Rowers stroking on the waters of Haliç, with the Golden Horn Bridge and the historic skyline of Istanbul in the background. ©Onur Doğan.

This estuary is full of life, from tiny plankton to fish that use it as a nursery. But urbanization, pollution, and climate change threaten its delicate balance. That’s where environmental DNA (eDNA) comes in. By collecting water samples, we can detect traces of DNA left behind by organisms, revealing which species are present—even those too small or rare to see. This approach allows us to track biodiversity, monitor ecosystem health, and understand human impact in ways never before possible.

Rowing and science have a lot in common. Both require patience, teamwork, and trust in a process where results aren’t always immediately visible. Dr. Katalin Karikó, the Nobel Prize-winning scientist behind the mRNA vaccine, once compared science to rowing: “You pull as hard as you can, moving backward, unable to see the finish line, but trusting it’s there. And you never do it alone.”

At Haliç, conservation and rowing go hand in hand. With support from the Rufford Foundation, we’re using eDNA research to study the Golden Horn’s biodiversity while involving the local community in conservation efforts. Because just like in rowing, protecting ecosystems isn’t about a single powerful stroke—it’s about steady, collective effort to move forward.