Amongst the important habitats in Gökova Bay are the wide beds of Posidonia oceanica seagrass, a species endemic to the Mediterranean basin. Nearly 73% of all fish species known to exist in Turkish waters live in Gökova Bay, including the endangered dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus), devil fish (Mobula mobular), bottlenose skate (Rostroraja alba), and the critically endangered angel shark (Squatina squatina) and Squatina oculata. It is a breeding and feeding site for the endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) and Sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus).
Six areas in the bay were declared No-Fishing Zones to preserve diversity, increase marine species’ populations, and support small-scale fishing and the entire bay was closed to large-scale fishing operations under Issue 27637 of the Official Gazette on July 10, 2010.
Since its founding in 2012, the Mediterranean Conservation Society has been working on wholistic marine conservation and monitoring efforts at Gökova Bay, collaborating with other institutions locally, nationally, and internationally.
The Society developed the Marine Ranger System as a model for Turkey’s NFZs and implemented it for the first time in Gökova Bay in 2013 with the support of local authorities. Thanks to this system, members of endangered species and fish biomass within the NFZs have multiplied since 2013. According to data collected by the Akyaka Fishery Cooperative, fishers have seen a 400% increase in income.
As well as tracking and rehabilitation activities for seagrass, sandbar sharks, and monk seals in the bay, the Society monitors the effects of climate change, fish biomass, and macroalgae species in the area. *Gökova Bay is an exemplary Marine Protected Area for Turkey and the world. The Gökova Marine Protected Area was named as one of the 16 areas included in the world’s best marine protected areas list announced at the 2017 UN Ocean Conference that was held in New York.
Starting in 2019, the MCS also began to work on the marine protected areas at Datça - Bozburun Peninsula, Fethiye - Göcek, and Kaş - Kekova, expanding the experience and knowledge accumulated in Gökova to these new regions.
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