Update Report on Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) Conservation Monitoring in Fethiye...

UPDATE REPORT BY THE NGO

Marine Turtle Conservation in the Mediterranean

UPDATE ON LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE (CARETTA CARETTA) CONSERVATION MONITORING IN FETHIYE, TURKEY

DECEMBER 2011

Document presented by MEDASSET ‐ the Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles

nd for the 32 Standing Committee Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention)

MEDASSET submitted a complaint to the Bern Convention in August 2009 regarding the severe degradation of the nesting beaches at Fethiye, Turkey, due to unplanned construction and developments to accommodate tourism, resulting in a severe decline of nest number (Ilgaz et al 2007).

Fethiye is a Specially Protected Area (SPA) and among the 12 most important Caretta caretta nesting beaches in Turkey (Margaritoulis et al. 2003).

The issue was discussed at the 30th Standing Committee of the Contracting Parties of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) in relation to the Conventions’ Recommendation No. 66 (1998) on the conservation status of some nesting beaches for marine turtles in Turkey.

In 2011, conservation measures were applied by the Turkish Authorities, which is an improvement related to previous years. However, some measures were only partly implemented while others have damaged or could potentially damage the natural profile of the beaches and hinder nesting and hatchling emergence success. In addition, beach furniture management, litter, light pollution and the presence of people and vehicles on the beaches at night still pose a threat and remain unresolved. In conclusion, additional effort and implementation of conservation measures is needed in 2012, prior to the start of the nesting season, as the factors driving the dramatic decrease of nest numbers in Fethiye SPA still remain unmitigated. Some valuable steps were made towards the right direction in 2011 and if these are sustained and are improved in the following years the trend could be altered.

We therefore request that the application of Recommendation No. 66 (1998) be kept under scrutiny by the Standing Committee, and that a detailed report is requested from the Turkish Authorities regarding the conservation and management measures that shall be applied in Fethiye SPA before and during the 2012 nesting season.

A brief assessment of the conservation measures, the most serious problems during the 2011 nesting season and a list of recommendations are presented below. The assessment is made in continuation to the update report submitted by MEDASSET to the Bureau Meeting (April 2011), and with reference to the T‐PVS (2010)25E “Report of the 30th Meeting of the Standing Committee” and the reply received by the Environmental Protection Agency for Special Areas (EPASA) (see Annex 1).

Update on Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Conservation Monitoring in Fethiye, Turkey MEDASSET ‐ Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles ASSESSMENT OF CONSERVATION MEASURES

A. Monitoring and conservation Beach management, nest monitoring and protection started on June 16th 2011. This is a month later than the start of the nesting period and the tourism season. Important information about adult nesting female sea turtles was therefore not collected and the nests laid prior to June 16th were not identified and could not be protected or monitored during the incubation period.

B. Beach Furniture and equipment FETAB (Fethiye Turizm Altyapi Birligi), was appointed as the responsible association to implement beach furniture management.

In Calış nesting beach (see Fig. 1 for map):  Beach furniture was regulated from mid‐June. The beach zone where users were not allowed (in between the two permitted rows of beach furniture) was not kept clear on many occasions (Fig. 2 & 3).  The collection of sunbeds at night was not standardised (sometimes they were stacked at the back of the beach and on other occasions they were placed in a row at the back of the beach) (Fig. 4 & 5).

On some nights they were not collected at all. (Fig. 6 &7)  The furniture was placed too close to the promenade wall; the 3‐metre distance rule was not applied on several occasions, thus hampering nesting and hatching of nests that were made close to the promenade wall (Fig 4, 5 & 6).  In the Ciftlik area and in front of “Surf Cafe” false carpeting was not removed from the nesting beach (Fig. 9).  Instead of being removed, wooden pathways were buried into the nesting beach in front of “Surf Cafe” (Fig. 10).  1624 sunbeds and 711 umbrellas were counted; this is an increase of 26% (sunbeds) and 10% (umbrellas) compared to 2011. Furthermore, 183 tables (357% increase compared to 2010) and 130 beanbags (225% increase compared to 2010) were recorded on the beach.

In Yanıklar (see Fig. 1 for map), both major hotels (Lykia Botanika and Majesty Club Tuana) removed the wooden pathways. Sunbeds and umbrellas were reduced from three rows to two and re‐arranged so as to not to occupy the entire width of the beach which is an improvement compared to previous years (decrease of sun beds from 157 (2010) to 120 (2011) at Lykia Botanika and from 233 (2010) to 201 (2011) in Majesty Club Tuana). However, both rows of sunbeds at both hotels are situated at the upper part of the beach, hindering nesting and hatching of nests.

C. Signage Three signs were placed at Calış nesting beach. The two signs placed in Section B (see Fig. 1 for map) were installed on the nesting beach (Fig. 11); a more appropriate location would be at the entrance of the beach, so that the public is informed about the existing regulations prior to their entry (i.e. visitors would not be informed that entry is prohibited at night until they have already accessed the beach).

One wooden information sign was installed in Yanıklar and another in Akgöl; both were placed directly onto the nesting beach, instead of at the point of entry (see above argument) (Fig 12). There are no signs in front of the hotels or camp sites.

D. Beach access People accessed the beaches at night during prohibited hours and bonfires were lit on some occasions.

In Section B of Calış nesting beach, during the nesting and hatching period in July 2011, huge ditches were dug at the upper part of the beach using an excavator, with the aim to impede beach access by vehicles (Fig. 13‐17).This is a highly inappropriate method of controlling vehicular access, as it destroys 2

Update on Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Conservation Monitoring in Fethiye, Turkey MEDASSET ‐ Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles the sand dune system, natural vegetation and possible un‐located nests. Additionally, these ditches are a death trap for nesting females (which tend to nest at the back of the beach) and light‐disorientated hatchlings.

In Akgöl, wooden stakes were installed next to the river bed at the northern end of the nesting beach to prevent vehicle access (Fig. 18). However, some of the wooden stakes were removed (Fig. 19), new entrances were found where stakes were not installed (Fig. 20 &21) and vehicles also accessed the beach by driving directly into the river bed, which is completely dry during the summer and there are no wooden stakes impeding vehicle access. A large amount on vehicle tracks along the entire nesting beach was recorded (Fig. 22 & 23). In Yanıklar, beach vehicle access was recorded as in the previous years, due to the fact that vehicular entry was not impeded by introducing fencing/stakes or through guarding (Fig. 24 & 25).

E. Light pollution Public lights along the Calış have been screened, however the businesses that line the beach have not shaded their lights (Fig. 26) and hatchling disorientation continues to be a severe problem in the area (Fig. 27 & 28). In Yanıklar, both major hotels (Lykia Botanika and Majesty Club Tuana) turned off their pier lights after midnight and one of the hotels painted some lights black to minimise lighting but; this action is positive and would be effective if all lights in the area that create light pollution were shaded in order to prevent hatchling disorientation.

F. Litter To our knowledge, one beach cleanup was carried out in Akgöl in the beginning of August. As in 2010, beaches were heavily littered and rubbish was not regularly collected (Fig. 29 & 30). Litter poses a major and lethal threat to hatchlings that are entrapped in debris on their way to the sea (Triessnig et al. Beach condition and marine debris: new hurdles for sea turtle hatchling survival. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 2011, in press).

G. Buildings, development and structures There were no new buildings recorded; none of the previously recorded structures and buildings was removed. The Lykia Botanika Hotel volleyball pitch was not removed from the nesting beach, and was also used at night (Fig. 31).

In the beginning of August, following a beach cleanup (see point E), a bulldozer was used to dig a ditch in the field directly behind Akgöl nesting beach in which the collected rubbish bags were deposited (Fig. 32‐34). This action degrades the natural coastal system and is not an appropriate manner of disposing of rubbish. The site will be flattened and used as a parking area. A parking area, in combination with entry point control, may solve the vehicular access problem, but a more appropriate area, that would not involve the flattening of dunes and the removal of natural vegetation, could be selected and used by vehicles.

H. Plantations Acacia trees (an introduced species) and bushes planted on the beach (2001 and 2010) have not been removed.

I. Motorized water sports Water sport activities right off Calış and Yanıklar nesting beaches were recorded during nesting and hatching season. Boats were recorded speeding over 6 knots, posing a threat to both swimmers and sea turtles. There is no apparent designated water sports area or any kind of visible regulation of activities in the marine area. The EPASA reported that the boats’ propellers would be substituted with a propulsion system (see Annex 1). This is an improvement and should be applied to all boats operating in the area.

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Update on Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Conservation Monitoring in Fethiye, Turkey MEDASSET ‐ Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles J. Fishing In Akgöl, during the whole nesting season, local fishermen fished with various types of nets, both at night and in the morning.

K. Shipyard/Drydock No news has been received regarding the results of the Environmental Impact Assessment or on the decision regarding this project. MEDASSET strongly opposes this project (see report submitted in April 2011). Following MEDASSET’s report and letter regarding the shipyard/drydock construction, the IUCN Marine Turtle Specialist Group Co‐chairs and the Bern Convention Standing Committee expressed their objection to the project in writing to the Turkish Authorities.

RECOMMENDATIONS

 Guarding needs to be reinforced and the number of guards increased to enable correct implementation of management and conservation measures (control of beach access, correct beach zone use by visitors, recording and acting upon violations, etc. Guarding should commence at the start of the nesting season.  Monitoring: more coordination is needed between the research team members, volunteers and guards to enable standardisation in recording nests and hatched nests, in order for data to be consistent. Both guards and volunteers have to use the same monitoring manual and need to have a common understanding on how beach surveys are conducted so continuity in monitoring is achieved when different volunteers participate in the project or when different people are employed as guards.

Monitoring and nest protection should commence at the start of the nesting season.  Removal of sunbeds at night needs to be standardised and consistent. Sunbeds should be removed altogether from the beach at night, including the upper row of sunbeds given that nesting females do generally prefer the softer upper part of the beach. Rows of umbrellas need to be installed prior to the nesting season and within the first 5 meters from the water’s edge. The number of sunbeds and umbrellas should not increase but remain stable throughout the nesting and hatching season. In Yanıklar, both rows of sunbeds need to be placed closer to the water’s edge in order to permit nesting at the upper part of the beach.  Removal of false carpeting, acacia trees and planted bushes from the nesting beach  Correction of signage location and installation of additional signs at the start of the nesting season at possible entry points to the beaches and in front of hotels in Yanıklar.  Access problems need to be tackled more effectively. Some drastic measures were taken but these were not completely effective or were very intrusive and damaging. Effective fencing, that cannot be removed, should be installed. Fencing should be complemented by effective wardening, signage at the points of entry, and education of locals and visitors by wardens, EPASA personnel and volunteers  Parking space: a more appropriate area that would not involve the flattening of dunes and the removal of natural vegetation should be chosen. Damaged sand dunes should be restored.  A code of conduct that will regulate fishing and motorised water sport activities in the marine area should be adopted and communicated to the local businesses and community.  Lights: local business owners should be required to screen or paint with dark paint all lights shining onto the beach. This does not incur a high cost and it is feasible along the entire Fethiye coastline.  Litter: a coordinated effort between the municipal authorities and EPASA can be pursued so that beach clean‐ups combined with awareness raising amongst locals can be conducted at the start of the nesting season and at the end of hatching season. Rubbish collection should be done manually and not with the use of heavy machinery (e.g. bulldozers). Daily litter collection could be combined with beach furniture collection at the end of the day. Additional bins for beach users that will be regularly emptied are necessary.

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Update on Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Conservation Monitoring in Fethiye, Turkey MEDASSET ‐ Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED  April 2011. Published without a T‐PVS reference: Destruction of Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches in Fethiye Spa, Turkey ‐ MEDASSET Report. Available online at: http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/cultureheritage/nature/bern/news/april11/MEDASSET%20Report.pdf  March 2011. Published without a T‐PVS reference: Update on Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Conservation Monitoring in Fethiye, Turkey. Available online at: https://wcd.coe.int/wcd/com.instr anet.InstraServlet?command=com.instranet.CmdBlobGet&InstranetImage=1788142&SecMode=1&DocId=1709842&Usage=2 September & March 2010. T‐PVS(2010)08E: Implementation of Recommendation No. 66 (1998) on 

the conservation status of some nesting beaches for marine turtles in Turkey ‐ Report by the NGO Available online at: https://wcd.coe.int/wcd/com.instranet.InstraServlet?command=com.instranet.CmdBlobGet& InstranetImage=1677304&SecMode=1&DocId=1644202&Usage=2

 September 2009. Complaint to the Bern Convention addressing the threats facing the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nesting beaches in Fethiye, Muğla province of Turkey.

Available online at: http://www.medasset.org/cms/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=176&Itemid=85&lang=en

 September 2008. Published without a T‐PVS reference: Sea turtle nesting beach degradation in Çirali and Fethiye, Turkey. Available online at: http://www.medasset.org/cms/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=153&Itemid=85&lang=en

RELEVANT RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE: Recommendation No. 66 (1998) on the conservation status of some nesting beaches for marine turtles in Turkey. Turkey. Available online at: https://wcd.coe.int/wcd/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1487927&Site=COE

MAPS AND PHOTOGRAPHS

Section B

Section A

Fig. 1. Fethiye Map showing beach subsections. Adapted from Ilgaz et al., 2007

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Update on Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Conservation Monitoring in Fethiye, Turkey MEDASSET ‐ Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles

Fig. 2 & 3. July 2011. Fethiye, SPA. Çalış. The area in between the two permitted rows of beach furniture, where users are not allowed, was not kept clear. There were no guards informing users about the regulated “nesting zone“.

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Update on Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Conservation Monitoring in Fethiye, Turkey MEDASSET ‐ Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles

Fig. 4 & 5. July 2011. Fethiye, SPA. Çalış. Sunbeds placed too close to the promenade wall, failing to abide by the 3‐metre distance rule, thus hampering nesting and hatching. Sunbed collection was not standardised: sometimes they were stacked at the back of the beach (left figure) and on other occasions all the sunbeds were placed in a row at the back of the beach (right figure), obstructing nesting at the upper part of the beach.

Fig. 6 & 7. July 2011. Fethiye, SPA. Çalış. Sunbeds were not collected every night.

Fig. 9. July 2011. Fethiye, SPA. Çalış. Section B. False carpeting was not removed from the nesting beach in the Ciftlik area.

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Update on Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Conservation Monitoring in Fethiye, Turkey MEDASSET ‐ Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles

Fig 10. July 2011. Fethiye, SPA. Çalış. Section B. Wooden pathway in front of Surf Cafe was not removed but dug into the beach.

Fig 11. July 2011. Fethiye, SPA. Çalış. Section B. Two signs were installed onto the nesting beach. A more appropriate location would be at the entrance of the beach, so that the public is informed about the existing regulations prior to their entry.

Fig 12. July 2011. Fethiye, SPA. Yanıklar. One sign was installed onto the nesting beach, instead of at the entrance of the beach. Note vehicle tracks next to the sign.

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Update on Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Conservation Monitoring in Fethiye, Turkey MEDASSET ‐ Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles

Fig 13 & 14. July 2011. Fethiye, SPA. Çalış. Section B. Excavator digging ditches at the upper part of the beach during the nesting and hatching period.

Fig 15‐17. July 2011. Fethiye, SPA. Çalış. Section B. Huge ditches at the upper part of the beach were dug in order to impede beach access by vehicles. This is a highly inappropriate and damaging management measure.

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Update on Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Conservation Monitoring in Fethiye, Turkey MEDASSET ‐ Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles

Fig 18. July 2011. Fethiye, SPA. Akgöl. Wooden stakes Fig 19. July 2011. Fethiye, SPA. Akgöl. Wooden next to the river bed; note vehicle ruts ending in front stake has been removed. of stakes.

Fig.20 & 21. July 2011. Fethiye, SPA. Akgöl. New vehicle entrances to the nesting beach.

Fig.22 & 23. July 2011. Fethiye, SPA. Akgöl. A large amount on vehicle tracks along the entire nesting beach was recorded.

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Update on Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Conservation Monitoring in Fethiye, Turkey MEDASSET ‐ Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles

Fig.24. July 2011. Fethiye, SPA. Yanıklar.

Loggerhead nest run over by vehicle.

Fig 25. July 2011. Fethiye, SPA. Yanıklar. Tractor on nesting beach.

Fig 26. July 2011. Fethiye, SPA. Çalış. Light pollution along the promenade area of Çalış (Section A).

Nesting occurs just in front of this area.

Fig. 27 & 28. July 2011. Fethiye, SPA. Çalış. Section B. Dead hatchlings run over by cars in front of Sunset Apartments.

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Update on Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Conservation Monitoring in Fethiye, Turkey MEDASSET ‐ Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles

Fig. 29. July 2011. Fethiye, SPA. Yanıklar. Rubbish can be found along the entire nesting beach.

Fig. 30. July 2011. Fethiye, SPA. Çalış. Section B. The nesting beach is littered with rubbish that is not collected.

Fig. 31. July 2011. Fethiye, SPA. Yanıklar. Volleyball pitch on nesting beach in front of Hotel Lykia Botanica that is also used at night.

Fig. 32‐34. August 2011. Fethiye, SPA. Akgöl. Bulldozer dug ditch behind nesting beach and filled it with bags full of collected rubbish.

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Update on Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Conservation Monitoring in Fethiye, Turkey MEDASSET ‐ Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles ANNEX: EPASA REPLY TO MEDASSET

TURKISH REPUBLIC MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTRY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY FOR SPECIAL AREAS

No : B.18.1.OÇK.0.07.00.01.230.99/ Subject : Sea Turtles on Fethiye beaches

27/06/2011

MEDITERRANEAN ASSOCIATION TO SAVE THE SEA TURTLES (MEDASSET) This letter is written as a reply to your electronic mail dated May 16, 2011 addressing the problems related to sea turtles on Fethiye beach.

Please find the below information on the issues you have raised in your letter.

1. “Monitoring and Conservation Project for Population of Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas) and Soft-shelled Nile Turtles (Trionyx triunguis) in Beaches of Fethiye-Göcek Special Environmental Protected Area” has been continuing since 1989, as one of the continuous projects of our Agency in the 8.3 km length beach located within Fethiye-Göcek Special Environmental Protected Area (SEPA), and we are also financing the project in 2011 in accordance with the “Action Plan” and terms of references prepared by our Agency last year.

2. As we do respect the suggestions and comments of the both national and international NonGovernmental Organizations (NGO) such as MEDASSET, we have been financing this year project and we have already contracted to, as a result of the auctioning procedure, Turkish Association for the Conservation of Nature (www.ttkder.org.tr), which is a NGO and an IUCN member. The contract officially signed on 16th of June 2011.

3. Our local office staffs have been controlling the beach as part of the “Action Plan” and taking necessary steps for the implementation prior the nesting season. On the one hand this process while in progress, two persons (1 biologist and another person responsible for the public awareness) started monitoring the beach and turtle activities since the beginning of June 2011. At the moment, there are 20 nests recorded. The project teams now officially consists of 4 people and between 5 and 15 national and international University students, as volunteers, are going to join to the beach monitoring for turtle activities.

4. Our regional Office had two pre-nesting season meetings with all relevant Governmental officers, representatives of the regional NGOs and all other stakeholders. The NGOs are collaborating with us on these projects are working with the academicians from Universities. This year, the project will be directed by Assoc. Prof Dr. Yakup KASKA, an expert on sea turtles from Pamukkale University, and his team. He is also the director of the Sea Turtle Research, Rescue and Rehabilitation center (DEKAMER) on Dalyan beach. The monitoring and conservation studies are both continuously controlled by our central Agency and local office staffs. Our conservation and monitoring studies are open to observations of the local, national and international NGOs. 5. The dockyard plan on Akgol region is still under the consideration with related laws for the 13

Update on Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Conservation Monitoring in Fethiye, Turkey MEDASSET ‐ Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles Environmental Impact Assessments.

The utilization of the umbrellas and beach-chairs on the beach and other improvements carried out by our Agency are summarized below.

1. There are only two rows of the beach umbrellas allowed on Çalış beach. The first raw is at the back, within the 3 meters from the wall behind the beach. The second raw is near the sea and within the five meters from sea. All the beach-chairs, in this second row, are taken to the back row at nights.

The beach zone between these two rows of umbrellas is closed to the usage of umbrellas and/or beach chairs. This zone, designated as nesting zone, is also closed for the sunbathing and between 4 and 10 staffs are patrolling the beach and making the necessary warnings (Figure 1a,b).

2. All the carpets and wood walkways are removed in the nesting zones all along the beach.

3. Only two rows of the beach umbrellas and beach-chairs are allowed at the back of the beach, at the hotels on Yanıklar beach. No umbrellas and beach-chairs allowed in the nesting zone.

4. The cages were put on the nests recorded in the touristic zones for public awareness and for the protection of the nest.

5. The Sea Turtle Information Office on Çalış beach is open every night in order to give information to the both local and foreign tourists. The project team is also going to organize monthly meetings with all the stakeholders of the beach and their personnel and tourists and gave information to them about the sea turtles.

6. The engine type of the water sport boats acting in the region is started to transfer to water pushing model as holding a protective cage around the propellers. The transferring of this model for the remaining water sport boats are also in progress and it has been under our consideration as an Agency.

7. All the visible lights of the hotels and restaurants from the beaches are removed, screened and/or painted as black. The project team is also informing to our regional office if they discover any light affecting the turtles and we ask the managers in an official way to remove, filter and permanently turn it off during the turtle nesting season.

8. A coordination team has been formed as consist of the representative members of the of NGOs, related governmental offices and hoteliers at the beginning of 2011.Our regional office is running the secretary of this coordination team and seeking solutions with the involvement of the stakeholders for the problems raised.

9. The information signs were put on Çalış, Yanıklar and Kargı beaches (Figure 2a,b).

10. The volleyball pitches on Kargı and Yanıklar beaches are removed (Figure 3).

We believe that we need to provide you more information about our Agency’s monitoring and conservation studies. We would like to provide you this information and show our efforts on site and get your feedback and suggestions when it is convenient for you.

I would be very happy to see you in our Country to see these projects on site.

Sincerely Yours, Ahmet ÖZYANIK Head of Agency

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Update on Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Conservation Monitoring in Fethiye, Turkey MEDASSET ‐ Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles

Fig 1a. The beach usage on Çalış Beach and Beach guards on patrol.

Fig 1b. Beach usage on Çalış beach.

Fig 2 a. The information sign put on Kargı sub-section of the Fethiye beach.

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Update on Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Conservation Monitoring in Fethiye, Turkey MEDASSET ‐ Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles

Fig 2 b. The information sign put on Çalış beach.

Fig 3. The removal of Voleyball posts and nets on Yanıklar beach.

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