Fethiye: Turkey’s Turtles in Trouble! Lily Venizelos & Liza Boura
MEDASSET - Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles 1c Licavitou St., 106 72 Athens, Greece (E-mail: medasset@medasset.org) In Turkey, Fethiye is one of the major nesting beaches (Baran & the Mediterranean will also decrease (Yılmaz et al. 2008) to the Kasparek 1989) and one of a dozen key Caretta caretta nesting sites detriment of the species’ chance of survival. The Nesting Beach. The picture one faces upon arrival at Fethiye (Margaritoulis et al. 2003). The whole bay area is designated as the Fethiye-Göcek Specially Protected Area (Council of Ministers’ is that of snack bars, volleyball courts, restaurants and cafes on the Decision 88/13019, 12.06.1988). Researchers of Adnan Menderes nesting beaches, motorised water-sport activities in the sea, wooden University, Dokuz Eylül University, Pamukkale University and the walkways directly on the sand and dense rows of beach furniture, University of Vienna have been carrying out studies and collecting which remain in position on a 24-hour basis. Strong lighting is data at Fethiye nesting beaches since the early 1990s. The beach is used during the night and visitors freely roam the shores until the divided into three sections: Çalış, Yanıklar and Akgöl (Fig. 1, from small hours. Giant picnics occupy the beach (especially during the Ilgaz et al. 2007). Çalış (2.5 km) is separated from the other two weekends), quads and trucks cross the sand, as there is vehicular beaches by a small rocky peninsula and over about half its length is access to virtually every section. The garbage problem is entirely lined by a concrete wall, topped by a broad promenade with hotels, unsolved, there has been sand removal at Calış and Yanıklar and restaurants, bars, etc. to accommodate tourism. Nesting occurs fishing occurs directly off all three of Fethiye’s “specially protected” mostly along the promenade stretch where the beach is sandy and nesting beaches. The major wetland at Calış began to be bulldozed in 2004. It gently sloping. Elsewhere, the beach is steeper and consists of pebbles, but certain stretches are still used for nesting. Yanıklar was then filled with rubble for the construction of the 553-room (4.5 km) is the core nesting site of Fethiye, its width varies between ‘Sunset Beach Club Apartments’, which subsequently placed 50-80 m. Akgöl (1 km) is 50 m wide and except for some short yet beach furniture, a children’s playground, huge pillows and potted important stretches of sand at both ends, this beach is less suitable trees on the nesting beach. In 2009, a brand new wooden boat jetty was built in front of the complex. Only a small stretch remains for nesting as about 300-400 m are mostly covered with pebbles. Threats to the nesting population have been increasing since available for nesting between the complex and the adjoining ‘Surf Baran & Kasparek’s first assessment in 1988, resulting in serious Café’. This snack bar, sports centre and camping ground complex is nesting decline since 1993 (Türkozan 2000; Oruç et al. 2003; Ilgaz et continuously expanding “its” territory by placing a wall of boulders al. 2007). The number of nests has been declining since first records along the midline of the beach. It has installed continuous rows of in the early 1990s: peak 191 nests in 1995, lowest value 58 in 2004 sunbeds, umbrellas, wooden walkways and covered the beach with (see Fig. 2 from Ilgaz et al. 2007, for graph of trend and Türkozan extensive plastic “lawn” carpeting to facilitate bathers, kayakers, wind and kite surfers. Beach bonfires and parties take place every et al. 2003, for nest numbers). Fethiye used to be a tourist ‘insider’s tip’ until a broader range week throughout the summer until late at night. In the few nests of tourists discovered the location’s natural beauty and proximity still found at either side of the 'Surf Café", hatchling disorientation to tourist attractions such as the Butterfly Valley, marinas, paragliding sites and ancient monuments. Infrastructure developed (including small hotels as well as large, all-inclusive complexes) and Fethiye has now become a standard holiday destination, well advertised by Turkish and international tour operators as an attractive base for well-organised visits and tours. Currently, the majority of visitors are British and the location has also become popular among foreign pensioners buying land to move to warmer climates. In spite of the drop in nesting, the average number of nests recorded between 1993 and 2004 still makes this beach one of the most important nesting sites in Turkey, as 8.8% of the total nests laid annually are recorded in Fethiye (Ilgaz et al. 2007). Decline in nesting at Fethiye does not correspond to an observable increase at neighbouring beaches (Ilgaz et al. 2007), indicating poor sea turtle conservation measures in this region. Apart from natural causes, e.g. severe winter storms that cause beach erosion in certain sections, anthropogenic impact is the main cause of this decline – as is the case in many other nesting locations around the Mediterranean. If nesting continues to Figure 1 (from Ilgaz et al. 2007). Top: loggerhead nesting sites deteriorate or even cease in Fethiye (see scenarios in Ilgaz in Turkey. Bottom: Map of Fethiye nesting beach showing the et al. 2007), the genetic diversity of loggerhead sea turtles in three beach subsections: Çalış, Yanıklar and Akgöl. Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 131, 2011 - Page 32