The "Marine Integrated Pollution Monitoring (DEN-IZ) Program", which is carried out under the coordination of the Marine Research and Technologies Research Group of the TÜBİTAK MAM Climate Change and Sustainability Vice Presidency under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change - DGEDİDGM / Department of Laboratory, Measurement and Monitoring, is carried out in cooperation with many research institutions, universities and public institutions.
Since 2014, the "DEN-IZ Program" has been carried out in 3-year cycles to identify/review national marine and coastal management policies and strategies and to monitor the effects of the measures taken.
The voyages of the program for the 2023-2025 period started. The first expedition, the Marmara Sea Expedition, was carried out by R/V TÜBİTAK Marmara between January 11 - 25.
The second expedition of the program, the Black Sea Expedition, started on 31 January 2023 and was completed on 28 February 2023.
Designed by Turkish engineers for oceanographic studies, TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Ship was launched on July 01, 2013 and started its operations. Since its commissioning, it has a high cruising average of 200 days a year.
TUBITAK Marmara, a regional class and medium-sized oceanographic research vessel, is equipped with a multi-water sampler and CTD device to measure basic oceanographic parameters such as temperature, conductivity, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, fluorescence and light transmittance throughout the water column in high resolution and in real time. Critical depths for sampling nutrients, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a and plankton are determined based on the current physical, optical and fluorescence properties of the water column. In addition, the research vessel is equipped with basic oceanographic, hydrographic and bathymetric instruments such as multi-beam depth sounder, current meter, side-scan sonar, seafloor cross-section imager.
In addition to oceanographic instruments, TÜBİTAK MARMARA Research Ship has a dynamic positioning system for researches that require the ship to maintain its position. With the USBL acoustic positioning system, the position of equipment such as underwater vehicles, measuring devices and divers can be tracked. Bathymetric maps can be created up to 2,000m depth with the multi-beam depth sounder and the current profile of the seawater is obtained with the current sounder. In addition, the bottom structure under the seabed can be visualized with Side Scan Sonar and Seabed Cross Section Imager.
With its up-to-date equipment, the research vessel establishes a regular monitoring network in the seas of our country, including the Black Sea, the Marmara Sea and the Straits, the Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea, determines the chemical and ecological status of our seas, and evaluates the effectiveness of measures to protect the marine environment and their compliance with national and international legislation.
Field measurements and sampling are carried out on board, and seawater analyses are carried out in the research vessel's laboratory without wasting time.
Phytoplankton, zooplankton and benthic organisms living on the seabed, which are indicators of primary production, can be sampled. The samples taken are examined together with TÜBİTAK MAM experts and experts from universities' marine science institutes and aquaculture faculties.
In addition, the detection and temporal variation of pollution levels in sediment and biota matrices are examined. Total organic carbon, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides and metals are measured. The results are evaluated according to environmental quality standards and Turkish food codexes for public health.
Through workshops or symposia, the results of monitoring studies and marine pressures are shared with public institutions, universities, municipalities and other relevant stakeholders in the regions, who are the beneficiaries and stakeholders of the seas in question.
Marine research projects are supported by various institutions and organizations, including the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, TUBITAK Presidency, Istanbul, Kocaeli, Bursa and Izmir Metropolitan Municipalities. In addition, some projects supported by the European Union also receive research vessel support.
