Organised by the Marmara Municipalities Union and involving the simultaneous participation of all provinces bordering the Marmara Sea, this major environmental initiative took the form of a large-scale underwater and coastal clean-up event in Yalova. Held under the theme of ‘Marmara Sea Day’, the activity was successfully completed under the coordination of Yalova University and through strategic collaboration with key public institutions in the city.
The programme, held on Yalova University’s newly opened coastal strip and in the area where the walking paths meet the sea, was attended by Yalova University Rector Prof. Mehmet Bahçekapılı, General Secretary Hayri Karaca, department heads, branch directors, and a large number of administrative and academic staff.
Conducted with high participation and a strong sense of environmental awareness, the event served as a prime example of both protecting the marine ecosystem and raising environmental awareness.
The underwater clean-up activities, which formed the most critical part of the event, were carried out with the intensive efforts of professional diving teams.
The Yalova University Diving Team, led by Deputy General Secretary Ercan Gündoğdu, Underwater Technologies Lecturer Çağrı Varış, Lecturer Talip İbin and Administrative Officer Canberk Gür, descended to the seabed. The underwater operation also received professional support from the Diving Team of the Provincial Police Department’s Port Branch, the Diving Team of the Yalova Boat Command under the South Marmara Coast Guard Group Command, and teams from the Yalova Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry.
During the deep dives, carried out in a coordinated manner, solid waste and foreign objects threatening the natural life beneath the Sea of Marmara and damaging the ecosystem were identified one by one and brought to the surface. Whilst the waste removed from the seabed was displayed along the shoreline, a comprehensive environmental clean-up was simultaneously carried out on the university’s newly opened walking paths and the coastal strip. The clearance of this new living space where land meets sea was met with appreciation by participants and local residents.
Speaking at the event, Yalova University Rector Prof. Mehmet Bahçekapılı emphasised that the protection of the Marmara Sea is not merely a regional but a national duty. Prof. Bahçekapılı stated, “As part of Turkey Environment Week and Marmara Sea Day, we have undertaken a highly meaningful collaboration on our university’s new coastal strip. Our diving teams and the city’s valued public institutions have joined forces to clear both the surface and depths of our sea of rubbish. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to organising this event, particularly the Marmara Municipalities Union, as well as the police, coastguard and provincial agriculture directorate teams who supported our university’s coordination efforts, and all the academic and administrative staff present here who demonstrated environmental awareness. A clean Marmara means a clean future.”
