Species Watchers
The Marmara Sea is an ecosystem of great significance not only for Turkey but also on a global scale, due to its remarkable biodiversity.
Contrary to popular belief, despite the intense industrial activity surrounding it, the Marmara Sea remains rich in nutrients and marine life thanks to its highly productive currents and Mediterranean-like ecological characteristics.
To protect this richness and support it with scientific data, we launched our Species Observers Project in November 2020. Within the scope of this project, we conduct research to observe, document, and record marine species—primarily in the Marmara Sea, but also across other Turkish seas.
Publications and Initiatives within the Scope of the Project
The Species Observers Project is supported by various publications and tools, including:
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“The Princes’ Islands and the Wonders of the Underwater World” book,
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“From Marmara to the Mediterranean: A Journey of Sustainability” project,
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“Marmara: The Last Sanctuary” book and documentary,
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“Blue Atlas” citizen science mobile application.
The Princes’ Islands and the Wonders of the Underwater World
Located just off Istanbul, the Princes’ Islands host a remarkable yet little-known diversity of life, both above and below the surface.
This book presents maps and profiles of diving sites, along with QR codes that link to video narrations for each location—allowing readers to experience the underwater world of the islands through a three-dimensional digital exploration.
From Marmara to the Mediterranean: A Journey of Sustainability
This groundbreaking project marked a first in Turkey, covering a 1,700-nautical-mile coastal route from Heybeliada to Kekova and back.
Throughout 100 days, we conducted:
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100 dives at 100 different sites,
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Recorded over 200 hours of footage,
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Identified 428 common species across the Marmara, Aegean, and Mediterranean Seas.
The findings highlight the ecological connection between the three seas and demonstrate that protecting the Marmara Sea is vital for the health of all our waters:
“The Aegean, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean exist because the Marmara Sea exists.”
Marmara: The Last Sanctuary
Prepared within the framework of the From Marmara to the Mediterranean project, this book was published in the 100th year of the Republic of Türkiye.
Based on data collected from 100 diving sites in 100 days, it emphasizes the critical role of the Marmara Sea.
The work underlines the interconnectedness of marine, terrestrial, and atmospheric ecosystems, serving as a reference resource that outlines the necessary measures for a sustainable future.
For this reason, to use it as scientific data and protect the species in this area, we launched our "Species Watchers" project focusing on the biodiversity of the Princes' Islands in November 2020.