Where's my ship?
It is vital we not only protect but enhance the oceans, to safeguard blue carbon ecosystems and combat climate change through carbon capture, preservation and resilience-building. The ocean is the largest long-term carbon sink on the planet. It stores and recycles 93% of the earth’s CO2, but the rate of loss of these blue carbon ecosystems is the highest among all ecosystems.
The ocean is also vital to our business and an important economic driver – generating $3 trillion in economic value globally each year. What’s more, three billion people rely on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods.
With this much at stake, it is important we restore our oceans and natural ecosystems. We focus on blue carbon initiatives, particularly mangrove planting. This will safeguard our oceans and planet by combating climate change through carbon capture, preservation and resilience-building. We also continue to work with our partners such as the World Ocean Council and Blue Marine Foundation to support ocean health and the communities around the world.
Moving Together for the Future of Our Seas: As DP World, We Support the “Coral Guardians” Project
As the threats facing the world's oceans continue to grow, it is becoming increasingly vital to take global action to protect these fragile ecosystems. At DP World, we act with the awareness that we are not only facilitators of trade but also carriers of sustainability, environmental responsibility, and natural life. In this context, we are proud and delighted to support the “Coral Guardians” project, led by the Marine Life Conservation Society (Deniz Yaşamını Koruma Derneği - DYKD), which stands out as a model initiative in the conservation of marine biodiversity in Türkiye.
Mediterranean Yellow Corals Come to Life in the Marmara Sea
The “Coral Guardians” project aims to reintroduce the yellow coral species (Eunicella cavolini), native to the Mediterranean, into the Marmara Sea. As coral populations worldwide are decreasing at alarming rates due to threats such as global climate change, marine pollution, and overfishing, this project represents a concrete step toward protecting and reviving regional biodiversity.
The project site is a particularly special one: Tavşan Island. Located off the coast of Istanbul and declared a "Strictly Protected Sensitive Area" by Presidential decree, Tavşan Island is the first and only marine protected area in the Marmara Sea. Guided by the scientific consultancy of Istanbul University and conducted with the necessary permissions from relevant ministries, the project rests on a solid scientific foundation as well as an environmental one.
Scientific Monitoring, Ecosystem Observation, and Adaptation Success
So far, 50 yellow coral specimens have been carefully transplanted to new habitats as part of the project. Monitoring studies have shown that approximately 75% of these corals have successfully adapted to their new environments. This adaptation rate is not only significant for Türkiye but also represents a high success rate globally when compared to similar projects. Furthermore, the transplanted corals have exhibited over 200% physical growth.
In the second phase of the project, temperature loggers have been installed in the coral transplantation areas to monitor how changes in sea temperature throughout the year affect the corals. The data collected reveals the unique structure of the Marmara Sea: composed of two layers, the lower layer carries characteristics of Mediterranean water. According to recent data, the temperature of this lower layer has risen from 14°C to 16°C in recent years. While this increase is considered a serious threat to marine ecosystems, the continued growth and development of the transplanted corals under these conditions is a promising sign of the project's progress.
Moreover, the positive developments are not limited to temperature resilience. Despite the occurrence of mucilage (sea snot) on the seabed during January and February, the corals managed to survive in these challenging conditions. Even during these periods, the corals showed signs of development, further proving the project’s resilience against nature and the strength of its scientific approach.
Field Observations and Ongoing Success Despite Adversity
Between January 2024 and April 2025, the DYKD diving team conducted 35 dives, totaling approximately 840 minutes of underwater observation and measurement within the Tavşan Island Marine Protected Area. With the support of DP World, underwater temperature monitoring devices were installed, and regular sea temperature tracking was initiated. One of the most critical periods for the project and the marine ecosystem was between January and March 2025, which coincided with an intense mucilage episode.
During this time, mucilage accumulated at a depth of 25 meters, which is the survival limit for deep-sea corals such as gorgonians, heavily covering the transplanted corals. Despite near-zero visibility, DYKD divers, supported by DP World Yarımca, individually cleaned the coral surfaces using their fins. While stormy weather conditions helped prevent further mucilage formation and contributed to the dispersal of existing layers via currents and wind, it also caused the dislodgement and loss of some temperature loggers.
Even the slightest removal of physical barriers on the corals enabled the continuation of vitality checks and biological function monitoring. According to the most recent data, approximately 50% of coral colonies per unit area were critically impacted during the mucilage episode, particularly at the 25-meter depth zone. However, this impact decreased with increasing depth, and even the formation of new coral colonies was observed.
Sailing Forward Together
With DP World’s wind at the sail of our Blue Flag-certified boat Valmira, we’ve achieved shared success in more than 50 seminars, workshops, and awareness events organized between January 2024 and April 2025 under the leadership of the Marine Life Conservation Society. We proudly represent Türkiye together at the world’s only coral restoration symposium.
