Turkish marine management: The Aegean Sea case

Controlling the seas according to the scope of its power and capacity, being able to benefit from them, is a bridging process that takes place in both domestic and foreign policy arenas, where the continuous interaction of these two sides is realized. In this context, it would be appropriate to examine Turkey's maritime governance policy. Although Turkey has an effective and competent workforce and capabilities related to the seas in terms of capacity, it is unable to take sufficient civil initiative to manage the open waters of the Aegean Sea due to the international political and legal principles it adheres to within the framework of bilateral relations, which are also dependent on regional systemic dynamics. However, it continues to uphold the vision of the Blue Homeland as a discourse. Turkey's emphasis on the Blue Homeland as a "national" concept evokes a security-oriented approach and instruments, while the opportunities for civil policies that would emerge through the activation of civil approaches and instruments are being missed. Turkey can implement its maritime governance institutional structure and processes in accordance with international norms through central and local organizations. However, Turkey does not seem very clear in developing and implementing an integrated national maritime policy within the framework of a vision and national goals, and in managing its continental shelf and exclusive economic zone in an integrated manner centered on maritime spatial planning at the national level. Although there is capacity and capability to achieve this, it would not be a wrong inference based on the available data to conclude that political issues create barriers to the steps to be taken in this regard. Legal and institutional regulations that would allow for the necessary measures to be taken in terms of integrated maritime policy and management are either being reduced or are pending. However, it is within the realm of possibility to engage in activities related to these seas on a completely legitimate basis by overcoming the parameters of disputes related to sovereignty that cause political preferences within the framework of international and regional agreements. It is, of course, possible to implement policies and practices where civil instruments will be intensively activated. Conducting legitimate activities such as the protection of biological diversity, researching fishing reserves, establishing and managing special protection areas, and carrying out studies related to the use of open sea renewable energy potential, conducting scientific research, supporting these with a civil marine conservation system, and even considering options such as creating a joint development area with Greece can be addressed within such a policy framework