Category Archives: News
Two monk seal pups to be released
After having a rehab period of total 105 days, i.e. 3,5 months, two monk seal pups to be released on 2nd April 2011 along the pristine and remote coasts between Gazipaşa (Antalya) and Anamur (Mersin). The release area is among the 17 Important Monk Seal Sites in Türkiye as also accepted by National Monk Seal Committee member organizations coordinated by Turkish Ministry of Environment & Forest. The release shall be jointly realized by Ministry of Environment & Forest and its Izmir Province Directorate, Turkish Coast Guard and SAD-AFAG.
Two new orphan pups under rehab in Foça, Türkiye
Coast Guard Command and Gendarmery have informed SAD-AFAG about two monk seal (Monachus monachus) pups in 18th December 2010 from Bozyazı region, Mersin and Kas region, Antalya respectively. Meanwhile Mehmet Sarı has informed Ministry of Environment & Forest Mersin District Directorate about the seal pup found in Bozyazı. Upon arrival of SAD-AFAG rescue team on the sites, at 24.00 hours in 18th December and 03.30 hours in 19th December, both seals are met and first interventions were made succesfully by Vet Avni Gök, Ayhan Tonguç and Erkin Tonguç providing ORS. Ministry of Environment staff including a Vet assisted the transport of Mersin seal until Kemer town of Antalya to save time to meet SAD-AFAG rehab team on the half way as well as assisting the ORS application for the pups (see the map below). It is considered that the heavy storm happened in 15th December in the Mediterranean part of Türkiye may cause the seperation of mothers and pups who were found in the same day, 18th December. Both pups are female and estimated as 15-20 days old when they were found on site.
Monk seal pup rescued in Aydıncık, Mersin, Türkiye
A monk seal pup was found on the beach of Aydıncık, a small town west of Mersin, on 5.11.2010 by locals, who reported the incident via our AFBIKA program (Mediterranean Seal Information & Rescue Network) to Mehmet Sarı, the SAD-AFAG representative in the region, at around 08:00 hours. The pup was observed closely on and off at the same location throughout the day. It wandered away, disappeared and returned to the beach on several occasions, though no mother could be observed. On 6.11.2010, the SAD-AFAG rescue team arrived at 07:50 to find the pup on the same beach. Its overall health was good, with no signs of dehydration or apparent physical injury.
Captive dolphins rescued from Fethiye
Underwater Research Society (SAD)
PRESS RELEASE
20th September 2010
CAPTIVE DOLPHINS RESCUED; THEY WILL RETURN BACK TO THE BLUE
Two bottlenose dolphins, which have been kept in concrete pools for a long time for recreational purposes, were taken from the owners and moved to Gökova for rehabilitation by means of sea and land transportation on 5th September, 2010.
Gökova ICMM Project, Coastal Areas Management Planning and Zone Classification Meeting Held
The meeting entitled “Gökova ICMM Project Management Planning” was held on 27th July 2010 at the Underwater Research Society (SAD) Ankara Office with the participation of Cem Orkun Kıraç, Ozan Veryeri, Eren Özden and Semiha Demirbaş from SAD as of Gökova ICMM Project Team, SAD General Secretary Serpil Kozludere, the concerned specialists and planners and from Environmental Protection Agency for Special Areas (EPASA), Emrah Manap, Dilek Meral Erden, Sibel Meriç, and Ayhan Toprak from Environmental Protection Agency for Special Areas – Köyceğiz Directorate.
General information about the project, the activities carried out so far and the current position of the project was presented by the project manager, Ozan Veryeri, at the beginning of the meeting. GIS infrastructure of the project was shared with the participants by GIS
expert, Semiha Demirbaş.
The data obtained under the subjects of boat yards, fishing port, living-breeding habitats of the Mediterranean monk seal, sandbar sharks, birds and sea otters, no-take zones, fishing zones, anchoring areas for yachts and daily boat trips, areas of use for water sports were presented and the opinions for these subjects were shared mutually.
The table of activities currently carried out and with the possibility of implementation in Gökova Bay, prepared by Gökova project team, was presented to the participants during the meeting as comprising the related marine and coastal utilizations and the spatial usage decisions of these activities.
