Summary/History
Turkey has a coastline on both the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Priority species include the Yelkouan Shearwater (NT), with a large proportion of the global population passing through the Bosphorous on migration to and from the Black Sea each year, the Cory's Shearwater (LC), Audouin's Gull (NT) and Mediterranean subspecies of the European Shag (LC). The data held on marine seabirds is very poor; the government did start a new project with UNDP named Strengthening the Protected Area Network of Turkey and Catalyzing Sustainability for Marine and Coastal Protected Areas however there is no seabird focus to this project.

Key threats to Turkish seabirds include:
o Pollution, especially oil and chemicals from shipping
o Habitat loss
o Overfishing and bycatch

National priorities
o Colony surveys of potential Yelkouan Shearwater breeding colonies
o Capacity building for marine IBA and seabird surveys
o Developing policy on integrating seabird data into the Ministry of Environment's project with UNDP on identification of marine protection areas.
o Basic surveying of Shag, Shearwater and Gull populations at Marma Sea, Bosphorus-Western Black Sea and the Upper Aegean to gather breeding and migration data for these species
o Develop an action plan for work on Izmir Bay and the open sea
o Developing building contacts for cooperation oppurtunities for a basic survey on seabirds in the Eastern Mediterranean

Government's support/relevant policy
In 1983, the Environment Law, the current National Park Law, and Law for Protection of Cultural and Natural Wealth were all enacted in Turkey. The prime objectives of the Environment Law are general environmental protection and pollution prevention. Responsibility for protected areas is with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Affairs, together with the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Culture. As permanent liaisons between Ministries, the Government and the Municipalities do not exist, developments in establishing new protected areas and better managing existing protected areas will take a longer time than expected. Please see policy tab for list of agreements that this country is party to.

References
Yal