Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
SU URUNLERI DERGISI, cilt.42, sa.2, 2025 (ESCI)
The Sea of Marmara, a semi-enclosed inland sea in T & uuml;rkiye, has a naturally sensitive ecosystem increasingly impacted by anthropogenic pressures. This study evaluated the bathing water quality along the Sea of Marmara, including the Straits of & Idot;stanbul and & Ccedil;anakkale, and provided recommendations for enhancing the dissemination of monitoring results. Bathing water quality data from 176 sites, monitored by the Turkish Ministry of Health, were analyzed over three consecutive bathing seasons (2022-2024). The results indicate that in 2024, 66% of the monitored beaches were classified as excellent, a proportion lower than the European Union average. Furthermore, only 24% of those beaches received the Blue Flag certification. Spatial analysis revealed distinct provincial disparities, with Bal & imath;kesir and & Ccedil;anakkale exhibiting the highest bathing water quality, whereas Yalova and Bursa recorded the poorest conditions, with roughly a quarter of their bathing waters classified as poor quality. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve bathing water quality, particularly in provinces with lower classifications, and to align T & uuml;rkiye's bathing water standards more closely with EU benchmarks. In addition, the study emphasizes the importance of improving public access to monitoring results. Developing comprehensive national and regional reports, including data on beach closures, is recommended to enhance public awareness and policymaking. Such implementations are crucial for not only protecting public health but also facilitating targeted interventions, promoting sustainable beach management, and fostering tourism development.