The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization will monitor the pollution and quality of the seas surrounding three sides of the country for 3 years.

"Integrated Marine Pollution Monitoring Project" was initiated between the General Directorate of Environmental Impact Assessment, Permit and Inspection and TUBITAK Marmara Research Center (MAM). Within the scope of the project, pollution in the seas will be monitored and ecological quality will be investigated in 2014-2016. The levels of pollutants in different environments will be determined. The studies will include physicochemical, chemical and biological monitoring in sediment, seawater and biota matrices in coastal, transitional and marine waters.

For ecological quality determination, salinity, temperature, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, phytoplankton, benthic invertebrates and macro algae status and changes will be examined. By looking at pollutants and biological parameters, the situation in marine waters will be determined and quality classification will be made. Based on the quality classification, the status of coastal water bodies will be determined.

Monitoring will be carried out at 228 locations in the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea, and the open sea will be monitored at 14 stations. The studies will be carried out through the TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Ship and with the support of universities.

Within the scope of the "Integrated Marine Pollution Monitoring Project", radioactivity studies will be conducted in the seas of Turkey. The project aims to provide a basis for determining national marine management policies and strategies by monitoring pollution. As a result of the monitoring studies, reports will be prepared to assess the environmental status of the seas.

Within the scope of the project, "1st National Marine Monitoring and Assessment Symposium" will be organized for the first time in Turkey in 2016.