Gökova Bay to Cape Gelidonya
Restoring marine ecosystem connectivity across 500 km of coastline in south-western Türkiye.
Where the Central Aegean and North-East Levantine Seas meet, Mediterranean waters support sandbar sharks, loggerhead turtles and Mediterranean monk seals. Sea-grass meadows, rocky reefs and coralligenous habitats provide nursery grounds for fish and sustain coastal communities that have depended on small-scale fisheries for generations.
Overfishing, illegal trawling, unregulated tourism and invasive Indo-Pacific species have weakened ecological balance. Fish stocks declined, invasive rabbitfish spread and critical habitats such as Neptune grass beds suffered damage.
Building on a successful pilot in Gökova Bay, this project is scaling up restoration along the coast to Cape Gelidonya. Led by Fauna & Flora and Akdeniz Koruma Derneği (AKD), it is restoring 62,681 hectares of sea, strengthening marine protection and reconnecting ecosystem processes at scale.
Gökova Bay to Cape Gelidonya, Mediterranean Coast
Fauna & Flora / Akdeniz Koruma Derneği (AKD)
2019-2025
US$3,021,500
Türkiye
62,681 ha
Sea-grass beds (Posidonia oceanica), rocky reefs, coralligenous and macroalgal habitats
Mediterranean monk seal, dusky grouper, sandbar shark, loggerhead turtle
Fisheries productivity, blue carbon storage, coastal stabilisation, climate resilience, tourism
Why this place matters
Over 36 Mediterranean monk seals have been recorded in the project area.
The project area straddles two Ecologically and Biologically Significant Marine Areas in the Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspot. It includes six Special Environmental Protection Areas and supports 40 globally threatened species.
Neptune grass meadows store over 95% of their carbon within seabed sediments, making them critical blue carbon ecosystems. Rocky reefs and coralligenous habitats underpin complex trophic webs that sustain both predators and commercially important fish species.
At the same time, more than 9,000 registered vessels operate along Türkiye’s Mediterranean coast, the majority small-scale. Weak monitoring and unsustainable practices contributed to declining catches, with nearly 70,000 people in coastal communities affected by reduced fish stocks.
Strengthening ecosystem connectivity here supports biodiversity recovery while securing long-term livelihoods.
Action on the ground
no-fishing zones created or expanded (2019–23).
marine patrol area increased 39%, with 1,145 patrols conducted in 2023.
reduction in illegal fishing incidents in Gökova Bay.
tonnes of invasive species harvested since 2020.
designated as Fisheries Restricted Areas or no-fishing zones.
under active restoration through patrolling and habitat management.
fishers engaged across 20 cooperatives and two regional unions.
Monitoring highlights
The project team monitors a range of indicators covering topics ranging from ecological recovery to economic impacts and community engagement. This helps to inform adaptive management.
Objective: Halt loss of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows
Objective: Increase fish biomass
Objective: Increase number of monk seals using marine caves
Objective: Increase proportion of fish in higher trophic levels
Objective: Increase amount of invasive species sold to restaurants
Objective: Increase number of marine conservation supporters
Comprehensive monitoring guides restoration. Fish biomass, sea-grass health, macroalgae and water temperature are tracked across the seascape. Solar-powered underwater systems support remote monitoring of monk seals and sandbar sharks.
Evidence suggests that no-fishing zones support more complete trophic webs, potentially suppressing invasive rabbitfish populations and increasing overall resilience.
Monitoring also informs policy. The project has contributed to national marine Natura 2000 planning and strengthened alignment with Türkiye’s climate adaptation and development strategies.
Community-led marine protection
Protection measures are co-designed with fishing cooperatives embedded in local communities. Rangers drawn from these communities patrol no-fishing zones and work closely with the Turkish coastguard to strengthen compliance.
Since 2019, patrol coverage expanded from one project area to three, and illegal fishing incidents in Gökova Bay fell by 80%. Fisheries management plans are now informed by fish biomass surveys, landing data and habitat monitoring, supporting adaptive decision-making.
As enforcement strengthened, ecological recovery followed. Sandbar sharks are now recorded regularly, and monk seals have returned to breeding caves within the project area.
Turning invasives into opportunity
Invasive Indo-Pacific species have disrupted Mediterranean ecosystems, but the project has turned this challenge into economic opportunity.
By collaborating with chefs, cooperatives and local restaurants, a new market for edible invasive species such as lionfish has been created. More than 1,000 small-scale fishers have received training and support to participate in this sector. Since 2020, around 18 tonnes of invasive species have been harvested for sale, with revenues increasing 16-fold and lionfish now served in dozens of restaurants.
Reducing invasive biomass strengthens native ecosystems while diversifying incomes for coastal communities.
What’s next
The goal is a resilient eastern Mediterranean seascape where fish stocks rebuild, invasive species are controlled and coastal communities thrive alongside recovering marine ecosystems.
Expansion of no-fishing zones along the 500-km coastline.
New marine Natura 2000 sites designated under national processes.
Official MPA governance strengthened within national ministries.
Long-term funding secured to sustain patrols and ecosystem monitoring.
EU-funded ‘Restoring Marine Ecosystem Connectivity’ programme launched from 2026.
Sustainable fisheries and invasive-species markets scaled to additional cooperatives.
Sustainable fisheries and invasive-species markets scaled to additional cooperatives.
Restoration Works
Restoration Works showcases the accomplishments of projects supported by the ELSP which have completed their funding period.
From one bay to 500 kilometres: scaling up marine restoration in Türkiye
Restoration works: Seven years of change across Europe’s landscapes and seascapes
What monitoring reveals about marine recovery in Gökova Bay
