Warming seas put Türkiye’s marine life and biodiversity at risk
Scientists warn rising temperatures could trigger ecosystem collapse and fuel extreme weather
ISTANBUL, Türkiye (MNTV) — Sea surface temperatures around Türkiye are climbing at a rate faster than the global average, raising alarm over the survival of marine species and the stability of coastal ecosystems.
Experts warn that the trend is already disrupting biodiversity, fueling harmful algal blooms and increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events.
According to long-term monitoring by Middle East Technical University’s (ODTÜ) Institute of Marine Sciences, the Mediterranean reached 28°C this summer — one degree above the seasonal norm.
The Aegean recorded 26°C in Bodrum and 25°C off the Izmir coast, both around two degrees above historical averages.
Similarly, the Sea of Marmara, typically 24°C, climbed to 26–27°C, while the Black Sea reached 27°C, surpassing its 25°C average.
Professor Barış Salihoğlu, head of ODTÜ’s Institute of Marine Sciences, emphasized that Türkiye’s waters have warmed more sharply than the world’s oceans.
“Globally, sea temperatures rose 1.2–1.5°C over the past 40 years, but in the Marmara, Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean, the rise exceeds 2°C — in some areas reaching 2.5°C,” he said.
Salihoğlu linked last year’s record-breaking temperatures to the El Niño effect, which continues to shape conditions this year.
While 2025 has not set new highs, temperatures remain persistently above averages. Climate change, he added, has increased the frequency of marine heatwaves by 65%, causing sudden spikes of 3–4°C in seawater and up to 10°C in air temperatures.
These changes are already impacting ecosystems. “Seagrasses, pines and cold-water corals are suffering lethal damage. Some fish species are leaving the region, while invasive species from the Red Sea are moving in. This reshaping of biodiversity also threatens tourism and the blue economy,” Salihoğlu explained.
Warming seas are altering the chemical balance of regional waters. In the Mediterranean, the formation of “Levant Intermediate Water,” which sustains local ecology, is weakening.
In the Black Sea, the loss of a cold water layer is allowing hydrogen-sulfide-rich deep water to rise, depleting oxygen levels. “For the Marmara, this is catastrophic — its oxygen supply is now under serious threat,” Salihoğlu warned.
Global warming-driven droughts are compounding the crisis by reducing river inflows, depriving seas of essential nutrients. “Rivers are lifelines for biodiversity at their deltas. Türkiye must adjust its water policies with this in mind,” he added.
Rising sea temperatures are also amplifying extreme weather. Heat-charged waters act as fuel for the atmosphere, intensifying storms, cyclones and even tornado-like phenomena.
“By 2050, such events in the Mediterranean and Black Sea could become five to six times more frequent,” Salihoğlu said.
The overheating seas are further accelerating harmful algal blooms that strip oxygen and suffocate marine life.
Along the Marmara and Mediterranean coasts, pollution and overfishing magnify these effects, heightening the risk of mucilage outbreaks.
Salihoğlu urged immediate protective measures. “We need sustainable fishing, an end to trawling and expanded marine protected zones. To withstand climate pressures, at least 30% of all seas must be shielded,” he concluded.
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