Mavi Nefes Project expands marine ecosystem protection in Turkey

The Mavi Nefes Project, a collaboration between Garanti BBVA and TURMEPA coordinated by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, has expanded its scope from simple waste cleanup to a multi-dimensional marine ecosystem protection and restoration program. Since its launch in September 2021, the initiative has operated across several key Turkish ecosystems, including the Bosphorus, the Marmara Sea, Antalya, Göcek, Saros Gulf, and Lake Van.

Key environmental achievements reported through July 2026 include the collection of 335,188 kilograms of solid waste via sea sweepers, with 311,820 kilograms recovered from the Bosphorus and 23,368 kilograms from Lake Van. In terms of liquid waste management, the project collected over 1.9 million liters of waste from 4,133 boats in Göcek, contributing to the cleanliness of approximately 15.3 million liters of seawater. Additionally, 4.5 million liters of black and grey water were discharged in the Adrasan–Kemer area.

Beyond waste removal, the project focuses on habitat restoration, such as seagrass transplantation and the protection of coral and gorgonian colonies. The initiative also maintains a significant educational component, reaching over 150,000 students and teachers through online programs, the Education Bus, and the Blue Detectives program, focusing on topics like climate change, recycling, and zero waste.