Garanti BBVA, in partnership with DenizTemiz Association/TURMEPA, removed more than 60 tonnes of solid waste and 613,000 litres of liquid waste from marine ecosystems across Türkiye in 2025, as part of the Blue Breath Project.
The initiative, coordinated by the Turkey Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, focuses on science-based restoration of marine habitats in the Marmara Sea, Lake Van, Göcek and the Saros Gulf. Activities include waste removal, seagrass and coral restoration, ecosystem monitoring and public awareness campaigns.
Since 2021, Garanti BBVA and TURMEPA have worked together under the Blue Breath Project to safeguard marine biodiversity. The programme aims to plant 14,000 seagrass beds, designated as protected oxygen production zones marked by buoys. These areas, with a scientifically measured vitality rate exceeding 70%, serve as natural carbon sinks and key oxygen sources.
In 2025, the project also carried out ecosystem scanning and cleaning for 600 coral colonies and removed 200 square metres of abandoned “ghost nets”, improving light access and feeding conditions for coral and gorgonian species. Conservation and monitoring activities were intensified in the Saros Gulf and Göcek to reduce pressure on underwater ecosystems and support biodiversity.
Alongside restoration work, the Blue Breath Project expanded its education outreach. A mobile Blue Breath Education Bus and online training programmes reached 36,800 students and 1,730 teachers during the year, promoting long-term marine protection awareness.
Mahmut Akten, Chief Executive of Garanti BBVA, said combining science, technology and civil society partnerships was essential to building a more sustainable future. He added that financing alone was not sufficient, and that the bank would continue supporting projects that deliver lasting environmental impact.
Şadan Kaptanoğlu, Chair of TURMEPA, emphasised the vital role oceans play in producing oxygen and called for sustained, decisive action to protect marine ecosystems. She said the organisation would continue working with Garanti BBVA to deliver science-based, practical solutions through the Blue Breath Project.
