Coastal legislation and administrative structure in Turkey

Having coast on three distinct seas, Turkey is one of the rare countries in terms of its coastal length and natural, ecological and touristic richness. However, it is impossible to say that Turkey benefits this richness in the way Turkey adapts it to the future generation properly and consciously, due to the failures in legislation, frequently made changes and the incorrect and unconscious practices caused by the impairments in controls and sanctions. On considering the legislation concerning marine and coastal areas from past to present, it is seen that there are many laws, legislations, circulars and statutes etc. Related to coasts directly or indirectly, except for the Coastal Law and that various institutions and organizations take on task in the scope of the authorizations given by these laws. The deficiency of coordination among these institutions and organizations - though their goals correspond - leads to conflicts and impeditions especially in practice and in the authorities in control. This chaos of authority constitutes a big impediment for the management of coastal areas. Through this study, the coastal legislation and the tasks of the institutions and organizations related to seacoast were analyzed in general and the chaos of authority in the use and planning of coasts was presented. It was emphasized that the existing managerial and institutional approaches should be revised, practice oriented precautions be taken and policies of coastal management body be arranged.