Blue Mobilization to Bring Breath to Alanya Beaches

With the Blue Mediterranean Initiative, launched under the leadership of the Antalya Governorship, the giant environmental protection project that will save the entire region's beaches from pollution was introduced to the public.

13.05.2026 13:52 REGION

Blue Mobilization to Bring Breath to Alanya Beaches

The Antalya Blue Mediterranean Initiative promotion program, which was implemented under the auspices of the Antalya Governorship, was held at the Atatürk Cultural Center. Details of the project, which aims to strengthen the sensitivity of all institutions in the city, local governments, non-governmental organizations and citizens towards the sea and the environment with a common awareness, have been shared with the public.

The program was attended by Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin and his wife Ebru Şahin, Deputy Mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality Büşra Özdemir, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Representative Ambassador Deha Erpek, Akdeniz University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Şükrü Özen, President of the Marine Life Protection Association Volkan Narcı, Memorial Health Group Oncology Center President Prof. Dr. Mustafa Özdoğan, TGA Board Member Cengiz Haydar Barut, district governors, mayors and many guests attended.

A New Era of Smoke-Free and Waste-Free on the Beach

Project Coordinator Ebru Şahin, in her speech at the program, touched upon the importance of the Zero Waste Movement initiated under the leadership of Emine Erdoğan and stated that the city has launched a strong movement focusing on the coasts against this global crisis. Recalling Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's praising words for the region, Ebru Şahin said, "The first of our measures is the smoke-free beach application. By designating a significant part of the beach areas as smoke-free areas, we aim to prevent both the spread of butts and the exposure of children to cigarettes." He said.

It was also announced that drinking water fountains will be built at various points to reduce water and beverage packaging waste, and deposit return machines will be expanded as a result of negotiations with the Turkish Environment Agency in Ankara. It was announced that barrier systems will be installed in the rivers in order to prevent agricultural waste and pesticide packages from mixing into the water, and cliff and seabed cleaning will be increased under the coordination of AFAD and the Coast Guard Command.

We Will Leave Our Seas Clean for Future Generations

Governor Hulusi Şahin, who spoke at the program, emphasized that the effects of agriculture, tourism and industrial activities on the environment should be considered in depth. Pointing out that a unique geography is under great threat, Governor Şahin said, "If we expand the use of plastic bottles only in hotels, 1.2 billion plastic bottles will be saved annually. The heaviest burden on the seas is that pesticides come to the bottom with water, and from there to the streams and the sea." he said.

Governor Şahin stated that a comprehensive sea cleaning event will be held on June 5, World Environment Day, and said, "We came to Anatolia a thousand years ago; we should say that we preserve it in a much better state than it was a thousand years ago, we develop it and present it as an exemplary geography for the next thousand years. We protect the city, nature and the sea." He concluded his words by saying:

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