Two seas, one problem

Two seas, one problem

Gulfs are particularly sensitive marine environments, threatened by human-related activities (the primary production sector, the industry and the use of space etc) like the gulf of Izmir in the Aegean sea in Turkiye and the Corinthian Golf, between Central Greece and the Peloponnese . The pollution has ruined ecosystems, killed many species of sea life and caused outrage among citizens.
Industrialization
Concerning industrialization in Izmir bay there has been a rising issue with waste management control, but the situation is particularly serious in the Corinthian Golf, where an aluminium production plant named Aluminium of Greece installed, in 1970, a Subsea system of Mining Waste to release red mud, which contains high concentrations of heavy and unhealthy metals , into Antikyra bay.
Investigations conducted by the Oceanography Lab of the University of Patras in 1994-1995 showed the red soil covering an ample part of the Corinthian Gulf by disturbing the benthic organisms and altering the seafloor . In 2012, Aluminium of

Αρχιπέλαγος, Ινστιτούτο Θαλάσσιας Προστασίας, Εισαγωγή στη θαλάσσια Χλωρίδα και πανίδα του Κορινθιακού Κόλπου (ανακτήθηκε τελευταία φορά 25/1/23)
[in English: Archipelagos, Institute of Marine Conservation, An introduction in marine flora and fauna of the Cοrinthian Gulf ]
file:///E:/%CE%9A%CE%9F%CE%A1%CE%99%CE%9D%CE%98%CE%99%CE%91%CE%9A%CE%9F%CE%A3/%CE%B9%CF%87%CE%B8%CF%85%CE%BF%CF%80%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%B4%CE%B1_%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BD%CE%B8%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%82_%CE%B2%CE%B9%CE%B2%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%BF%CE%B8%CE%B7%CE%BA%CE%B7.pdf

Greenpeace, Κορινθιακός Κόλπος ένα μικρό καταφύγιο Ζωής, (ανακτήθηκε τελευταία φορά 22/1/233)
[in English: Corinthian Gulf a little shelter of Life]
https://www.greenpeace.org/static/planet4-greece-stateless/2018/02/report.pdf

Αλκυών, 2017, Οικολογική κίνηση Αντίκυρας « Άρτεμις», Επιστολή προς την Ειδική Μόνιμη επιτροπή Περιβάλλοντος της Βουλής. (ανακτήθηκε τελευταία φορά 22/12/22)
[in English: Alkyon, 2017, Ecological movement of Antikyra “Artemis”, Letter to the Special Standing Committee on the Environment of the Parliament.] http://www.alcyon.gr/index.php/%CF%81%CF%8D%CF%80%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%83%CE%B7-%CF%84%CF%89%CE%BD-%CF%80%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%87%CF%8E%CE%BD-%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BD%CE%B8%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%8D-%CE%BA%CF%8C%CE%BB%CF%80%CE%BF%CF%85/%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%AF%CE%BA%CF%85%CF%81%CE%B1/%CE%B4%CE%B7%CE%BC%CE%BF%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%B5%CF%8D%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B1,-%CF%85%CE%B3%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%B1,-%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%B7%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%86%CE%AF%CE%B1/250-%CE%BD%CE%B1-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%AE%CF%83%CE%B5%CE%B9-%CE%B7-
Greece started a program to manage red mud by processing it in special facilities. However, environmental organizations express their concerns on the insufficiency of the methods used . The company assures of their commitment to environmental protection and the natural capital’s sustainable management .
Eutrophication
Eutrophication is an extremely alarming phenomenon for both gulfs particularly for Izmir bay where the uncontrolled drainage system, even though most of the waste is purified, is insufficient. A lot of Turkiye’s population lives within 200 km of the sea and the main reason for plankton explosions and the formation of Ulva is the increase of nutrients in the environment. Dr Doğan Yaşar stated that the lack of rain caused the seawater to not be renewed. Because of the plankton explosions thousands of fish died in the inner bay, mainly because 128 sewers were flowing into the bay so it was being used like a septic tank until 2002.
Mayor Tunç Soyer wanted to change after realizing the effects of these problems. In the line with this, developments were made in the Grand Canal Project. The GCP generally focuses on finding solutions for the waste that has been created and cleaning the Gulf. Within the scope of the GCP, the city’s domestic and industrial waste waters are transferred to the Çiğli Wastewater Treatment Plant and Southwestern Wastewater Treatment Plant with the main interconnecting canal, secondary collectors and pumping system. However, in the following years, the increase in the population and the mistakes made in the project implementation brought infrastructure problems to the agenda again. The project mainly focuses on purifying the waste on the water level rather than the bottoms. This causes the Ulva to spread even more.
Stating that the increase in Ulva, as well as the nitrate increase in the gulf water, the effect of the rock fill areas in the coastal structure, is also a contributing factor to the increase in sea lettuce production. Dr Kesici said that Ulva is spread all over the coast and is an invasive species when the environmental conditions are suitable. The fact that coastal areas are suitable for ulvas to spread is the biggest obstacle we have. Locals have complained that the smell from the waste is starting to be unbearable and the water that was once blue is now grey.
Ibid.
Αλουμίνιο της Ελλάδας – Mytilineos, Περιβαλλοντική Πολιτική (ανακτήθηκε τελευταία φορά 20/1/23)
[in English: Aluminum Hellas – Mytilinaios, Environmental Policy]
https://www.mytilineos.com/media/2hwb4ko1/perivallontiki_politiki_gr.pdf

GCP= Grand Canal Project

* Ulva= This is a small genus of marine and brackish water green algae also known as Sea Lettuce.
On the other hand, eutrophication in the Corinthian Gulf is caused by the nitrogenous and phosphorous fertilizers used in the crops in the southern part of the gulf thus limiting oxygen and degrading the quality of the water, as pointed out (in an interview) by Mr Anagnostou Christos, former Director of Research at the Institute of Oceanography. A factor that also burdens the gulf is fish and shellfish farms that operate in the small bays of the northern part. Fish waste and food residues limit the water’s oxygen, while antibiotics and pesticides intensify the degradation.
Plastic waste
According to Professor of the University of Patras Papatheodoros George, the main problems arising from marine plastic litter are related to the change of the seabed, the transport of micro-organisms that destroy the ecosystem, the fragmentation of plastics that are impossible to recover, and the ingestion of microplastics by marine organisms .
Solutions
Pollution in both gulfs requires immediate action. Governments need to enforce strict regulations and penalties against polluting industries (e.g. concerning the red mud in the Corinthian gulf, environmental agencies propose the preparation of an independent study, the complete withdrawal of the discharge pipes from the seabed, and the decontamination of the bay at the company’s own expense), and to also provide awareness programs to promote the responsible disposal of pollutants, among other fertilizers and pesticides. It is also essential to plan the location of fish farms and their relocation to the open sea after ten years of operation . Additionally, more
Παπαθεοδώρου Γεώργιος 2020, Κορινθιακός, η δική μας θάλασσα(ανακτήθηκε τελευταία φορά 9/1/23)
[in English: Papatheodorou Georgios, 2020, Corinthian Gulf, our sea]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0yXBs0JBbA&t=1205s

Αλκυών, Iχθυοκαλλιέργειες στον Κορινθιακό κόλπο – ΑΛΚΥΩΝ – Φτάνει ως εδω !!!
Οι θέσεις της ΑΛΚΥΩΝ για τις ιχθυοκαλλιέργειες στον Κορινθιακό κόλπο (ανακτήθηκε τελευταία φορά 1/2/23)
[in English: Alkyon, Fish farms in the Corinthian Gulf – ALKYON – That’s enough!!!]
http://www.alcyon.gr/index.php/%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BD-%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BD%CE%B8%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%BA%CF%8C-%CE%BA%CF%8C%CE%BB%CF%80%CE%BF/1057-i%CF%87%CE%B8%CF%85%CE%BF%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%AD%CF%81%CE%B3%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%B5%CF%82-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BD-%
investment needs to be made in clean energy to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels that contribute to damage.
SOURCES
https://hatay.imo.org.tr/Eklenti/3708,11366pdf.pdf?0&_tag1=039089D32C2BA595CCB2B307D71E895CF7610AB8
https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/sea-lettuce-fed-by-pollution-spreads-on-turkeys-aegean-coast/news/amp
https://web.deu.edu.tr/atiksu/ana58/sorun2.html
https://tr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/İzmir_Körfezi
https://kilinclaw.com.tr/deniz-kirliliginin-onlenmesine-dair-baslica-ulusal-ve-uluslararasi-duzenlemeler/
https://youtu.be/AdZGn_o4Ey8
https://youtu.be/wj23jY7LFcY
https://www.izmir.bel.tr
https://www.neredekal.com/izmir-korfezi-gezilecek-yer-detay/
https://www.emo.org.tr/ekler/12632d2b06f5154_ek.pdf?dergi=
https://www.dogadernegi.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/DD_Gediz_camur_tehdit_raporu_121228.pdf

1.Αλκυών, 2017, Οικολογική κίνηση Αντίκυρας « Άρτεμις», Επιστολή προς την Ειδική Μόνιμη επιτροπή Περιβάλλοντος της Βουλής. (ανακτήθηκε τελευταία φορά 22/12/22)
[in English: Alkyon, 2017, Ecological movement of Antikyra “Artemis”, Letter to the Special Standing Committee on the Environment of the Parliament.]
http://www.alcyon.gr/index.php/%CF%81%CF%8D%CF%80%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%83%CE%B7-%CF%84%CF%89%CE%BD-%CF%80%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%87%CF%8E%CE%BD-%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BD%CE%B8%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%8D-%CE%BA%CF%8C%CE%BB%CF%80%CE%BF%CF%85/%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%AF%CE%BA%CF%85%CF%81%CE%B1/%CE%B4%CE%B7%CE%BC%CE%BF%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%B5%CF%8D%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B1,-%CF%85%CE%B3%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%B1,-%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%B7%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%86%CE%AF%CE%B1/250-%CE%BD%CE%B1-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%AE%CF%83%CE%B5%CE%B9-%CE%B7-
2.Αλκυών Επιστολή της ΑΛΚΥΩΝ προς ΥΠΕΝ-Γενική Διεύθυνση Περιβαλλοντικής Πολιτικής (ανακτήθηκε τελευταία φορά 15/1/23)
[in English: Alkyon, Letter from ALKYON to the Ministry of Environment – General Directorate of Environmental Policy]
http://www.alcyon.gr/index.php/%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B1%CE%BA%CE%BF%CE%B9%CE%BD%CF%8E%CF%83%CE%B5%CE%B9%CF%82/%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%8C-%CF%84%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BC%CE%B7%CF%81%CE%AF%CF%89%CF%83%CE%B7%CF%82/%CF%81%CF%8D%CF%80%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%83%CE%B7/%CF%81%CF%8D%CF%80%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%83%CE%B7-%CF%84%CF%89%CE%BD-%CF%80%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%87%CF%8E%CE%BD-%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BD%CE%B8%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%8D-%CE%BA%CF%8C%CE%BB%CF%80%CE%BF%CF%85/%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%AF%CE%BA%CF%85%CF%81%CE%B1/574-%CF%8C%CF%87%CE%B9-%CE%AC%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%82-%CE%B8%CE%B5%CF%81
3.Aλκυών, Διαχείριση υγρών αποβλήτων ελαιοτριβείων και Κορινθιακός Κόλπος – “Πώς τα διαχειριζόμαστε σήμερα ( ανακτήθηκε τελευταία φορά 20/1/23)
[in English: Alkyon, liquid waste management of olive mills and the Corinthian Gulf – “How we manage them today”]
“http://www.alcyon.gr/index.php/action/60-%CF%81%CF%85%CF%80%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%83%CE%B7/328-%CE%B1%CF%80%CF%8C%CF%86%CE%B1%CF%83%CE%B7-%CF%80%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%B9%CF%86%CE%AD%CF%81%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%B1%CF%82-%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%AC%CE%B8%CE%B5%CF%83%CE%B7%CF%82-%CF%86%CE%B9%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE%CF%82-%CF%80%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%82-%CF%84%CE%BF-%CF%80%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%B2%CE%AC%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%BD10-%CF%80%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%84%CE%AC%CF%83%CE%B5%CE%B9%CF%82-%CE%B5%CF%80%CE%B5%CE%BE%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%B3%CE%B1
4.Αλκυών, 2017, Οικολογική κίνηση Αντίκυρας « Άρτεμις», Επιστολή προς την Ειδική Μόνιμη επιτροπή Περιβάλλοντος της Βουλής. (ανακτήθηκε τελευταία φορά 22/12/22)
[in English:Alkyon, 2017, Ecological movement of Antikyra “Artemis”, Letter to the Special Standing Committee on the Environment of the Parliament]
http://www.alcyon.gr/index.php/%CF%81%CF%8D%CF%80%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%83%CE%B7-%CF%84%CF%89%CE%BD-%CF%80%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%87%CF%8E%CE%BD-%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BD%CE%B8%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%8D-%CE%BA%CF%8C%CE%BB%CF%80%CE%BF%CF%85/%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%AF%CE%BA%CF%85%CF%81%CE%B1/%CE%B4%CE%B7%CE%BC%CE%BF%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%B5%CF%8D%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B1,-%CF%85%CE%B3%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%B1,-%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%B7%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%86%CE%AF%CE%B1/250-%CE%BD%CE%B1-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%AE%CF%83%CE%B5%CE%B9-%CE%B7-
5.Αλκυών, Iχθυοκαλλιέργειες στον Κορινθιακό κόλπο – ΑΛΚΥΩΝ – Φτάνει ως εδω !!!
Οι θέσεις της ΑΛΚΥΩΝ για τις ιχθυοκαλλιέργειες στον Κορινθιακό κόλπο (ανακτήθηκε τελευταία φορά 1/2/23)
[in English: Alkyon, Fish farms in the Corinthian Gulf – ALKYON – That’s enough!!!]
http://www.alcyon.gr/index.php/%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BD-%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BD%CE%B8%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%BA%CF%8C-%CE%BA%CF%8C%CE%BB%CF%80%CE%BF/1057-i%CF%87%CE%B8%CF%85%CE%BF%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%AD%CF%81%CE%B3%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%B5%CF%82-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BD-%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BD%CE%B8%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%BA%CF%8C-%CE%BA%CF%8C%CE%BB%CF%80%CE%BF-%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%BA%CF%85%CF%89%CE%BD-%CF%86%CF%84%CE%AC%CE%BD%CE%B5%CE%B9-%CF%89%CF%82-%CE%B5%CE%B4%CF%89
6.Αλουμίνιο της Ελλάδας – Mytilineos, Περιβαλλοντική Πολιτική (ανακτήθηκε τελευταία φορά 20/1/23)
[in English: Aluminum Hellas – Mytilinaios, Environmental Policy]
https://www.mytilineos.com/media/2hwb4ko1/perivallontiki_politiki_gr.pdf
7.Αρχιπέλαγος, Ινστιτούτο Θαλάσσιας Προστασίας, Εισαγωγή στη θαλάσσια Χλωρίδα και πανίδα του Κορινθιακού Κόλπου (ανακτήθηκε τελευταία φορά 25/1/23)
[in English: Archipelagos, Institute of Marine Conservation, An introduction in marine flora and fauna of the Cοrinthian Gulf ]
file:///E:/%CE%9A%CE%9F%CE%A1%CE%99%CE%9D%CE%98%CE%99%CE%91%CE%9A%CE%9F%CE%A3/%CE%B9%CF%87%CE%B8%CF%85%CE%BF%CF%80%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%B4%CE%B1_%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BD%CE%B8%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%82_%CE%B2%CE%B9%CE%B2%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%BF%CE%B8%CE%B7%CE%BA%CE%B7.pdf
8.Κούκιος Δημήτριος, 2020, Κορινθιακός, η δική μας θάλασσα (ανακτήθηκε τελευταία φορά 9/1/23)
[in English: Koukios Dimitrios, 2020, Corinthian Gulf, our sea]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0yXBs0JBbA&t=1205s
9.Παπαθεοδώρου Γεώργιος 2020, Κορινθιακός, η δική μας θάλασσα(ανακτήθηκε τελευταία φορά 9/1/23)
[in English: Papatheodorou Georgios, 2020, Corinthian Gulf, our sea]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0yXBs0JBbA&t=1205s