İzmit Bay's mud cleaning has boosted biodiversity, with seahorses and other marine species returning to the area.
After the mud cleaning operations carried out in İzmit Bay, an increase in underwater biodiversity has been observed, and a seahorse has been sighted again off Değirmendere after a year. In the cleaned waters, in addition to the seahorse, swallow fish, lobster, and various species of corals have also started to nest.
The mud cleaning operations in İzmit Bay, conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality, have increased biodiversity in the underwater ecosystem. With the implementation of the 'İzmit Bay Mud Cleaning Project' and advanced biological treatment investments, underwater life has become more active, and during dives conducted at Değirmendere beach, a seahorse was sighted again after a year.
In the recent dives conducted in the region, an increase in the populations of seahorses, swallow fish, lobsters, sea urchins, and various coral species has also been observed.
'Marine life has returned to their nests'
Murat Kulakaç, President of the Değirmendere Underwater Community (DESSAT), stated in a related announcement that marine life has started to return to İzmit Bay. Kulakaç said, 'İzmit Bay used to be a sea we turned our backs on. Now, with the restoration efforts, we have turned our faces towards it, starting to swim and dive. We are observing a rapid increase in underwater life. It seems that the marine creatures, which are the residents of this area, have begun to return to their homes in İzmit Bay. Giant swallow fish and lobsters are very important to us. Because when the acid level in the sea rises, the chances of survival for shellfish diminish. That is why they had abandoned their nests. Now, with the recovery of the sea, they have quickly returned to their nests. We are capturing these underwater, which makes us very happy. I can say that İzmit Bay is one of the most vibrant seas in Turkey. We are now seeing anemones, rocky corals, swallow fish, bluefish, and occasionally tuna, bonito, horse mackerel, whiting, red mullet, and jumbo shrimp very frequently. The living organisms and vegetation, which are indicators of sea cleanliness, have also started to increase incredibly. This makes us very happy both as divers and as residents of the area.'
'We are clearly observing an increase in marine life in Değirmendere'
Kulakaç pointed out that the mud cleaning operations have a significant impact on the re-nesting of fish, stating: 'Advanced biological treatment facilities are very important. There is serious human pressure. It is an industrial city with intense human mobility. Nevertheless, local governments and Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality are seriously supporting the cleaning of the sea with what we gain from the sea and the region. I believe that the mud cleaning has also contributed to this. As soon as the accumulated pollution of years was removed, fish started to nest again. We are clearly observing an increase in marine life in Değirmendere. It is getting better every day. If we protect it this way, it will get even better.'
'If there are sea urchins, it means the water quality is good'
Kulakaç drew attention to the increase in species considered indicators of water quality, stating, 'If you can see different species from the smallest to the largest creatures in a sea, it means the food chain is working correctly and the life cycle continues. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in soft corals, sea potatoes, and especially sea urchins. The increase in sea urchins has been so much recently that they have allowed for their collection. We strongly opposed this. These are organisms we call indicator species. They are indicators of sea cleanliness. If there are sea urchins, it means the water quality is good. When the acid level in the sea rises, shellfish with carbonate structures lose their shells and either die or leave the area. The best indicator of this is lobsters. Now, in almost every dive we make in Değirmendere, we see 2-3 lobsters. This makes us very happy,' he expressed.
'Let’s protect our seas and streams'
Reminding that the sea and streams are not garbage dumps, Kulakaç pointed out that plastic and glass waste, as well as agricultural chemicals used in gardens, mix with groundwater and reach the sea, harming marine life. He called on citizens to be careful about waste disposal and chemical use.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
