Artificial reefs will provide living space for creatures in the Marmara Sea.
Akçansa, a joint company of Sabancı Holding and Heidelberg Materials, in cooperation with Marmara Island Gündoğdu Village Development and Beautification Association; The ‘Marmara Islands Artificial Reef Project’, implemented under the consultancy of Balıkesir University and Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University (ÇOMÜ), has been completed.
Within the scope of the project, a total of 280 artificial reefs were placed on the seabed to contribute to the shelter, nutrition and increase of diversity of marine creatures.
The project also differs in terms of the use of innovative products. In the project, which is the first major study carried out with three-dimensional reefs in the Marmara Sea, 160 artificial reefs produced with three-dimensional printers were released into the sea to become a home for marine creatures.
The project, which was carried out with the approval of the General Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Turkey, aims to contribute to increasing biodiversity and fish population, as well as protecting the sensitive ecosystem in the region.
Akçansa has undertaken an important initiative to contribute to a more sustainable future and implemented the ‘Marmara Islands Artificial Reef Project’ in cooperation with the Marmara Island Gündoğdu Village Development and Beautification Association.
Before the reefs were placed on the seabed, marine diversity and fish population were observed through measurement and evaluation studies carried out in four different seasons, and then the reefs were released into the sea. While 160 of the total 280 artificial reefs were produced with 3D printers, this number indicates the first major study in which this technology was used in the Marmara Sea.
In the project, which was completed after approximately 3 years of research and preparation, the reefs prepared with the latest technology were placed appropriately according to the design map.
The project will be a scientific reference
The project, which aims to improve biodiversity and ensure sustainability, also aims to create resources based on scientific data. After the reefs are released into the sea, measurement and evaluation studies for the recovery and developments in the region will be observed for five years under the guidance of universities.
In the light of all this scientific data to be recorded, an artificial reef application, monitoring and development guide will be created. This guide is intended to be a reference for subsequent projects.
Akçansa General Manager Vecih Yılmaz said the following in his statement on the subject; “As Akçansa, we continue our work in a wide range with the vision of becoming the sustainable building materials company with the highest stakeholder value in Turkey. We see protecting biodiversity as an integral part of our work to combat climate change. We are happy to offer a living space for marine creatures with the Marmara Islands Artificial Reef Project, where we use innovative technologies, especially artificial reefs produced with 3D printers. We will monitor the development of the project on a regular basis. “As Akçansa, we are proud that the support we provide contributes to a more livable world.”
Nevzat Ekmekçi, President of Marmara Island Gündoğdu Village Development and Beautification Association, spoke as follows; “The Marmara Sea is a large habitat surrounding our island. We attach importance to artificial reef projects in order to improve biodiversity and ensure sustainability in the region. We are happy and proud to increase the living population and revitalize the habitat in the Marmara Sea with the Marmara Islands Artificial Reef Project, which we implemented with the support of Akçansa. “Producing reefs with three-dimensional printers with an innovative approach and reporting all stages with scientific studies will be a role model for future artificial reef projects.”
Balıkesir University Institute of Science Director Assoc. Dr. Dilek Turker; “We monitored and recorded the fish biodiversity of Marmara Island in the pre-reef period. In this regard, artificial reefs will increase the marine biodiversity of the island; We think that it will also contribute to science as the first artificial reef area to be monitored before and after. “The use of innovative applications in the project also makes the work stand out,” he said.
Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Faculty of Marine Sciences and Technology, Lecturer Prof. Dr. Uğur Altınağaç said; “The regions identified for the artificial reefs to be placed on Marmara Island were analyzed in the light of scientific data in many aspects such as bottom structure, current status, thermocline layer and water criteria. It has been determined by many previous case studies that artificial reefs are extremely necessary and beneficial structures for the Turkish seas. “We believe that artificial reef studies should be supported and disseminated by all stakeholders in order to increase sustainable fishing and biodiversity,” he said.
The opinions expressed herein are the author’s and not necessarily those of News2Sea.
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