Sea turtles are under human threat

In the Aegean Region, which hosts the important tourism resorts of Turkey, the garbage left on the beaches threatens the lives as well as the visual pollution it creates. EKODOSD President Bahattin Sürücü reminded that garbage should not be left on the beaches in order not to harm the endemic seagrass and the sea turtles that feed there.

Ecosystem Conservation and Nature Lovers Association (EKODOSD), which carries out important works for the protection of the historical and natural beauties of Aydın, pointed out the human pressure on the Aegean coasts and stated that the garbage thrown around threatens the beaches. EKODOSD President Bahattin Sürücü pointed out that seagrasses and, in parallel, underwater life are under threat due to coastal pollution, human-induced deaths of caretta caretta sea turtles, which use the Kuşadası Bay as a feeding area, continue. A sensitive citizen named Metin Irmak, who was cruising in the sea off the coast of Kuşadası, noticed a sea turtle standing still on the water and reported the situation to the Ecosystem Conservation and Nature Lovers Association (EKODOSD). EKODOSD President Bahattin Sürücü, who went to the region upon the notice, stated that they thought that the dead turtle, which was found dead after his examination, was caught in the ghost net as bycatch and drowned.

“Nylon bags cause the death of sea turtles”
Emphasizing that many turtles lose their lives as bycatch every year, Sürücü; “A sea turtle was reported dead on the water surface while cruising in the sea by the sensitive nature lover Metin Irmak. It was determined that the sea turtle is a Caretta caretta species, necessary measurements were made, tissue and keratin samples were taken. No incisions or bruises were found in the examination of the turtle. Sea turtles usually die by suffocation when they accidentally get caught in the net because they cannot get to the water surface to breathe. Ghost nets left under water threaten the life of many sea creatures, especially sea turtles. Citizens who come to the beaches to swim and sunbathe during the summer months, fill the beaches at night in order to relax and rest with the effect of the heat. Although awareness and sensitivity to the environment have increased today, all wastes are left on the shores after being eaten and drunk by some unconscious people. As a result of this human-induced pollution, many waste materials are transported to the sea. Especially since the nylon plastic bags in the sea are swallowed by sea turtles, mistaking them for jellyfish, they cause the death of these creatures.

“We must take care to keep our shores clean”
While the flowering sea plant of the Mediterranean, which is endangered and found only in the Aegean and Mediterranean, is among the endemic species, EKODOSD called for protection for the endemic plant, which is defined as the forest of the sea. Noting that the flowering sea plant of the Mediterranean, posidonia oceanica, which is on the protection list of the World Union for Conservation of Nature, is disappearing day by day due to boat anchors and waste, EKODOSD President Bahattin Sürücü said; “Destruction of seagrass is equivalent to deforestation in forests”

In addition, Sürücü pointed out that the coast of Kuşadası is a region rich in sea; “The coasts of Kuşadası have areas rich in seagrass called posidonia oceanica, the flowering sea plant of the Mediterranean that allows sea creatures to reproduce and feed. Seagrass are very important for the nutrition of green sea turtles, which are herbivorous species. Carettas hunt in seagrass, while feeding, hundreds of tiny creatures feed on the crumbs spilled from their mouths. When these wastes left on the beach are transported to the sea, they negatively affect both the plant and many sea creatures, especially sea turtles, since they cover the sea noodles underwater. Being aware of all this, we should take care to keep our coasts clean, throw our wastes in the garbage containers located nearby, and warn those who do not.