T.R.

ÇANAKKALE ONEKİZ MART UNIVERSITY

UNDERWATER RESEARCH AND APPLICATION CENTER 2020 ACTIVITY REPORT

As every year, ÇOMÜ Underwater Research and Application Center carried out its underwater-related meetings, projects and activities with ÇOMÜ Faculty of Marine Sciences and Technology. In February 2020, a preliminary meeting was held with Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality about the projects to be carried out in the region. After this meeting, the Covid-19 epidemic broke out in the world and in our country. For this reason, project negotiations started in September 2020 and the cooperation protocol between our university and Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality has reached the signing stage. Within the scope of this protocol, dives and ghost net removal projects are planned to be carried out first in the Marmara Sea islands region and then in the Edremit Bay.

COMÜ Underwater Research and Application Center within Çanakkale Port Authority and Çanakkale Governorship participated in the July 1 Maritime and Cabotage Day celebrations and contributed to raising awareness by participating in the seabed cleaning event at Çanakkale Marina.

Within the scope of International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), the seabed cleaning event organized by the Chamber of Shipping and GESTAŞ on 19.09.2020 was held with the participation of ÇOMÜ Underwater Research and Application Center along with many divers.

In September 2020, Gündoğdu Village Beautification, Zoning and Development, Ensuring Social Solidarity Association. A protocol was made between the management and Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Underwater Research and Application Center. Within the scope of this protocol, Prof. Dr. Adnan Ayaz, Prof. Dr. Uğur ALTINAĞAÇ and Assoc. Dr. Dr. Necessary field studies for the "Preliminary Study Report" have been carried out by Deniz ACARLI in the areas where artificial reefs are planned to be placed.

Subsequently, after the final decision regarding the implementation of the Project, another information and stakeholder meeting was held in Gündoğdu village on October 2, 2020, in order to determine the regions where the reef will be built. Prof. from Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Faculty of Marine Sciences and Technology attended the meeting. Dr. Adnan Ayaz, Prof. Dr. Uğur ALTINAĞAÇ and Assoc. Prof. from Gökçeada School of Applied Sciences, Department of Fisheries Technology. Dr. Dr. Deniz ACARLI attended as an invited speaker. Following the meeting, dives were carried out, artificial reef areas were determined and a preliminary study report was prepared. The project was carried out through ÇOMÜ Revolving Fund Enterprise.

The activities of ÇOMÜ Underwater Research and Application Center continue with the same momentum in 2021.