Legal frame work for marine policy and coastal management in Turkey

Integrated coastal zone management and marine policy of Turkey have significantly become important not only in the sphere of academic studies but also in practice at global, regional and national levels for both environmental conservation, sustainability, urban planning and community planning. Hence, developments of its organizational and legislative elements are needed urgently in Turkey. Throughout this study, firstly international legislation within global and regional legislation then Turkey?s implemented laws and their interpretation on coastal and marine areas are investigated to accomplishment a scientific vision on the subject. Then, future steps for development of Turkish legal system in the marine policy and the coastal management are suggested by comparing the practice in other European countries.