PROJECTS
1. CLEANING OF IZMIT BAY BOTTOM MUD: The bottom mud accumulated in the eastern basin of Izmit Bay from past years to the present day creates unfavourable environmental conditions for the marine ecosystem. Following the scientific studies initiated in 2016 for the cleaning of bottom mud, ‘Izmit Bay Eastern Basin Bottom Mud Cleaning, Dewatering and Disposal Implementation Project’ was prepared for the disposal of 3.8 million m3 (56% solid ratio) of bottom mud in an area of 468 hectares in 2022, and in 2023, mud was started to be extracted from the seabed. The project, which is carried out in stages, is planned to last for a total of 5 years. (//www.kocaeli.bel.tr/hizmet/izmit-korfezi-dip-camuru-temizligi-90.html)
2. ARTIFICIAL REEF PROJECT: In line with the objectives of ‘ensuring the protection of the environment, agricultural areas and water basins, supporting sustainable fishing, creating new areas for sportive fishing and diving tourism, preventing illegal fishing and protecting marine biodiversity in accordance with the principle of sustainable development’, the Artificial Reef Project was carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Kocaeli Provincial Directorate of Agriculture). In the project, 100 artificial reefs were placed in the marine environment in Eskihisar, the Gulf of Izmit in a controlled manner. A scientific study was initiated with Kocaeli University - Faculty of Science and Letters (Department of Biology) within the scope of continuous scientific monitoring of the effects on the ecosystem and recording the changes. A similar study will be carried out in Izmit Bay Ulaşlı Coast in 2025.
3. IZMIT BAY FISHING PROJECT: With the Project, it is aimed to enrich the existing fish species and diversity in Izmit Bay, to protect and sustain biological diversity, to contribute to the economic development of the region and the benefit of the people from the sea, and most importantly, to create environmental awareness on this issue. In 2014, following the scientific studies initiated, the turbot, sea bass and sea bream fish obtained from Izmit Bay were reproduced in the institutes affiliated to the Ministry and released into Izmit Bay for the first time in 2017. A total of 48 thousand juvenile fish have been released into Izmit Bay within the scope of the fishery programmes organised since 2017.
The project was deemed worthy of the Gold Medal in the International Livable Communities SDG 2024 Awards (LivCom SDG Awards) programme which supported by the United Nations (UN) held in Cairo,Egypt between 4-7 November 2024 and the award for good practices of municipalities at the 10th Golden Ant Awards organized by the Union of Marmara Municipalities in our country.
4. FLEXSHIP will facilitate the transition of the waterborne sector towards climate neutrality by delivering a digital green concept for electrification of vessels consisting of a Green Digital Twin (GDT) for designing fit-for-purpose vessel electrical grid architectures and integrating a large battery capacity system into two existing vessel electrical systems, a compact, low-weight, modular and simple, high efficiency battery system, and a safe integration guide of the system onboard ensuring system interoperability. Within the project Kocaeli's Atatürk Vessel will be transformed to hybrid vessel with integration of a 3 MW energy packet. (//www.flexship-project.eu/)
5. Kocaeli SUMP aims to analyze the current situation in the city and offer solutions and development suggestions within the framework of the “sustainable urban transportation plan”; and to contribute to the livability and sustainability of Kocaeli by providing safer, cleaner, accessible and affordable mobility with these solutions and suggestions. (//sumpkocaeli.org/en/kocaeli-sump/)