**2.1.6 Offshore areas**

78 Salmonella – A Dangerous Foodborne Pathogen

The Black Sea covers an area that is about one third of the area of continental Europe. The Istanbul Strait connects the Black Sea to the world's oceans. The second largest river of Europe (Danube), also large rivers such as Dnieper, Don and Dniester all flow to the Black Sea. The salinity of the Black Sea is considerably lower (about 22-26 psu) than the Mediterranean. The population in Sile, western Black Sea, the sampling area, rises to 200,000 during the months of July and August due to recreational activities, compared with 50,000 during the other months. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the increasing anthropological activity on the bacteriological pollution of the

The Golden Horn Estuary has been heavily polluted by industrial and domestic wastes since 1950. Five million cubic meters of sludge has been removed during the last 10 years of restoration works. After the rehabilitation project, decreases in level of bacteria were

The Istanbul Strait connects the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea and the Canakkale Strait to the Aegean Sea. The Sea of Marmara separates Turkey's Asian and European regions. Being an important water route between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara is under the pressure of heavy marine transportation. The Sea of Marmara is under the influence of various anthropological factors such as dwelling, domestic and industrial wastes. The bacteria which come from ships' ballast water are another effective factor on the composition and abundance of bacteria in the Sea of Marmara. The less saline waters of the Black Sea reach the Mediterranean via upper currents while the concentrated saline waters of the Mediterranean reach the Black Sea via the undercurrents of the Canakkale and Istanbul Straits. These interesting hydrodynamic characteristics of the Sea of Marmara offer us unique opportunities for researching bacterial composition,

Northeastern Mediterranean is known as a typical example of the world's oligotrophic seas. The salinity of the Mediterranean (38.5-38.6 psu) is considerably higher than the Black Sea. Bacterial composition of these environments have been managed by anthropological

The pelagic zones of the northern Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara share some main features due to their connection through the Çanakkale Strait. However, because of the anthropological sources, bacterial pollution level of northern part of the Aegean Sea less than the Sea of Marmara (Altuğ et. al., 2007). The population rate rises during the summer season due to recreational activities, compared with the other months in the coastal areas of the Aegean Sea. This situation is inducing the level of bacterial pollution

**2.1 Sampling areas 2.1.1 Western Black Sea** 

seawater and *C. gallina* samples.

reported (Altuğ and Balks 2009).

**2.1.3 The Sea of Marmara** 

**2.1.2 The Golden Horn Estuary (Istanbul)** 

under different, poorly described conditions.

**2.1.4 Eastern Mediterranean** 

activities (Bayndrl, 2007).

**2.1.5 Aegean Sea** 

(Altuğ et. all., 2007)

Due to the differences between coastal areas and offshore areas with respect to exposed pollution factors, the offshore areas can be accepted as reference stations for the studies which monitor bacterial contamination.

In this study, seawater samples which were taken from the offshore areas extending from the eastern part of Andros Island to the southern parts of Gokceada and Thasos Island, as well as the Mediterranean were tested for indicator bacteria and *Salmonella* spp.
