Ecological Research Association (EKAD) teams continue their work within the scope of the Sea Turtle Research, Monitoring and Protection Project in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks and TÜPRAG Metal Mining. Within the scope of this project, important data is obtained in the region with the studies carried out on Kızılot beach in the Manavgat district.
Details of the Studies
The project is carried out by the Association President Ali Fuat Canbolat and coordinated by Fatih Polat. Underwater documentary producer and cinematographer Tahsin Ceylan and Fatih Polat filmed the nesting area of the caretta carettas in the Kızılot region with special equipment and red light. These images recorded turtles coming from the sea, digging nests on the beach, laying eggs and returning to the sea. It was found remarkable that some turtles returned to the sea without laying eggs.
During the studies, it was observed that turtles panicked in white light and turned away. For this reason, the shooting was done under red light, which sea turtles cannot sense.
The Situation of Sea Turtles
Sea turtles are going through a difficult process due to the human impact on their natural habitat. It is known that only two out of every thousand individuals can survive. Therefore, conservation and research projects are of great importance.
Tahsin Ceylan states that sea turtles return to the sea from the beaches where they were born and that this process is critical. The protection of safe habitats is vital for the continuation of the turtles’ generation.
Project Results and Future Goals
Project coordinator biologist Fatih Polat states that they have reached the fourth season of the project, which started in 2021, and that there has been a record increase in the number of nests this year. The number of nests, which was 1,700 in 2023, has increased to 2,000 this year. In addition, nearly 20 sea turtles, including green sea turtles, have been identified.
Polat emphasizes that due to climate change and coastal habitats, turtles are migrating intensively to the Turkish coasts and this situation increases the number of nests on the beaches. He states that the project will continue its work on the protection and research of sea turtles in the future.
