Mussel Shells to Breathe New Life into Marine Ecosystems

As part of a TÜBİTAK-supported project by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality subsidiary İZDENİZ and ecological technology startup NE-SEA, eco-friendly reefs produced from waste mussel shells have been placed in Telgraf Bay in Sığacık, Seferihisar. Aiming to create new habitats for marine life, the project will see 35 new reefs introduced to the shores of İzmir in the upcoming period. The eco-friendly reefs, produced as part of the TÜBİTAK-supported "Blue Economy Collaboration: Waste Shells Transform into Marine Life with Artificial Reefs" project conducted by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality subsidiary İZDENİZ and İzmir-based ecological technology startup NE-SEA, have met the sea. Four reefs, specially designed for İZDENİZ by NE-SEA, were placed in Telgraf Bay in Sığacık, Seferihisar. In the second phase of the project, 35 more new reefs will be produced from waste mussel shells and placed along the İzmir coastline. This will create new habitats for marine life while contributing to the strengthening of the marine ecosystem. Lowered into the sea by divers The eco-friendly reefs were loaded onto a fishing boat at Teos Marina and transported to Telgraf Bay in Sığacık, Seferihisar. The reefs were lowered into the sea during an operation lasting approximately one hour, carried out by divers from İZDENİZ and the Serenad Diving Center. The operation was overseen by Seferihisar Mayor İsmail Yetişkin, İZDENİZ Chairman of the Board Dr. Işıkhan Güler, İZDENİZ General Manager Gökhan Marım, and İZDENİZ Deputy General Manager Dr. Ceyla İnmeler. How marine life utilizes the reefs will be regularly monitored; based on the data obtained, the system will be refined and move into the mass production phase. Support for marine tourism and biodiversity İZDENİZ Chairman of the Board Dr. Işıkhan Güler stated that the project reflects the importance İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay places on the Gulf and the marine ecosystem. "This initiative is one of the key steps toward improving the quality of our seas within the borders of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. Our goal is to repurpose mussel shells, which are a natural part of the environment, by transforming them into eco-friendly reefs and returning them to the sea. As part of this TÜBİTAK-supported project, we will scientifically monitor which species inhabit the reefs and their impact on water quality. With the data we gather, we aim to contribute to the widespread adoption of nature-based solutions. By increasing these applications, we will not only strengthen an approach that is in harmony with nature but also add new value to marine tourism," he said. Özger: 35 more new reefs to be produced NE-SEA founder and lead designer Nermin Sena Özger noted that the project began in 2024 with the support of TÜBİTAK and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, explaining that the prototypes, developed through underwater observations and behavioral analysis, were deployed into the sea with the support of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. Stating that they produce eco-friendly reefs using a biocomposite material derived from waste mussel shells, Özger said, "More than 40 tons of mussel shells are thrown away every month in the Aegean Region. We have created a water-resistant biocomposite material from these waste shells. We developed this project to strengthen the harmony between nature and humanity and to make underwater life more visible. In the second phase, with TÜBİTAK's support, we will produce 35 new eco-friendly reefs and place them in various marine areas where biodiversity needs to be supported." Yetişkin: A project we care deeply about Seferihisar Mayor İsmail Yetişkin thanked İZDENİZ and everyone involved in the project, noting that the initiative is a significant practice of taking from nature and giving back to it. "The project is of great importance for both the marine ecosystem and diving tourism. The reefs will contribute to regional tourism. It is a project we care deeply about," Yetişkin stated.