Gökova Bay lies at the center of Turkey's "Turquoise Coast," the Mediterranean shore on the southwest of the country. The area once teemed with underwater life, but overfishing, coastal development, climate change and other threats have damaged the marine ecosystem.
Gökova Bay lies at the center of Turkey's "Turquoise Coast," the Mediterranean shore on the southwest of the country. The area once teemed with underwater life, but overfishing, coastal development, climate change and other threats have damaged the marine ecosystem.
Zafer Kizilkaya
In recent decades, local fish populations have been depleted and critical habitats for endangered Mediterranean monk seals and loggerhead turtles have been destroyed.
In recent decades, local fish populations have been depleted and critical habitats for endangered Mediterranean monk seals and loggerhead turtles have been destroyed.
Zafer Kizilkaya
Due to warming waters, invasive tropical fish -- such as the carnivorous lionfish pictured -- have entered the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. These prey on native species and overgraze vegetation, posing an additional threat to the ecosystem. <br />
Due to warming waters, invasive tropical fish -- such as the carnivorous lionfish pictured -- have entered the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. These prey on native species and overgraze vegetation, posing an additional threat to the ecosystem.
Zafer Kizilkaya
According to the <a href="https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/I9540EN" target="_blank" target="_blank">UN's Food and Agriculture Organization</a>, the Mediterranean is the world's most overfished sea, due in part to industrial-scale fishing fleets. Discarded fishing nets (shown here) are also a danger to marine life.
According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, the Mediterranean is the world's most overfished sea, due in part to industrial-scale fishing fleets. Discarded fishing nets (shown here) are also a danger to marine life.
Zafer Kizilkaya
Shocked by the level of marine degradation, Zafer Kizilkaya (center), president and founder of Akdeniz Koruma Derneği (the Mediterranean Conservation Society), decided to take action. In 2012, he established the country's first community-managed marine protected area in Gökova Bay.
Shocked by the level of marine degradation, Zafer Kizilkaya (center), president and founder of Akdeniz Koruma Derneği (the Mediterranean Conservation Society), decided to take action. In 2012, he established the country's first community-managed marine protected area in Gökova Bay.
Goldman Environmental Prize
Working with local fishing communities -- whose livelihoods had been affected by the dearth of fish -- Kizilkaya and his team established no-take zones around the bay.
Working with local fishing communities -- whose livelihoods had been affected by the dearth of fish -- Kizilkaya and his team established no-take zones around the bay.
Omer Ozyilmazel
They trained locals as marine rangers who could patrol the area and alert the Coast Guard to illegal fishers. <br />
They trained locals as marine rangers who could patrol the area and alert the Coast Guard to illegal fishers.
Zafer Kizilkaya
Thanks to this work, Gökova Bay's marine ecosystem has made a tremendous comeback. Seagrass is flourishing, fish populations are increasing, and so are the incomes of local fishers.
Thanks to this work, Gökova Bay's marine ecosystem has made a tremendous comeback. Seagrass is flourishing, fish populations are increasing, and so are the incomes of local fishers.
Aysegul Dinckok
Gökova Bay has become a model example of the benefits of marine protected areas, and Zafer Kizilkaya has since been credited with successfully lobbying the Turkish government to expand its network of MPAs along more than 300 miles along the Mediterranean coast. Now he has been awarded the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize.
Gökova Bay has become a model example of the benefits of marine protected areas, and Zafer Kizilkaya has since been credited with successfully lobbying the Turkish government to expand its network of MPAs along more than 300 miles along the Mediterranean coast. Now he has been awarded the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize.
Goldman Environmental Prize