A gigantic ‘ghost net’ was recently extracted from the Marmara Sea.
The Deniz Yaşamını Koruma Derneği (DYKD, Marine Life Conservation Society) joined forces with the Kariyo & Ababay Vakfı (KAV, Kariyo & Ababay Foundation) in the shared goal of protecting the sea’s ecosystem. One of their recent works garnered a lot of attention in media.
DYKD, in association with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, launched a mobile app called Mavi Atlas (Blue Atlas) in 2025. Citizens can upload information about the species, depth, and location of marine life, and therefore can contribute to the mapping of biodiversity in Türkiye. Citizens can also report problems, such as ‘ghost nets.’
Ghost nets refer to a situation where defunct fishing gear—including nets, lines, longlines, and pots that have been accidentally lost, swept away by storms, or intentionally discarded by fishermen—remains on the sea floor and continues to trap and kill marine life indefinitely.
The first such report of ghost nets came from Heybeliada, and the second came from near Marmara Island in the Marmara Sea. The net was astoundingly huge; it could cover the Çamlıca Tower completely.
An initial exploration study with divers and underwater cameras revealed that the nets were trapped in rocky areas and crevices. It was observed that while the nets were tightly wrapped around rocks in some sections, in others, they drifted along the seabed with the current, turning into a virtually invisible trap. Many marine animals that were still alive were rescued and released back into their habitats.
Meticulous work of this scale is only made possible by the dedication of patrons who champion these causes— individuals like Sami Kariyo.
