Turkey increases marine preservation by designating new protected zones in the Aegean and Mediterranean seas
In a move aimed at enhancing marine conservation and protecting marine ecosystems, Turkey has recently expanded its Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. Two new MPAs have been designated: one in the northern Aegean Sea and another off the coast of Fethiye-Kaş in the Mediterranean.
The update was coordinated by the National Maritime Law Research Center at Ankara University, with support from relevant ministries including the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. These ministries continue to coordinate on the legal frameworks and status of these MPAs.
Turkey's territorial waters extend up to 6 nautical miles in the Aegean Sea and 12 nautical miles in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea. The newly designated MPAs will not affect freedom of navigation, ensuring that the seas remain open for all.
The "Marine Spatial Planning Coordination Board" has been established to regularly assess environmental impacts of sea activities and ensure inter-agency cooperation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs acts as the board’s secretariat. This board will meet regularly to evaluate the environmental impacts of sectoral activities in Turkey's surrounding seas and ensure inter-institutional coordination.
While Turkey's expansion of MPAs comes amid ongoing maritime boundary disputes, especially with Greece regarding the Aegean continental shelf due to the absence of a delimitation agreement, Turkey has maritime boundary agreements with Libya and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Turkey is party to regional marine environment protection agreements including the Barcelona Convention for the Mediterranean and the Bucharest Convention for the Black Sea. The number of Marine Protected Areas in all of Turkey's seas will be increased in the future, with the establishment of the MPA off Fethiye-Kas expanding Turkey's scope of protected environmental areas in the Mediterranean.
[1] [Ankara University's National Maritime Law Research Center] [2] [Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry] [3] [Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change] [4] [Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
- The National Maritime Law Research Center at Ankara University played a crucial role in coordinating the recent expansion of Turkey's Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas.
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change are among the relevant ministries that are working together to manage the legal frameworks and status of these newly designated MPAs.
- In addition to Ankara University, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs acts as the secretariat for the "Marine Spatial Planning Coordination Board," which has been established to assess environmental impacts and ensure inter-agency cooperation in Turkey's surrounding seas.
- Turkey's territorial waters have varying limits in different seas: 6 nautical miles in the Aegean Sea and 12 nautical miles in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea, ensuring that the newly designated MPAs will not hindrance freedom of navigation.
- Amid ongoing maritime boundary disputes, particularly with Greece, Turkey has already established maritime boundary agreements with Libya and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in the Eastern Mediterranean.
- Turkey is a participant in regional marine environment protection agreements such as the Barcelona Convention for the Mediterranean and the Bucharest Convention for the Black Sea, and the increase in the number of Marine Protected Areas in Turkey's seas will include the establishment of the MPA off Fethiye-Kas, thereby extending Turkey's protected environmental areas in the Mediterranean.
