDAV is to increase knowledge on marine life within Turkish waters by conducting research, initiating projects, publishing scientific studies and increasing public awareness. Additionally, as a consequence of the transboundary nature of most marine issues, it is inevitable to include international maritime problems in its mission statement.

Turkish Seas Are Under Great Threat

Turkish seas have been extremely rich in fish resources until recently. The abundant stock of fish enabled fishing to be an ideal source of income; in fact, the main source of income in some coastal communities. The government has significantly supported fishing activities over the past decade. It gave low-interest loans to anyone who wanted to invest in fishing boats and equipment, regardless of whether they were experienced fishermen or not. The number of radars, sonars and huge fishing boats were constantly increasing. This development facilitated large scale industrial fishing which proved to be very unfriendly to the Sea and its biodiversity. Industrial fishing was practiced without appropriate and sufficient information regarding sustainable fisheries management. As a consequence, the sea floor was scraped, small immature fish was caught and eventually small scale artisanal fishing came to an end.

Soon afterwards, coastal zones started being used for recreational purposes. Larger and larger investments in tourism were being encouraged, hardly requiring a detailed environmental impact assessment. All the pristine beaches were being invaded by ugly concrete buildings. Summer houses became very popular and were being constructed without any ecological or aesthetic considerations. The number of yachts increased and thus the number of marinas. The construction of reception facilities could not keep pace with the increase in marinas. Unfortunately, this sudden and unplanned increase in tourism development occurred without the appropriate infrastructure. It is a rare occasion to spot a hotel or even an entire tourist village with wastewater treatment plants. The Seas are thus forced to assimilate all the untreated sewage, chemicals and waste. Hence, our Seas and its coasts are being exploited significantly above their carrying capacity.

We need to learn from the past and not repeat the same mistakes.

It is time to take action now in order to protect what still manages to survive.

Marine Biodiversity is rapidly losing it richness

Swordfish and tuna, two species which used to migrate through the Istanbul Straits no longer enter this crowded waterway. Yet, there are still some species who continue to migrate through the Istanbul Straits, a biological corridor that needs protection.

There used to be an abundant amount of sturgeons in the Black Sea, with its delicious caviar. Currently, there are ongoing projects at TUDAV to protect this endangered species.

Groupers, rockfish, eels, sponges, Mediterranean monk seals, sea turtles, dolphins, whales and many more we may not yet know about all try to survive within Turkish waters. Most of us don't even realize that these animals exist in our country. They become endangered species before we even had a chance to get to know them better or to understand their role in nature. Needless to say, the loss of marine biodiversity experienced in the Turkish Seas is not the problem of a few Turkish scientists, but the concern of all of us living on this planet.

At TUDAV we conduct extensive research regarding marine biodiversity. We try to understand what species have become extinct and what the reasons were. In addition to being part of our stock assessment and monitoring work, it facilitates us to take precautionary measures for other endangered species. Thus, we define on what could be done to protect and increase the number of endangered species and then take action. Field work, workshops, study groups and research committees are organized on a regular basis to discuss the research findings. Courses and seminars are given to students, children, stakeholders such as fishermen, local inhabitants and interested citizens to exchange information. Scholarships are given to students to study abroad. These efforts are expected to encourage young scholars and nature lovers to work on marine protection and preservation.

Help us Protect the Marine Environment

At the global level, we organize international symposiums to facilitate cooperation and coordination among various stakeholders by providing a friendly atmosphere to work in. The focus is on regional seas and international waterways.

At the national level, we focus our attention on preserving marine life in Turkish waters not only by undertaking scientific studies and awareness-building efforts, but also by encouraging appropriate policy-making and monitoring.

At the local level, we work with various stakeholders including fishing communities, tourism sector, local governments and schools to increase their awareness level on the marine environment. Our focus at the local level is on sustainable fishing practices and tourism activities in order to help local communities protect the environment they provide their well-being from.

Unless everyone is involved and committed to protecting our Seas, our efforts alone will not suffice in protecting marine life.

The scientific community, legal experts especially working on international maritime law, politicians and other government officials responsible for marine policy, economists, writers, advertising agencies, fishermen, local authorities and all nature lovers need to work together. TUDAV works with all these groups and welcomes anyone who is interested in supporting our efforts in protecting marine life and biological diversity.

OUR SEAS STILL CONTAIN RICHES THAT DESERVE PROTECTION

It is time to take some actions to protect what we have with us. We should not repeat the same mistakes of the past.

Therefore, we are conducting a research to find out what and why we have lost and to figure out what can be protected.

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Last updated: May 04, 2004