Yellow Gorgon Project

The vital underwater coral bridge between the Mediterranean and Marmara Seas is expected to be fully restored by 2024, thanks to DP World Yarimca’s Yellow Coral Conservation Project.

The Yellow coral in the area plays a vital role in the underwater ecosystem, but the coral population has reduced over the years due to damage from human interaction and changes in sea temperature. The heavy mucilage that occurred last year also caused coral deaths as it covered the corals and blocked breathing and feeding of them.

Last year, DP World Yarimca - one of the largest state-of-the-art container terminals in Turkey - in collaboration with Istanbul University and the Marine Life Conservation Society (MLCS), set about reversing the damage and restoring the coral through close monitoring techniques, cleaning of the mucilage and replanting.

In addition to the conservation and reproduction of corals, eight underwater heat meters were installed at a depth of 30 metres in Ayvalık to monitor the temperature over the course of the year, which could also help provide important data on the effects of global warming in the area.

Along with its measures to protect the coral it is also committed to educating future generations on the importance of the coral to the ecosystem.  As part of this educational programme DP World Yarımca has created a character called Doli the dolphin to teach children about underwater life, helping them to understand the value of corals and the steps that must be taken to safeguard them.

Kris Adams, CEO of DP World Yarımca, said: “As people working in ports and seas, we are very aware of the value of aquatic life and are therefore passionate about taking steps to allow the seas to breathe again.

“We are trying to reintroduce broken and shattered corals to the ecosystem, as well conserve corals whose populations are diminishing. We will utilize a specific transportation method to carry the coral colonies from Ayvalık to Tavşan Island, where they will be successfully planted, and we will continue to offer our assistance by closely monitoring the process in the coming months."

DP World Yarımca, launched the project as part of its ‘Our World is Our Future’ initiative, when the near by Tavşan Island was designated as a special conservation area in 2021.

Volkan Narcı, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Marine Life Conservation Society said: "Corals are the seas' rainforests, and they are essential for habitat development and formation. They are the creators of the temperature difference in the marine life and the creators of the future marine life.

“We should always keep in mind that the seas are one of our food sources and provide two out of every three breaths we take. These definitions demonstrate the importance, sensitivity, and necessity of the project we are carrying out. A ruined ecology and marine life constitute no resources for anyone.

“Through our work with DP World Yarimca we are sowing the future of sea creatures with our bare hands. This is delicate, meticulously planned, and time-consuming work as we are planting a limited number of marine creatures with a limited supply of air in an area exposed to all threats, including time and depth, 30 meters beneath the surface. Unlike experiments conducted on the land, the coral work we carry out remains a seed for 50 years later."

He added: "I think the most important aspect of this project is Doli because decision-makers for future life protection are being raised today. If we can raise this awareness in them, we may be able to raise a generation that has an understanding of environmental protection. That is when we can explain how safeguarding the environment, and the marine ecology is essential for life on land, and we can continue to fight together. 

“The Marine Life Conservation Society continues to battle for the future of the Marmara Sea, which is the world's most distinguished and valuable sea for us. Further support for such projects allows us to advance our efforts in favor of the Marmara Sea and future marine life."

The Yellow coral project is the latest in a series of environmental initiatives launched by DP World, which are heavily focused on educating future generations. In 2019 it launched its Minding My Waste campaign in collaboration with the Mind Your Waste Foundation and Kocaeli University to eliminate single-use plastics.

Through the project children learn how to identify and reduce glass, rubbish, metal, paper, and plastic waste kinds under the leadership of a superhero character called Atikcan. So far, the initiative has trained 800 teachers and over 15 thousand third-grade students on sustainable consumption and recycling, utilising educational training materials developed by Kocaeli University, Faculty of Education. Next year, the project will be implemented throughout Turkey under the aegis of the Ministry of National Education.