Developed in response to marine ecosystem degradation, declining fish diversity and abundance, and associated losses to fishermen's incomes, the Mediterranean Conservation Society, or Akdeniz Koruma Derne?i in Turkish, has created a network of ?no-take zones? that put local fishing communities at the lead of marine biodiversity conservation in Gökova Bay Special Environment Protected Area. Focusing on the southern Mediterranean coast of Turkey, the organization is effectively communicating the value of sustainable fishing techniques to ensure the long-term viability of the local fishing industry. Community-based enforcement strategies are complemented by cooperation with regional and national authorities and scientific studies to monitor ecosystem health. Fish stocks have grown dramatically, as have the average incomes of cooperative members. Monitoring activities confirm rejuvenated marine species diversity and abundance in the bay, which is an important nursing ground for diverse endangered marine species, including Mediterranean monk seals and sandbar sharks. Gökova Bay Special Environmental Protection Area is a shining example of a marine protected area. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the rest of Turkey?s waters. Although nominally protected by a suite of SEPAs, they are plagued by destructive fishing practices, tourism impact and suffer from the same lack of active management ? otherwise known as ?paper park? syndrome ? that characterised Gökova Bay before AKD intervened. With support from the Endangered Landscapes Programme [https://www.endangeredlandscapes.org/], we are aiming to replicate the ecological and economic success of the Gökova Bay model at Fethiye-Göcek Special Environment Protected Area and the wider Turquoise Coast seascape. The ultimate goal is to establish a network of genuinely protected areas that will combat the threats posed by damaging and illegal fishing practices, safeguard environmentally sensitive bays and inlets against the negative impacts of tourism and help to mitigate the unwelcome side-effects of climate change, including the influx of invasive species that has been degraded the local ecosystem.