Coastal Management in Turkey

This page provides a preliminary summary on the following items for Turkey:

Spatial planning
Environment
Nature Conservation
Sectoral Development
Framework for Development of ICZM
National Achievements in the Field of ICZM
Problems and Constraints for the Development of ICZM

1. Spatial Planning

1.1 Legislation and Regulations

The Coastal Law / Shore Law, restrictions on land use within the 100-meter wide coastal strip, (1990, amended in 1992)
Land-use and Development Law (1985): Sentences on planning, application, construction and operational permits.
The Law for the Establishment of the Ministry of Transportation: This Law deals with granting permission for and construction of maritime structures. [50]

1.2 Administrative Competencies

The ministry of Public Works and Settlements has the final authority for planning in these areas, except in areas declared as tourism centres where the authority is transferred to the Ministry of Tourism. [51] The General Directorate of Bank of Provinces is affiliated to the Ministry of Public Works and settlement and has the responsibility to provide infrastructure projects on a turn key basis for municipalities, to provide credit for financing these projects, to prepare urban development plans, to provide technical assistance for construction, mapping, selling or renting materials and equipment, to insure property and to train the staff of the municipalities. [52] One of the main pieces of legislation relating to coastal areas is the Coastal/Shore Law of 1990, which sets out principles for the protection of the sea, natural and artificial lakes, river shores and the shore strip. But this is not a comprehensive coastal management law, therefor municipalities have the responsibility for enforcing the Coastal/Shore Law in their boundaries and annexed areas whilst the provincial governors have responsibility for all other areas. [53]

1.3 Coastal Policy

To redefine planning hierarchies, responsibilities and authorities; to integrate an ecological perspective into planning practices; to strengthen planning instruments by amending the Land-use and Development Law.
To redefine coastal strips through an amendment to the Coastal Law. This amendment will take into account topographic conditions and natural resources and cover all ICZM issues. Coasts can not be owned privately and are open to the benefit of all, equally and freely.
There are some restrictions on land use within the 100-meter wide coastal strip. The Coastal Law (1990) outlines the conditions related to land use, filling of the sea, the types of functions, buildings and special facilities that can take place within the coastal zone.

2. Environment

2.1 Legislation and Regulations

Environmental Law (1983) / Regulations on EIA (1993-’97): This Law deals with policy making on environmental issues, inventories, planning, monitoring and prevention of pollution and enforcement and sanctions. [54]

2.2 Administrative Competencies

The Ministry of Environment is designated as the main responsible body for environmental management and charged with co-ordinating all national and international activities concerning water resources. It was established as Undersecretariate of Environment attached to the Prime Ministry in 1978 and was elevated to Ministry status in 1991. Its organisational structure provides for Province Environmental Directorates, authorised to decide on water issues.

The General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works is affiliated to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. It is a leading body carrying out most of subsector activities at all stages of water resources development. SHW ensures the long-term supply of drinking and industrial water and also plans, executes and in most cases co-operates works for flood protection, irrigation, drainage and hydropower generation. The responsibilities of SHW also include performing basic investigations such as, flow gauging, soil classification, water quality monitoring, preparation of river basin development plans and formulation of proposals for construction financing and subsequent operation of these works.
In addition, Water and Sewage Administration connected to the municipalities (15 out of 80 provincial capital municipalities) have taken part in the implementation of pollution control policies, including water supply and construction and operation of wastewater treatment facilities. [55]

2.3 Environmental Policy

To structure industrial and urban wastewater and solid waste administration and investments that may help to decrease pollution caused by highly prioritised polluting resources.
To establish a monitoring system for pollution control and monitoring especially at wastewater discharge points.
To carry out a research project on coastal erosion in the Black Sea coastal zone and implement pilot projects.
To prepare emergency response plans.
To prepare a new law for planning, protection, appropriation, and administration of water resources.

3. Nature Conservation

3.1 Legislation

Law for protection of Cultural and Natural Wealth, (1983).
Natural Park Law, (1983).
Decree of the Council of Ministers for the Establishment of a Special Agency For Environmental Protection. [56]

3.2 Administrative Competencies

Three ministries namely the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Forestry, and the Ministry of Culture are responsible for nature conservation through three different laws, dealing with specially protected areas, national parks and other designations, cultural and natural sites. There are no arrangements for co-ordination of these efforts which causes confusion at the local level. [57]

3.3 System of Protected Areas

There are efforts in order to maintain biological diversity through expanding aerial extend of the protected natural sites. National parks, Nature Reserves and specially protected areas are some of these attempts undertaken by the Turkish Government. [58] There are 6 national parks, 2 natural parks and 10 natural protection sites in the Black Sea region. Also, there are 4 wetlands and several natural bird habitats. At the moment there is a plan to declare a specially protected area around the Fýrtýna brook region because of the special characteristics of the site and to protect the area against the construction of a hydroelectric power station.

4. Sectoral Development

4.1 Coastal Defence

No information received.

4.2 Recreation and Tourism

Although the region has potential, necessary resources for tourism activities, the tourism sector could not develop as satisfactorily as it did along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. This is due to various reasons such as its geographical location, its relatively shorter tourism season and its relative underdevelopment as compared to the other 2 regions. Some parts of the region like Akçakoca, Amasra, Ayancik, Ünye, Sinop and the mountainous sections of Bolu are places where tourism has developed. The number of beds with touristic purposes is 34,000, which is 6 % of the total in the country.
Tourism Incentives Law (1982):
Identification and planning of tourism sites and centres, provision, giving incentives to tourism organisations.

4.3 Fisheries and Aquaculture

Commercial Fishing is one of Turkey’s traditional marine economic. The country’s long coastline provides good natural conditions for fishing and aquaculture, The Black Sea is exceptionally productive, providing more than 80% of Turkey’s total fishery catch. However sense the late ‘80s, the total value of the catch and the number of fish species have declined progressively, as a result of pollution of coastal waters.
Fisheries Law (1971):
Protection and supervision services for production in the fishery sector.

4.4 Transport

No information received.

4.5 Harbours and Shipping

Harbours Law (1923):
Administration of harbours, pollution control, organisation of the naval traffic and its security.
No more information received.

4.6 Industry

Cities with rather well developed trade and service functions are prevalent in the region. However, there are also cities that are specialised in industrial sectors. Samsun and Trabzon are cities with with well-developed regional functions. The development of the city of Zonguldak is largely based on mining and industry. Kocaeli and Sakarya are industrialised cities under the influence of the metropolitan functions of Istanbul. Izmit, Karabük, Eregli, Adapazari, Gebze are also cities with a well developed industrial sector.

4.7 Agriculture

Turkey’s agricultural production constitutes a major economic activity in the coastal areas. Remarkably, 90 % of tobacco, 80 % of cotton and 70 % of the rice production of the country takes place in coastal provinces. Consequently, a great challenge facing the country is to reduce agricultural pollution resulting from intensive use of fertilisers and pesticides. [59]
The situation in the Black Sea region is slightly different. Only 6% of the cultivated area of Turkey are situated in the Black Sea region. The region supplies more than half of the corn production and more than one-third of the rice production of Turkey. Also 40% of the stone fruit trees, 40% of the nuts and 87% of the tea plants of Turkey are produced in this region. Also in this region the use of fertilisers is the biggest environmental problem, the use of fertilisers increased by 25% between 1975 and 1996. Meanwhile, cultivated areas increased by 12% and crop production increased by 31% in the region. The Black Sea coastal areas are facing a big recession at the moment. [60]

5. Framework for Development of ICZM

The Republic of Turkey has adopted policies aiming at sustainable development that respects the balance between economic development and environmental protection and the use of necessary tools for these purposes. ICZM, which is an important tool for the realisation of sustainable development and environmental protection, is one of the tools that have been adopted by Turkey within this scope. These policies have been reflected in the five-year development plans and other national documents. Turkey has also made commitments to protect the environment and to promote sustainable development. Turkey has committed itself to the implementation of integrated coastal zone management by signing several international agreements such as the Rio de Janeiro convention with its ‘ Agenda 21’. Other conventions signed and ratified by Turkey are the Barcelona Convention, the Ramsar Convention and MARPOL. For the Black Sea region the Bucharest Convention (1992), the Odessa Ministerial Declaration (1993), and the Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea, (BS SAP 1996) have been signed. ICZM in the Black Sea region started in 1993 within the framework of the Black Sea Environmental Program (BSEP).

6. National Achievements in the Field of ICZM

The establishment of the National Committee on Turkish Coastal Zone Management (KAY) in 1993. It plays an important role in the ICZM approach at the national level through the organisation of seminars, courses and projects.
Within the scope of the ICZM program, several meetings were held under the guidance of the Ministry of Environment. Participants were experts and advisors on the BSEP and ICZM from related ministries, related organisations, local administrations, professional chambers, related sectors, NGO’s and university experts. In order to make the ICZM network official, an organisational scheme has been submitted for approval on 30 Oct. 1995.
The decisions taken in the meetings mentioned above were published in the Turkish National ICZM Report and in the National Progress Report.
13 project proposals were submitted to the World Bank, and four project proposals were found appropriate for implementation and in line with ICZM methodologies. Unfortunately there was a delay in selecting the best pilot project and submitting it to the World Bank. Therefor it was not possible to get funding, and no progress was made at the implementation stage.
In january 1994, a Black Sea NGO forum meeting was held in Ankara in which 15 organisations participated. Decisions were taken to establish a secretariat and to continue relations with the BSEP. In 1995 and in the following years several ICZM related meetings were organised and international NGO meetings were also attended.
A research Project: "Trabzon Province Coastal Management" was realised by the Trabzon Development Foundation.
Increasing coastal zone problems made necessary the establishment of some units for coastal zones at the central level. The ‘Coastal Inventory Agency’ (Ministry of Public Works and Housing) is charged with determining the coastal shoreline and developing inventories with regard to the implementation of coastal law.
In may 1997 the ‘Environmental and Coastal Management Agency’ was established by the Ministry of Environment, charged with preparation, implementation and evaluation of environmental management plans at national, regional and local level.

7. Problems and Constraints for the Development of ICZM

Institutional organisation and the capacity of professionals are quite limited. Efforts to improve activities within the scope of the BSEP ICZM program have proven insufficient in many respects. Particularly, the establishment of a database research studies, institutional and professional education, public awareness and enhanced participation of the public could not be satisfactory achieved. Past activities on the National level were mostly focussed on giving information. No study was conducted with regard to the legal and institutional organisation within the scope of the project.
There is neither a wide scope ICZM law nor a special institutional development in this area and therefor efforts do not go far beyond the project level.
In Turkey, since there is neither a law that covers all respects related to coastal zones, nor a special institutional structure for this purpose, various organisations happen to be authorised and responsible in coastal zones. As a result, the authorities are overlapping in some respects and there are some gaps in other areas.
Due to disorder and multiplicity in institutional structure, there is also deficiency in co-ordination. Deficiency exists in horizontal as well as in vertical co-ordination at central, regional, and local level.
In Turkey, local organisations are weaker than central organisations. There are deficiencies in local administrations and in local organisations of the central government, especially with regard to decision-making, budgeting and getting financial aid. Although Turkey has assumed the principle of being administered locally as a policy, the necessary arrangements to fully implement this policy have not been realised yet.
Legal mechanisms with regard to public participation and access to information are not sufficient. Legal arrangements in this respect (EIA, etc.) provide limited possibility to the public to participate in few areas. On the other hand, NGO initiatives and public consciousness are more and more developing and becoming widespread.
In the process of EIA, which has been applied since 1993, there are still problems with regards to its application, supervision and monitoring. There is no legal basis and criteria in strategic EIA and environmental. [61]

References

50	GEF BSEP: ‘National ICZM Policies and Strategies: Turkey’, Ankara, Turkey, 1997.
51	Policy Instruments for ICZM in Nine Selected European Countries, EUCC services, Leiden, 2000
52	http://www.oieau.fr./euromed/anglais/ate_4/kuleli.htm
53	Policy Instruments for ICZM in Nine Selected European Countries, EUCC services, Leiden, 2000.
54	GEF BSEP: ‘National ICZM Policies and Strategies: Turkey’, Ankara, Turkey, 1997.
55	http://www.oieau.fr./euromed/anglais/ate_4/kuleli.htm
56	GEF BSEP: ‘National ICZM Policies and Strategies: Turkey’, Ankara, Turkey, 1997.
57	Policy Instruments for ICZM in Nine Selected European Countries, EUCC services, Leiden, 2000.
58	http://www.birdwatch-turkey.com/websayfasi/protactiontr.htm#prota6
59	GEF BSEP: ‘National ICZM Policies and Strategies: Turkey’, Ankara, Turkey, 1997.
60	Black Sea Environmental Priorities Study: Turkey, 1998, UNDP-GEF, UN publication, New York.
61	GEF BSEP: ‘National ICZM Policies and Strategies: Turkey’, Ankara, Turkey, 1997.

Prepared by Martijn Onderstal at EUCC International Secretariat