Neandros Protected Area
We are working for the sustainability of marine life in the Marmara Sea.
Since 2015, as the Marine Life Conservation Society, we have been striving to establish a marine protected area around Tavşan Island to preserve the unique biodiversity surrounding the Princes’ Islands, reduce the threats it faces, and develop solutions that support the continuity of traditional fishing practices.
With the guidance of leading marine scientists and the contributions of civil society organizations and volunteers, our proposal—prepared with the approval of the General Directorate for the Protection of Natural Assets and the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change—was officially accepted through Presidential Decree No. 3817.
As a result, Tavşan Island, covering an area of 7,758,603.762 m², has been officially declared a Strictly Protected Sensitive Area.
This milestone marks the establishment of the first and only marine protected area in the Marmara Sea, creating a safe haven for all marine life in the region—especially for the coral species that call these waters home.