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Istanbul University launches project to safeguard seagrass meadows
(MENAFN) The Institute of Marine Sciences and Management at Istanbul University has initiated a project to safeguard endangered seagrass meadows using artificial intelligence-enhanced satellite imagery and drones. The effort aims to strengthen the protection of delicate coastal ecosystems facing multiple threats.
The project focuses on seagrass meadows vulnerable to rising sea temperatures, marine pollution, coastal development, and uncontrolled anchoring by boats. Pilot areas include regions in western Türkiye, particularly parts of the Marmara and Aegean seas along the Balıkesir coast. Data collected through remote sensing will be cross-verified by underwater dives conducted by scientific teams.
Named the Pasalimanı Island Harmanlı Bay Project, the initiative seeks to develop practical, sustainable methods for monitoring and conserving Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows in the Marmara Sea using advanced remote sensing technology.
Seagrass Meadows: Critical to Coastal Ecosystems
Professor Cem Gazioglu, director of the institute, highlighted the ecological importance of seagrass meadows, emphasizing their role in carbon sequestration, oxygen production, and providing habitats for numerous marine species.
Marine biologist and research diver Selahattin Unsal Karhan clarified a common misconception, noting that seagrasses are flowering plants, not algae, with roots, stems, leaves, and seeds. Five seagrass species exist in the Mediterranean, with Posidonia oceanica being endemic to the region. Often called the “lungs of the Mediterranean,” this species is crucial for oxygen generation, carbon storage, and supporting about 25% of marine life in the area.
The project focuses on seagrass meadows vulnerable to rising sea temperatures, marine pollution, coastal development, and uncontrolled anchoring by boats. Pilot areas include regions in western Türkiye, particularly parts of the Marmara and Aegean seas along the Balıkesir coast. Data collected through remote sensing will be cross-verified by underwater dives conducted by scientific teams.
Named the Pasalimanı Island Harmanlı Bay Project, the initiative seeks to develop practical, sustainable methods for monitoring and conserving Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows in the Marmara Sea using advanced remote sensing technology.
Seagrass Meadows: Critical to Coastal Ecosystems
Professor Cem Gazioglu, director of the institute, highlighted the ecological importance of seagrass meadows, emphasizing their role in carbon sequestration, oxygen production, and providing habitats for numerous marine species.
Marine biologist and research diver Selahattin Unsal Karhan clarified a common misconception, noting that seagrasses are flowering plants, not algae, with roots, stems, leaves, and seeds. Five seagrass species exist in the Mediterranean, with Posidonia oceanica being endemic to the region. Often called the “lungs of the Mediterranean,” this species is crucial for oxygen generation, carbon storage, and supporting about 25% of marine life in the area.
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