Marine Turtle Conservation in the Mediterranean
Informal Investigation of Conditions in Dalyan SPA, Turkey th
Report for the 20 Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) Report prepared by MEDASSET The Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles September 2000
No formal investigation of conditions in the Dalyan Specially Protected Area was carried out this year, however local environmentalist June Haimoff reports: In general, patrolling of the beach and enforcement of regulations was better this year •
Now no Illegal speedboats frequent the Dalyan River, Koycegiz Lake and the approaches to the beach.
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A large sign to the effect that speedboats are illegal has been replaced.
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Water skiing on Koycegiz Lake last year said to have been sanctioned by the harbour police has now stopped.
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No Fishing nets were observed to be deployed close to the beach at Iztuzu.
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Spear fishing is now an infrequent activity close to the beach and in the Dalyan channel.
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Motor vehicles were prevented from using Iztuzu beach during the nesting season.
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Beach patrols were observed, though little attempt was made to familiarise the tourists with the needs of the turtles by the establishment of an information kiosk or something.
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The beach was cleaned this year at Iztuzu by the authorities.
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No overnight activity on the beach was observed this year.
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As usual students from Hacetepe University carried out monitoring of the turtles and research.
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Heavy boat traffic reported last year in the Trionyx triunguis habitat near the Mud Baths has continued.
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Thousands of tourists still visiting each day from Marmaris and Fethiye have seriously compacted the sand of the beach near Dalyan village.
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The beach is strewn with rocks carried onto the beach at Iztuzu by sunbathers for the purpose of stopping their towels being blown away by the wind, and by gravel spread onto the beach from the abandoned hotel construction foundations (1987).
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Still only two signs in 4.5 Kms of beach give notification of SPA status and rules.
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There have been unconfirmed reports of the collection of turtle’s eggs, by local people being stopped by tourists.
MEDASSET: Informal Investigation of Conditions in Dalyan SPA, Turkey (2000).
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There were more sunbeds than ever this year, and some nests were laid amongst them.
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Lights from Dalyan Village and noise from a disco on the Iztuzu road, seriously pollute the beach.
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The adjoining nesting beach of Dalaman [also a Trionyx habitat T-PVS(98) 59] has been further developed with a new hotel and disco on the beach, and a marina is planned in the next bay eastwards. There is a great deal of garbage on the beach there.
RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. The stones should be removed from the Iztuzu end of the beach and the car park area, where they were left since 1987, when the hotel construction was aborted. 2. Efforts should be made to limit noise and photo-pollution reaching the beach. 3. More warning signs in Turkish, German and English, giving turtle conservation information, should be erected along the beach. 4. Tourist environmental information should be made available. 5. Use of the SPA by vehicles should be curtailed in October (Hatching time), until next nesting season, to stop compaction of the sand (Addendum 2). 6. No further development at Dalaman should be carried out. Noise, and lights should be controlled.
ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATION AND TECHNICAL REPORTS PRESENTED BY MEDASSET TO THE STANDING COMMITTEE TO THE CONVENTION ON THE CONSERVATION OF EUROPEAN WILDLIFE AND NATURAL HABITATS (BERN CONVENTION) AT THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE, PUBLISHED UNDER T-PVS REFERENCE: DALYAN (TURKEY) Updated reports presented yearly since 1989 T-PVS (97) 42: Nature Conservation in Dalyan, Turkey, during 1996-1997, follow-up report, 11 pages. T-PVS (98) 50: Specific Sites, “Nature Conservation” in Dalyan, Turkey, update report, 4 pages. T-PVS (99) 77: Informal investigation of conditions in Dalyan Specially Protected Area, 2 pages.
MEDASSET: Informal Investigation of Conditions in Dalyan SPA, Turkey (2000).
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ADDENDUM 1.
MEDASSET: Informal Investigation of Conditions in Dalyan SPA, Turkey (2000).
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ADDENDUM 2.
Vehicular traffic on Iztuzu side of the beach (Oct. 2000).
MEDASSET: Informal Investigation of Conditions in Dalyan SPA, Turkey (2000).
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