Struggles Over the Sea: Resistance and Blue Justice in Türkiye

Year 2026, Volume: 18 Issue: 1, 65 - 91, 20.02.2026

Aygün Karlı

https://doi.org/10.53376/ap.2026.03

https://izlik.org/JA27CH98RS

Abstract

This article examines the emerging relevance of blue justice as an analytical lens for understanding socio-ecological conflicts in Türkiye’s marine environments. Although the concept remains largely absent from the country’s formal policy and academic debates, struggles across the Mediterranean, Aegean, Marmara, and Black Sea demonstrate how questions of distribution, recognition, and participation are embedded in everyday marine practices. Methodologically, the study combines qualitative documents analysis of policy and secondary sources with a region-based case study approach. The findings reveal that the contraction of small-scale fishing grounds, societal reactions to ecological collapse in the Marmara Sea, and contested energy projects in the Black Sea constitute distinct yet interconnected domains of marine injustice. The article highlights both the contradictions inherent in Türkiye’s alignment with blue economy agendas and the potential for blue justice to emerge as a critical framework for advancing more equitable and sustainable marine governance.

Keywords

Blue Justice , Political Ecology , Marine Governance , Blue Economy , Marine Policy

Ethical Statement

During the preparation of this work, the authors used ChatGPT version 5 to assist with the translation and to improve the language and readability of the manuscript. After using this tool, the authors reviewed and edited the content as needed and take full responsibility for the content of the publication.

Deniz Üzerine Mücadeleler: Türkiye’de Direniş ve Mavi Adalet

https://izlik.org/JA27CH98RS

Abstract

Bu makale, Türkiye’nin denizel çevrelerinde ortaya çıkan sosyo‐ekolojik çatışmaları anlamada mavi adalet kavramının analitik bir mercek olarak taşıdığı önemi incelemektedir. Kavram, Türkiye’nin resmi politika ve akademik tartışmalarında büyük ölçüde yer almamakla birlikte; Akdeniz, Ege, Marmara ve Karadeniz’deki mücadeleler, dağıtım, tanınma ve katılım meselelerinin gündelik denizle ilgili pratiklerine nasıl içkin olduğunu göstermektedir. Çalışma, politika belgeleri ve ikincil kaynakların nitel doküman analizi ile bölge temelli bir vaka incelemesi yaklaşımını bir araya getirmektedir. Bulgular, küçük ölçekli balıkçılık alanlarının daralması, Marmara Denizi’ndeki ekolojik çöküşe yönelik toplumsal tepkiler ve Karadeniz’deki tartışmalı enerji projelerinin, deniz adaletsizliğinin birbirinden farklı fakat birbiriyle bağlantılı alanlarını oluşturduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Makale, Türkiye’nin mavi ekonomi gündemleriyle uyum sürecinde ortaya çıkan çelişkileri ve mavi adaletin daha adil ve sürdürülebilir bir deniz yönetişimi için eleştirel bir çerçeve olarak gelişme potansiyelini vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

Mavi Adalet , Politik Ekoloji , Deniz Yönetişimi , Mavi Ekonomi , Deniz Politikası

Ethical Statement

During the preparation of this work, the authors used ChatGPT version 5 to assist with the translation and to improve the language and readability of the manuscript. After using this tool, the authors reviewed and edited the content as needed and take full responsibility for the content of the publication.

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