As part of the jointly implemented “BlackNETs: Let’s Protect the Black Sea from Silent Killers” project by Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, and Georgia, an awareness event was held with students from Sürmene Şehit Kaymakam Muhammet Fatih Safitürk Primary School. The event drew great interest from the children.

Led by Mare Nostrum Romania and supported by the European Union, the project aims to detect, map, and recycle ghost nets that seriously harm marine ecosystems. Karadeniz Technical University (KTÜ) Faculty of Marine Sciences is one of the project partners. The goal is to remove a total of 8 tons of ghost nets from the sea.

Teaching Children About the Marine Ecosystem and Ghost Nets

Project team members Prof. Dr. Fatma Telli Karakoç, Prof. Dr. Coşkun Erüz, Prof. Dr. Hacer Sağlam, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rafet Çağrı Öztürk, Dr. Ahmet Şahin, and Dr. Neira Purwanty Ismail gave presentations to the students on the following topics:

• Fishing and fishing gear,

• Marine pollution and water footprint,

• The negative impacts of ghost nets on marine life.

As part of the event, children participated in net-searching activities on the beach, met fish in an aquarium, and took part in hands-on recycling activities. The students showed great enthusiasm and interest, and it was emphasized that such educational efforts are crucial for protecting the marine ecosystem.

Ghost Nets: A Major Threat to the Black Sea

In recent years, rising sea temperatures in the Black Sea have negatively impacted many fish species, especially anchovies. In addition, fishing nets discarded or lost at sea, known as “ghost nets,” cause significant harm to the ecosystem. These nets can remain on the seabed for hundreds of years without decomposing, continuing to catch marine life unintentionally and threatening fish populations.

Prof. Dr. Coşkun Erüz described the efforts within the project as follows:
“Abandoned or broken nets in the Black Sea continue to harm fisheries and contribute to uncontrolled fishing. These nets cover the seabed, disrupting the ecosystem balance. Through this project, we aim to remove around 8 tons of ghost nets from the sea and work with fishers to prevent further net loss.”

It was noted that collaborations with fishers and relevant institutions would be established to reduce the impact of ghost nets and that mapping and recycling activities would be carried out to raise public awareness.

In the Media
(Links to media coverage about the event can be accessed here.)

https://www.haberturk.com/trabzon-haberleri/112204672-trabzonda-minikler-deniz-ekosistemini-kesfetti

https://www.dha.com.tr/foto-galeri/trabzonda-minikler-deniz-ekosistemini-kesfetti-2607254

https://www.takagazete.com.tr/video/minikler-karadenizin-derinliklerine-yolculuk-yapti-ktuden-deniz-ekosistemi-egitimi

https://www.kuzeyekspres.com.tr/haber/21338999/ktu-karadenizi-hayalet-aglardan-koruma-projesinde-yer-aliyor

https://www.sporgundemi.net.tr/ktude-ogrencilere-denizdeki-gizemler-ve-ekosistem-egitimi-verilecek/

https://www.ereglionder.com.tr/trabzonda-ogrenciler-hayalet-aglar-ve-deniz-ekosistemi-hakkinda-bilgilendirildi

https://www.kesinkarar.com/trabzonda-ogrenciler-hayalet-aglar-ve-deniz-ekosistemi-hakkinda-bilgilendirildi

https://www.akcaabatgazetesi.com.tr/haber/trabzonda-ogrenciler-hayalet-aglar-ve-deniz-ekosistemi-hakkinda-bilgilendirildi-40923.html

 

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