Turkey launches Mapa-Şamandıra system to protect marine ecosystems

Turkey has launched the Mapa-Şamandıra (Map-Buoy) Management System to protect marine ecosystems, specifically targeting the preservation of sea grasses in the Mediterranean. The project is part of the Zero Waste Blue Project, conducted under the auspices of Emine Erdoğan and coordinated by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change.

To prevent damage caused by uncontrolled anchoring, the system provides fixed moorings and buoys for boats to use instead of dropping anchors directly onto the seabed. In the Göcek region, the project has already established systems across 17 bays, utilizing 896 marine maps and 876 moorings to serve approximately 856 vessels.

A promotional film featuring actors Ata Demirer and Erkan Can was released to highlight the importance of these underwater ecosystems. Additionally, a digital infrastructure called DERİA has been implemented, allowing boat owners to make digital reservations for the mooring systems via a mobile application.