EUROPEAN ROWING COASTAL & BEACH SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIPS
07 – 13 OCT. 2025 MANAVGAT / ANTALYA
Sustainability at the European Rowing Coastal & Beach Sprint Championships, Antalya 2025
Our sustainability program focuses on plastic reduction, biodiversity protection, and citizen science — created together under the World Rowing-WWF Healthy Waters Alliance with WWF Türkiye, DEKAFOK and BlueMissionMed.
Bring Your Own Bottle
No more single-use plastic. Refill stations will be available throughout the venue. Bring your own reusable bottle — or pick up an official championship one — and join us in cutting waste to zero.
WWF Türkiye Events: Rowing for the Ocean
Together with WWF Türkiye, athletes and visitors will take part in two hands-on environmental actions designed to leave the coast cleaner and healthier.
Adopt a Beach
Cleanup and monitoring at Manavgat’s Kleopatra Beach, with data contributing to WWF Türkiye’s national marine litter database.
Timing: 10 October 2025 – 14:00
Sign up here! https://forms.office.com/e/z1zgs4G6q9
Microplastic Analysis
Rowers will collect water samples during training. Partner universities will analyze them with Akdeniz (Mediterranean) University.
Timing: 7 October 2025
For more details about the Healthy Waters: Rowing for the Ocean sustainability initiative, you can view the full presentation here
DEKAFOK Coastal Protection Association
Founded in 2020, DEKAFOK began as a grassroots initiative to protect sea turtles along the Manavgat coast. Today, it champions the conservation of the Mediterranean monk seal, sand lilies, Side monster grass, seabirds, and coastal ecosystems through science and community action.
Manavgat’s 65-kilometer coastline hosts thousands of species, including Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas sea turtles, monk seals (Monachus monachus), and endemic plants such as the Orobanche sideana (Side Monster Plant) and the Pancratium maritimum (sea daffodil).
During the 2025 Championships, these habitats will be protected through fencing of nesting sites, restricted access zones around dune plants, and minimized infrastructure footprints.
Protected on Site: The Mediterranean Sea Daffodil
The race venue includes dune ecosystems where the Mediterranean sea daffodil (Pancratium maritimum) grows — a fragrant white flower that stabilizes sand dunes and signals healthy coastal biodiversity.
How We Protect It
Temporary fencing and signs around flower clusters.
Infrastructure moved away from sensitive dunes.
Volunteers guiding visitors to reduce trampling.
Why It Matters
Dune stabilizer preventing erosion.
Part of Manavgat’s unique natural heritage.
Indicator of healthy, low-disturbance habitats.
Join the Effort
Bring your bottle, join a cleanup, and discover the rare species that make Manavgat’s coast so special. Together, we can ensure this championship gives more back to nature than it takes.
