New Prohibitions Commence in the Northern Aegean
Official titleDecision on the Designation of the Area Whose Boundaries Are Specified in the Attached Map and Coordinate List as the “Northern Aegean Marine National Park” (Decision Number: 11627)
An area of 1,742.14 km² covering the provinces of Çanakkale and Tekirdağ in the Northern Aegean Sea has been declared as the 'Northern Aegean Marine National Park'.
Details of the Regulation
Pursuant to Article 3 of the National Parks statute No. 2873, a new national park has been established by Presidential Decision dated August 15, 2026, and numbered 11627. Named the Northern Aegean Marine National Park, this region is located within the borders of the provinces of Çanakkale and Tekirdağ. The detailed map and coordinate schedule shared in the annex to the Decision definitively establish the marine and coastal boundaries of the area placed under protection.
Covering a total area of 1,742.14 square kilometers, this regulation will be managed under the coordination of the 1st and 2nd Regional Directorates of the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks (DKMP). The declaration of the national park aims to preserve biodiversity in the region, ensure the sustainability of the ecosystem, and provide for the controlled utilization of marine resources.
Within the areas falling within the coordinates determined by this Decision, all types of building and construction, hunting, and industrial activities shall be subject to the restrictions and management plan introduced by the National Parks statute. In addition to the ecological value of the region, its tourism potential is also expected to be utilized while observing the balance between protection and use.
Questions You Might Have
- Can fish still be caught in this area?
- In areas declared national parks, hunting and fishing are subject to a special management plan and to restrictions to be determined by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry; commercial fishing is generally restricted.
- What is the size of the national park?
- The national park covers an exact area of 1,742.14 km².
- Which cities does it affect?
- The Decision directly covers the marine and coastal areas of the provinces of Çanakkale and Tekirdağ.
Key Terms
- Milli Park
- A piece of nature possessing nationally and internationally rare natural and cultural resource values in scientific and aesthetic terms, along with protection, recreation, and tourism areas.
- 2873 Sayılı Kanun
- The National Parks statute governing the principles regarding the determination, establishment, protection, and management of national parks, nature parks, nature conservation areas, and natural monuments.
- GCS WGS 84
- The coordinate reference system used as a standard worldwide in mapping and navigation.
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REGAS Commentary
This Decision is an important step in Turkey's strategy to expand its marine protected areas. From the perspective of citizens, uncontrolled building and construction and industrial activities in the region will be prevented, and ecotourism opportunities will increase. However, for local fishers and marine tourism operators in the region, new restrictions and management plan rules (fishing bans, anchorage areas, etc.) may come into effect.