Evaluation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in Europe

Status

Turkey has not reported officially to the EU ICZM Recommendation.

Holistic legal frameworks for ICZM and institutional mechanisms have not yet been established in Turkey. The legal framework offers neither a wide scope ICZM law nor a special institutional development in this area and therefore efforts do not go far beyond the project level.

Since there is neither a law that covers all respects related to coastal zones, nor a special institutional structure for this purpose, various organisations have authority which overlap and create gaps in management.

Increasing coastal problems led to the establishment of a number of units at the central governmental level, such as the 'Coastal Inventory Agency' within the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (charged with determining the coastal shoreline and developing inventories with regard to the implementation of the Coastal Law) and the National Committee on Turkish Coastal Zone Management (KAY) in 1993 (serves an important role in the ICZM approach at the national level through the organisation of seminars, courses and projects).

Turkey has mainly committed itself to the implementation of integrated coastal zone management by taking part in the development of and signing of several international agreements and conventions.

Reporting Institution

Uncertain

The Ministry of Public Works and Settlements has the final authority for planning in coastal areas, except in areas declared as tourism centres where the authority is transferred to the Ministry for Tourism.

National Contact(s)

Ms. Sule Özkaya, First Secretary
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ankara
Contact: sozkaya@mfa.gov.tr

Mr. Recep Sahin, Environmental Management
Turkish Technical Ministry
Contact: recepceyre@yahoo.com

National Reporting to the EU ICZM Recommendation

Turkey did not report officially to the EU ICZM Recommendation.

The National ICZM reporting format for 2004 was updated and sent to the Permanent Secretariat of the Turkish Government (no copy made available).

Stocktake and Supporting Documents

Algan, N. (2000) The Significance of International Legislation in ICZM, Turkish Journal of Marine Sciences, Volume 6, 1, 55-69

Onderstal, Martijn. EUCC (2000) ICM Progress - Coastal Management in Turkey
http://www.coastalguide.org/icm/blacksea/turkey.html

Sarikaya H (2004) Turkey implements the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan; Member of the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution, Turkey

Further Information