CarrefourSA Unveils Remarkable Call to Protect Small-Scale Coastal Fishing

A subsidiary of Sabancı Holding and Carrefour Group, CarrefourSA has launched an impactful project in Ocaklar Town, located in Balıkesir Erdek. With the message "If fishing dies, Ocaklar dies!", the "Ghost Town" project aims to protect coastal settlements that rely on small-scale coastal fishing for their livelihood and raise awareness about the sustainability of marine ecosystems.

A pioneer in Turkey’s retail sector, CarrefourSA operates in 70 provinces with 1,200 stores, including franchise locations, and employs 15,000 people. While ensuring that customers receive the right products from the right producers at fair prices, CarrefourSA also leads the way in sustainability initiatives. With its "If fishing dies, Ocaklar dies!" campaign, CarrefourSA highlights the importance of preserving small-scale coastal fishing through the "Ghost Town" project in Ocaklar Town, Balıkesir Erdek.

CarrefourSA CEO Kutay Kartallıoğlu stated, “Today, as CarrefourSA, we ensure that people receive the right fish. But it is also our collective responsibility to ensure that future generations have access to the right fish. The key to this is 'responsible fishing.' Through our investments in sustainable marine resources, we emphasize not only the importance of keeping the seas clean but also the responsibility of protecting the ecosystem. With the 'Ghost Town' project in Ocaklar Town, we want to demonstrate that the sea is not just an economic resource but an essential element for the sustainability of life."

Highlighting that seafood consumption in Turkey is significantly lower than in Europe, Kutay continued: "According to TÜİK (Turkish Statistical Institute) data, the per capita seafood consumption in Turkey is 6.8 kg per year, whereas in Europe, this figure reaches up to 22 kg. As Turkey’s largest seafood retailer, CarrefourSA is committed to providing high-quality, safe, and fairly priced food while also aiming to increase Turkey's seafood consumption. We are a leading company advocating for the Blue Economy in the organized food retail sector. As a country surrounded by seas on three sides, we are working to boost seafood consumption. At the same time, we prioritize the sustainability of underwater ecosystems. Through the technology we use in Turkey’s first and only integrated mussel facility, our stuffed mussel production contributes significantly to marine cleanliness.

CarrefourSA’s projects focusing on the Blue Economy and sustainable marine life not only protect the seas but also create social benefits. "As part of the project, we are providing training sessions for small-scale coastal fishers in Ocaklar Town, Balıkesir Erdek. Additionally, we aim to make these trainings accessible nationwide by uploading them to digital platforms," said Kutay. "We are also developing initiatives to increase women's employment in the region. By collaborating with Turkey’s first integrated mussel facility in Ocaklar Town, we provide a livelihood for dozens of families. Currently, all employees at the mussel facility, including the facility manager, are women."

CarrefourSA’s "If fishing dies, Ocaklar dies" project was presented through a striking installation created by TBWA\Istanbul. The project highlights how ghost nets—abandoned fishing nets that sink to the seabed—prevent fish from reproducing and can turn a once-thriving fishing town into a ghost town. Ocaklar Town was covered with ghost nets collected from the sea by CarrefourSA, visually transforming it into a ghost town overnight. While this scene is not a current reality, it serves as a stark warning about the potential future. The ghost town created with ghost nets symbolizes what we may face if no action is taken.

However, this is not the end—it is a call to action.

The project features the voices of veteran fishers, young people, and local residents whose livelihoods have been supported by CarrefourSA initiatives, emphasizing the urgency of taking action for our seas. With its "Ghost Town" theme, the project delivers a powerful visual message about the pressing need to protect marine ecosystems.