Foreword – Sibel Sezer de
Swimming in the sea in Gökçeada on a hot summer day, diving in Kaş in winter, watching dolphins in the Bosphorus in spring, walking barefoot on the beach in Patara, collecting seashells on Çıralı beach, rowing and fishing in Trabzon, escaping Istanbul traffic by ferry and watching seagulls, finding happiness while cruising in the magnificent bays of Göcek by boat… The opportunities offered by our country, surrounded by seas, are so numerous that it's impossible to list them all. We are truly very lucky!
The sea and coasts, which add cultural and social value to society, are also an important source of income. Traditional sectors such as tourism, fishing, aquaculture, maritime transport, ports, and ship dismantling, which are part of the blue economy, have a high share in the economy. Newly developing sectors such as offshore wind energy, water sports, biotechnology, and mining are still in their infancy in our country. The most important input of the blue economy is the sea itself. However, activities that harm the sea, or even pollute and damage it, not only harm the marine ecosystem but also jeopardize the sustainability of those activities themselves. We know that excessive and illegal fishing is causing a decline in fish populations, that the sea is becoming unswimmable in coastal cities where large ports are being built, that plastics dumped into the sea are killing marine mammals, and that oil spills from shipwrecks are disrupting the ecosystem. Therefore, we cannot overemphasize the urgency of transitioning to a sustainable blue economy to prevent further damage to the sea and coasts from blue growth. In particular, a sustainable blue economy is gaining increasing importance in the European Union, and is seen as an indispensable part of the 'Green Deal'. In Turkey, we are still in the early stages of transitioning to a sustainable blue economy. Increasing knowledge and skills in this area is crucial.
We, who struggle to protect our seas, will also have to manage the effects of climate change. It doesn't seem like it will be easy. Ideally, we should change our habits and production models that pollute the seas starting today. However, change is not easy and takes time. If we fail to embrace change, both marine life will suffer and the socio-economic repercussions will be negative.
As TÜDAV, we want to discuss all issues related to the seas. Within the framework of a sustainability approach, our goal is to increase knowledge, awareness, and skills for change, and to foster greater sharing. To achieve this goal, we will request short articles from all stakeholders for publication in Deniz Postası (Sea Post). All articles and comments published in Deniz Postası reflect the authors' own views.
Who is Deniz Postası for?
Deniz Postası is for those who love the sea, want to understand and reflect on the marine ecosystem, see the sea as a part of life and urban culture, benefit economically from the sea but also know and strive for its protection.
Deniz Postası is a sharing environment that brings us together. In blog-format articles, we will include stories, memories, experiences, and suggestions related to the sea. Our aim with this collection of articles is to encourage more people to love the seas, to make them a part of their lives, to contribute to the conservation of marine biodiversity, to discuss the transition to a sustainable blue economy, to understand the effects of climate change and to produce solutions. We look forward to receiving your articles for Deniz Postası (Sea Post), which we hope you will enjoy reading.
The sea and coasts, which add cultural and social value to society, are also an important source of income. Traditional sectors such as tourism, fishing, aquaculture, maritime transport, ports, and ship dismantling, which are part of the blue economy, have a high share in the economy. Newly developing sectors such as offshore wind energy, water sports, biotechnology, and mining are still in their infancy in our country. The most important input of the blue economy is the sea itself. However, activities that harm the sea, or even pollute and damage it, not only harm the marine ecosystem but also jeopardize the sustainability of those activities themselves. We know that excessive and illegal fishing is causing a decline in fish populations, that the sea is becoming unswimmable in coastal cities where large ports are being built, that plastics dumped into the sea are killing marine mammals, and that oil spills from shipwrecks are disrupting the ecosystem. Therefore, we cannot overemphasize the urgency of transitioning to a sustainable blue economy to prevent further damage to the sea and coasts from blue growth. In particular, a sustainable blue economy is gaining increasing importance in the European Union, and is seen as an indispensable part of the 'Green Deal'. In Turkey, we are still in the early stages of transitioning to a sustainable blue economy. Increasing knowledge and skills in this area is crucial.
We, who struggle to protect our seas, will also have to manage the effects of climate change. It doesn't seem like it will be easy. Ideally, we should change our habits and production models that pollute the seas starting today. However, change is not easy and takes time. If we fail to embrace change, both marine life will suffer and the socio-economic repercussions will be negative.
As TÜDAV, we want to discuss all issues related to the seas. Within the framework of a sustainability approach, our goal is to increase knowledge, awareness, and skills for change, and to foster greater sharing. To achieve this goal, we will request short articles from all stakeholders for publication in Deniz Postası (Sea Post). All articles and comments published in Deniz Postası reflect the authors' own views.
Who is Deniz Postası for?
Deniz Postası is for those who love the sea, want to understand and reflect on the marine ecosystem, see the sea as a part of life and urban culture, benefit economically from the sea but also know and strive for its protection.
Deniz Postası is a sharing environment that brings us together. In blog-format articles, we will include stories, memories, experiences, and suggestions related to the sea. Our aim with this collection of articles is to encourage more people to love the seas, to make them a part of their lives, to contribute to the conservation of marine biodiversity, to discuss the transition to a sustainable blue economy, to understand the effects of climate change and to produce solutions. We look forward to receiving your articles for Deniz Postası (Sea Post), which we hope you will enjoy reading.
