Anadolu Efes Became the Voice of Corals on Marmara Sea Day

We owe 3 out of every 2 breaths we take to our seas. Coral reefs, which host approximately 25% of marine creatures, are in danger of extinction. Aware of this danger, Anadolu Efes became the voice of corals on June 8, Marmara Sea Day. This year, sea and nature-friendly musician Mercan Dede drew attention to the corals in the Sea of ​​Marmara with her work Symphony of Corals, within the scope of the "+1 Breath to the Sea" project, which has been carried out with the Association for the Protection of Marine Life for two years.

Turkey, the only country in the world with its own inland sea, cherishes the Marmara Sea, which serves as a vital biological corridor between the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. To support the development of biodiversity and raise awareness in the Marmara Sea, Anadolu Efes has launched a transformation project. The "Give the Sea +1 Breath " project, a collaboration between Anadolu Efes and the Marine Life Protection Association (DYKD), was implemented in 2022. The project aims to protect coral reefs, considered the rainforests of the seas and facing the threat of extinction, and to enrich the underwater life and biodiversity in the Marmara Sea.

In the first phase of "A Breath of Life in the Sea," divers relocated corals that had been separated from their natural habitat and damaged to a designated sensitive area under strict protection off Tavşan Island in the Marmara Sea, creating new coral gardens. In the second phase of the project, a camera system was installed 30 meters underwater to monitor and record the development and impact of the relocated corals 24/7. In the third phase, it was time to listen to the sounds of the biodiversity in the Marmara Sea. Sound recording devices placed underwater by the divers recorded the sounds of the marine life. These sounds were analyzed by eco-acoustic expert and sound designer, sociologist İpek Oskay. The marine and nature-loving musician Mercan Dede was inspired by these recordings to create the piece "Symphony of Corals ." To date, 840 hours of sound and 155 minutes of video recordings have been collected as part of the project.

“We Became a Voice for the Corals in the Marmara Sea with Our Passion for Blue”

Onur Altürk, President of the Beer Group and CEO of Anadolu Efes, stated , “As a Turkish company born on Anatolian soil 55 years ago and now reaching more than 70 countries, we focus on contributing to these lands, our seas, and the ecosystem we are in. We have transformed our passion for the blue into value with a project that will improve the marine ecosystem. Together with DYKD, we have taken action for the Marmara Sea. In the third phase of our project, our path crossed with the nature-loving musician Mercan Dede. Inspired by the sounds and images recorded in the Marmara Sea, he transformed his passion for nature and the seas into a magnificent work and became the voice of the Marmara.”

Stating that they keep sustainability at the center of their business model, Altürk said, “Biodiversity forms the basis of our sustainability strategy and was one of the prominent areas in our prioritization analysis, which we updated by taking the opinions of our stakeholders. Thereupon, we turned our passion for blue into a work that will improve the marine ecosystem and started the +1 Breath to the Sea project with DYKD. “With this project, we aim to contribute to the underwater life and biodiversity in the Marmara Sea and raise awareness.” said.

“Corals, Amazon Forests of the Seas”

Volkan Narcı, President of the Marine Life Protection Association , stated that they are working to protect the rich ecosystem of the Marmara Sea and played an important role in declaring Tavşan Island a "strictly protected sensitive area." Narcı said, "Following the coral transplantation we carried out in the first phase of the project, we can monitor the coral garden 24/7 thanks to our underwater monitoring system, in addition to observation dives. This is a first in Turkey. With this project, we are working with Anadolu Efes to support the development of biodiversity while increasing awareness of the marine ecosystem. We will also conduct an academic study in the coming period on the contribution of the coral gardens we created within the scope of the project with Anadolu Efes to biodiversity."

“I was inspired by the sounds and images of the Marmara Sea in my work Symphony of Corals”

Musician Mercan Dede expressed his satisfaction with his contribution to the project, sharing the following: “The human-caused climate crisis threatens our present and future generations. Our seas and the corals that carry their ecosystems are of great importance. Therefore, I find this project supporting biodiversity very valuable. I was very excited when Anadolu Efes approached me with this project. To make the voice of the Marmara Sea heard, I created the 'Symphony of Corals' piece, inspired by the sounds and images of many marine creatures such as sea bass, lobster, shrimp, dolphin, and mussels. The kaleidoscope-like images in the video represent how even the smallest act of kindness in one part of the world can significantly affect or transform a different ecosystem. We say, 'Coral is life.' We are grateful to Anadolu Efes, the architect of the project, the Marine Life Protection Association, and everyone who contributed.”

You can click the link to learn more about the project and listen to the Symphony of Corals. https://youtu.be/j5RkG9bWkVA?si=fGq0e74Ef02Z9fzX

Source: HORECA Trend and Anadolu Efes