Progress and challenges of multi-habitat marine restoration in the eastern Aegean Sea, Türkiye
Ecological restoration is an increasing global priority and is critical to reverse ecosystem decline caused by anthropogenic impacts. We outline the approach to marine restoration in Gökova Bay, Türkiye and present observations from lesser to more highly assisted restoration interventions and trials, including enforcing multi-habitat No Fishing Zones (including Posidonia oceanica, macroalgae and rocky reef) within a wider Marine Protected Area network. We consolidate evidence from ecological monitoring, small-scale fisheries catch data, marine patrol threat monitoring and a macroalgae trial intervention. It remains difficult to decipher interactions in this system where anthropogenic threats persist and change is not linear but we observe that areas of restoration (No Fishing Zones) demonstrated a lower proportion of Non Indigenous Species compared to fished areas. This work provides a new case study of the progression of multi-habitat interventions and the potential for marine ecosystem recovery in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, informing restoration at scale.
Authors
- Zafer Kızılkaya (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6107-0059)
- M. Tunca Olguner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6806-5933)
- Bülent Mìran (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6229-3740)
- Zafer Tosunoğlu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1168-9611)
- Berry Mulligan
- Ezgi Saydam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3181-079X)
- F.J. Kok (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1872-2461)
- İnci Tüney Kızılkaya (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0293-6964)
- Harun Güçlüsoy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4147-2587)
- Vahit Alan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3987-7347)
- Katherine E. Walker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8354-3704)
- Tolunay Tabak
- Bengi Atay
- Serena Pennetti
Institutions
- Fauna and Flora International (GB)
- Dokuz Eylül University (TR)
- Izmir Kâtip Çelebi University (TR)
- Ege University (TR)
- Seascape Consultants (United Kingdom) (GB)
- Istituto di Studi sul Mediterraneo (CNR - ISMed) (IT)
- Istanbul Technical University (TR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- npj Ocean Sustainability
- Published
- 2025-04-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-025-00114-9
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.42
Funders
- Whitley Fund for Nature
- Arcadia Fund
- Cambridge Conservation Initiative