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.
Gökova Stakeholders Solution Analysis Meetings Completed
Gökova Stakeholders Solution Analysis Meetings were held on 9-10-11th June 2010 in Akyaka and Gökova Districts of Muğla Province, within the context of “Gökova SEPA Integrated Coastal and Marine Management Project” (Gökova ICMM Project) conducted in the partnership of Underwater Research Society – Mediterranean Monk Seal Research Group and Rubicon Foundation.
Coastal Zone Classification Field Study Completed
In the field study conducted between 12-15th June 2010, the study team comprising of Semiha Demirbaş, Eren Özden, Eray Çağlayan and Murat Ataol examined all the coasts within Gökova Bay included in the boundaries of Gökova SEPA, cruising approximately 78 nautical miles, on the first day of which related experts from EPASA, Emrah Manap, Suda Ekici and Nurhan Şen also participated. The study was based on the coastal classification in the Standard Data Entry Form developed according to the Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean and the Action plan for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Sustainable Development of the Coastal Areas of the Mediterranean (MAP Phase II), adopted by the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention in 1995. The coastal habitats were classified according to their typological characteristics as coastal wetlands, salt marshes, sand dunes, sand and shingle beaches, sea cliffs and rocky shores, together with the vegetation classified according to the biogeographical variation of the Mediterranean region.
It was observed that the study area is mainly composed of rocky shores, but especially a part of the northern coast and Çatı site in the southern coast have eroded rocky shore formations. Steep cliffs in these areas, wetlands in river deltas, and reed fields in the areas of carstic water occurance are the main indicators of the region. Besides these, an important characteristic of the coast line is represented by a number
of shingle rubbish formations. Piers, binding and anchoring locations of boats and yatches and the other antropogenic facilities such as beaches, campings, restaurants and settlements in the coastal zone were also recorded during the field study.
Habitat destruction in the southern coasts of Gökova Plain
Comprehensive biological diversity studies are carried out in Gökova Plain since January 2009 and additionally possible threats directed to the natural areas evaluated within this field studies as well. As acting on a tip-off acquired at May 13, 2010, it’s seen a valuable coastal line iin the area s filled up with solid as an act against the legislation and heavy construction equipments were working on the nearby wet-land.
