European Rewilding Network
Marine Rewilding Türkiye
Restoring Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
The Marine Ranger System was developed for the first time in Türkiye by the Mediterranean Conservation Foundation and was implemented in 2013 in Gökova Bay. Marine Rangers monitor No-Fishing Zones, record illegal activities using a GPSenabled reporting tool, and share verified information with relevant public authorities.
The Mediterranean Conservation Foundation (AKV)
By combining community-led stewardship with scientific monitoring, the system supports the effective management of protected areas while strengthening marine biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods.
The Mediterranean Conservation Foundation (AKV)
The Mediterranean Conservation Foundation (AKV) monitors the distribution and health of Posidonia oceanica meadows through dedicated monitoring stations. By removing ghost nets and marine debris, the organisation reduces physical damage and improves light and oxygen availability for seagrass habitats.
Zafer Kızılkaya
Our work combines field-based observations, biodiversity monitoring, and data-driven analysis to understand ecological change and support evidence-based conservation. Monitoring results are used to evaluate the effectiveness of marine protected areas, guide adaptive management, and inform conservation priorities.
The Mediterranean Conservation Foundation (AKV)
Through school-based programmes, community workshops, and hands-on field activities such as underwater clean-ups, AKV raises awareness about marine litter, ghost nets, and their impacts on biodiversity and livelihoods. These activities are designed not only to inform, but also to encourage responsible behaviour and active participation in marine conservation.
The Mediterranean Conservation Foundation (AKV)
Marine Rewilding Türkiye aims to restore coastal and marine ecosystems in Türkiye’s Mediterranean and Aegean through the recovery of natural processes and biodiversity, using science-based monitoring and restoration, effective protection within Marine Protected Areas/Special Environmental Protected Areas, and strong community partnerships. By safeguarding key habitats such as Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows and supporting the recovery of threatened species including the sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) and the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus), we aim to rebuild ecological function and long-term resilience while strengthening nature-based livelihoods for coastal communities.
Project:
Marine Rewilding Türkiye
Region:
Gökova MPA, Datça-Bozburun MPA, Fethiye-Göcek MPA, Köyceğiz-Dalyan MPA.
Type of project:
Creating space for wilder nature
Aim and vision:
Our initiative aims to restore natural marine processes and ecosystem resilience along Türkiye’s Mediterranean coast through long-term, science-based marine rewilding. By protecting key habitats such as seagrass meadows and supporting the recovery of apex and keystone species, we work to rebalance degraded ecosystems. Community-based governance, particularly through collaboration with small-scale fishers, is central to our approach.
We aim to demonstrate that healthy marine ecosystems can coexist with sustainable livelihoods. Our long-term vision is a Mediterranean where nature-led recovery supports both biodiversity and coastal communities.
Other activities:
Community involved, Education, High-impact communications, Research
Results so far:
Our initiative has generated measurable conservation outcomes in key MPAs/SEPAs, especially in Gökova Bay. Through long-term field monitoring and close collaboration with local stakeholders, we have identified 19 Mediterranean monk seal individuals in Gökova Bay. In addition, our shark monitoring work has recorded up to 11 sandbar shark individuals visible on camera at the same time at Boncuk Cove , strengthening the evidence base for protecting critical habitats and informing adaptive management.
We have also demonstrated that effective protection leads to clear ecological recovery. Our community-based marine ranger system plays a significant role in preventing illegal fishing activities within No-Fishing Zones (NFZs) by maintaining routine presence, surveillance, and coordination with relevant authorities. Based on 2019–2023 consolidated monitoring data (239,159 g biomass), our assessments show that approximately three-quarters of recorded fish biomass is concentrated inside NFZs, highlighting how essential these areas are for stock rebuilding and wider spillover benefits beyond their boundaries.
We have also demonstrated that effective protection leads to clear ecological recovery. Our community-based marine ranger system plays a significant role in preventing illegal fishing activities within No-Fishing Zones (NFZs) by maintaining routine presence, surveillance, and coordination with relevant authorities. Based on 2019–2023 consolidated monitoring data (239,159 g biomass), our assessments show that approximately three-quarters of recorded fish biomass is concentrated inside NFZs, highlighting how essential these areas are for stock rebuilding and wider spillover benefits beyond their boundaries.
Inspirational value:
Working on this initiative has shown us that nature can recover quickly when pressure is reduced and communities are genuinely involved. Long-term field presence builds trust, improves compliance, and strengthens conservation outcomes. Combining science, local knowledge, and governance creates resilient marine rewilding models.
Experience you would like to share:
We would like to contribute practical, field-tested experience in marine rewilding, grounded in over a decade of work in MPAs in Türkiye. This includes our community-based marine ranger system and support in NFZs, long-term monitoring approaches, and restoration efforts for key habitats such as Posidonia oceanica. We can share lessons learned from working with small-scale fishers and cooperatives, and from building partnerships that connect healthier ecosystems with livelihoods. We are also keen to exchange data-driven insights and case studies, support peer learning, and collaborate with ERN members to help scale effective marine protection and restoration models across the Mediterranean and wider Europe.
Experience you would like to gain:
We would like to learn from peer initiatives on scaling rewilding approaches, strengthening nature-based economies, and developing innovative financing mechanisms such as biodiversity credits. We also hope to exchange practical tools for governance, monitoring, and long-term impact assessment.
Country
Türkiye
Start year
2012
Area type
Marine: coastal, Wetlands
Natural process
Natural reef formation, Wetland dynamics
Flagship species
Mediterranean Monk Seal, Sandbar Shark
The Marine Ranger System was developed for the first time in Türkiye by the Mediterranean Conservation Foundation and was implemented in 2013 in Gökova Bay. Marine Rangers monitor No-Fishing Zones, record illegal activities using a GPSenabled reporting tool, and share verified information with relevant public authorities.
The Mediterranean Conservation Foundation (AKV)
By combining community-led stewardship with scientific monitoring, the system supports the effective management of protected areas while strengthening marine biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods.
The Mediterranean Conservation Foundation (AKV)
The Mediterranean Conservation Foundation (AKV) monitors the distribution and health of Posidonia oceanica meadows through dedicated monitoring stations. By removing ghost nets and marine debris, the organisation reduces physical damage and improves light and oxygen availability for seagrass habitats.
Zafer Kızılkaya
Our work combines field-based observations, biodiversity monitoring, and data-driven analysis to understand ecological change and support evidence-based conservation. Monitoring results are used to evaluate the effectiveness of marine protected areas, guide adaptive management, and inform conservation priorities.
The Mediterranean Conservation Foundation (AKV)
Through school-based programmes, community workshops, and hands-on field activities such as underwater clean-ups, AKV raises awareness about marine litter, ghost nets, and their impacts on biodiversity and livelihoods. These activities are designed not only to inform, but also to encourage responsible behaviour and active participation in marine conservation.
The Mediterranean Conservation Foundation (AKV)
Marine Rewilding Türkiye aims to restore coastal and marine ecosystems in Türkiye’s Mediterranean and Aegean through the recovery of natural processes and biodiversity, using science-based monitoring and restoration, effective protection within Marine Protected Areas/Special Environmental Protected Areas, and strong community partnerships. By safeguarding key habitats such as Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows and supporting the recovery of threatened species including the sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) and the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus), we aim to rebuild ecological function and long-term resilience while strengthening nature-based livelihoods for coastal communities.
Country
Türkiye
Start year
2012
Area type
Marine: coastal, Wetlands
Natural process
Natural reef formation, Wetland dynamics
Flagship species
Mediterranean Monk Seal, Sandbar Shark
Specification
Project:
Marine Rewilding Türkiye
Region:
Gökova MPA, Datça-Bozburun MPA, Fethiye-Göcek MPA, Köyceğiz-Dalyan MPA.
Description
Type of project:
Creating space for wilder nature
Aim and vision:
Our initiative aims to restore natural marine processes and ecosystem resilience along Türkiye’s Mediterranean coast through long-term, science-based marine rewilding. By protecting key habitats such as seagrass meadows and supporting the recovery of apex and keystone species, we work to rebalance degraded ecosystems. Community-based governance, particularly through collaboration with small-scale fishers, is central to our approach.
We aim to demonstrate that healthy marine ecosystems can coexist with sustainable livelihoods. Our long-term vision is a Mediterranean where nature-led recovery supports both biodiversity and coastal communities.
Other activities:
Community involved, Education, High-impact communications, Research
Achievements
Results so far:
Our initiative has generated measurable conservation outcomes in key MPAs/SEPAs, especially in Gökova Bay. Through long-term field monitoring and close collaboration with local stakeholders, we have identified 19 Mediterranean monk seal individuals in Gökova Bay. In addition, our shark monitoring work has recorded up to 11 sandbar shark individuals visible on camera at the same time at Boncuk Cove , strengthening the evidence base for protecting critical habitats and informing adaptive management.
We have also demonstrated that effective protection leads to clear ecological recovery. Our community-based marine ranger system plays a significant role in preventing illegal fishing activities within No-Fishing Zones (NFZs) by maintaining routine presence, surveillance, and coordination with relevant authorities. Based on 2019–2023 consolidated monitoring data (239,159 g biomass), our assessments show that approximately three-quarters of recorded fish biomass is concentrated inside NFZs, highlighting how essential these areas are for stock rebuilding and wider spillover benefits beyond their boundaries.
We have also demonstrated that effective protection leads to clear ecological recovery. Our community-based marine ranger system plays a significant role in preventing illegal fishing activities within No-Fishing Zones (NFZs) by maintaining routine presence, surveillance, and coordination with relevant authorities. Based on 2019–2023 consolidated monitoring data (239,159 g biomass), our assessments show that approximately three-quarters of recorded fish biomass is concentrated inside NFZs, highlighting how essential these areas are for stock rebuilding and wider spillover benefits beyond their boundaries.
Exchange
Inspirational value:
Working on this initiative has shown us that nature can recover quickly when pressure is reduced and communities are genuinely involved. Long-term field presence builds trust, improves compliance, and strengthens conservation outcomes. Combining science, local knowledge, and governance creates resilient marine rewilding models.
Experience you would like to share:
We would like to contribute practical, field-tested experience in marine rewilding, grounded in over a decade of work in MPAs in Türkiye. This includes our community-based marine ranger system and support in NFZs, long-term monitoring approaches, and restoration efforts for key habitats such as Posidonia oceanica. We can share lessons learned from working with small-scale fishers and cooperatives, and from building partnerships that connect healthier ecosystems with livelihoods. We are also keen to exchange data-driven insights and case studies, support peer learning, and collaborate with ERN members to help scale effective marine protection and restoration models across the Mediterranean and wider Europe.
Experience you would like to gain:
We would like to learn from peer initiatives on scaling rewilding approaches, strengthening nature-based economies, and developing innovative financing mechanisms such as biodiversity credits. We also hope to exchange practical tools for governance, monitoring, and long-term impact assessment.
