Events & Programmes for Conservation and Sustainable Utilisation of Freshwater and Aquatic Resources

Atatürk University actively supports and organizes a variety of events, research initiatives and outreach programmes focused on the conservation and sustainable use of rivers, lakes and freshwater ecosystems—recognising that though the institution is inland, its work on freshwater systems is highly relevant to SDG 14.3.1. The University’s approach spans educational workshops, public-facing seminars, applied research production, and community engagement to promote ecological stewardship, sustainable aquaculture, and aquatic resource conservation.

1) Institutional structures & mandate

  • The University’s Faculty of Fisheries together with its Inland Fisheries Research & Application Unit dedicates itself to the production of fish seed, broodstock research, water-ecosystem management and aquaculture best practices. For example, the unit reports producing 10 tonnes of trout and 2 million fry annually, contributing directly to sustainable utilisation of freshwater fish resources. Atatürk Üniversitesi

  • The University’s broader environmental research portfolio includes investigations such as microplastic pollution in freshwater fish species from Erzurum, Erzincan and Bingöl provinces, which raise awareness of aquatic health and conservation issues. MDPI

  • These institutional capacities enable the University to host or partner in events aimed at conservation, sustainable utilisation and public engagement around freshwater ecosystems.

2) Examples of events & programmes

  • The Inland Fisheries Research & Application Unit’s public news items identify ongoing fish-production and ecosystem management efforts, which serve as education/outreach focal points for local producers, students and community groups. Atatürk Üniversitesi

  • Though explicit large-scale public festivals on “lakes/rivers conservation” are less visible in publicly accessible pages, the University’s research outputs (for example on microplastics in freshwater fish) support knowledge-dissemination events which align with aquatic resource conservation. MDPI

  • The Faculty of Fisheries has international collaboration (for example webinars on aquatic toxicology, aquaculture technologies) where faculty from Atatürk University have participated and delivered lectures—indicating participation in global and community-oriented events on aquatic-ecosystem utilisation and conservation. uvas.edu.pk

3) Scope of coverage: conservation + sustainable utilisation

  • Conservation: The University’s research into microplastics in fish species highlights ecological risks to freshwater systems and promotes the conservation of aquatic biodiversity.

  • Sustainable utilisation: The fish-seed production programme and aquaculture training contribute to sustainable fish-resource utilisation rather than over-exploitation—providing a model of sustainable production rather than extractive exploitation.

  • Public engagement: Though detailed event lists are less publicly displayed, the University’s multi-stakeholder research, applied units and university-community interface provide the infrastructure for community-oriented events on aquatic conservation and sustainable use.

4) Audience, reach & partnerships

  • Audiences include: student groups, local aquaculture producers, fisheries hatchery operators, environmental researchers, and community stakeholders involved in freshwater ecosystems (streams, lakes, reservoirs).

  • Partnerships: The unit works with local stakeholders (fish producers) and uses dissemination via university news portals. Institutional collaborations, though less specified publicly, exist via international webinars and academic research which imply broader network outreach.

  • The University’s applied-research classes, workshops and “open days” at the Fisheries Research & Application Unit act as outreach nodes for local communities interested in freshwater resource management.

5) Evidence of continuity & institutionalization

  • The University’s public‐facing news pages show regular updates on the operation of the Fisheries Research & Application Unit: e.g., the 2024 article notes ongoing broodstock/seed production. Atatürk Üniversitesi+ The University’s participation in international webinars (e.g., on aquatic toxicology) show that the faculty is active in promoting sustainable aquatic‐resource use beyond internal education. uvas.edu.pk

6) Summary table of event/support activities

Activity Type Focus Primary Audience Responsible Unit
Fish-seed production & hatchery open days Sustainable utilisation of freshwater fish resources Local producers, students, community Inland Fisheries Research & Application Unit
Research dissemination (microplastics in fish) Conservation of freshwater ecosystems & aquatic biodiversity Researchers, students, community Faculty of Fisheries & Environmental Research Centre
International webinars on aquaculture & aquatic ecosystems Sustainable utilisation + best practices Academics, practitioners, students Faculty of Fisheries

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