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Marine Turtle Conservation in the Mediterranean:

Update on Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Conservation Monitoring in Fethiye, Turkey

MEDASSET - The Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles

March 4th 2011

Submitted to

The Bureau Meeting of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention)

The Republic of Turkey Ministry of Environment and Forestry - Environmental Protection Agency for Special Areas

MEDASSET hereby submits its comments on the document “Monitoring and Conservation Project (Caretta caretta,

Chelonia mydas) and Nile Turtle (Trionyx Triunguis) Population” distributed by the Turkish Delegation at the 30th

Standing Committee Meeting of the Bern Convention (6-9 December 2010, Strasbourg) in light of the discussion on

item 6.5 of the Meeting’s Agenda: Follow-up of previous Recommendations: Implementation of Recommendation

No. 66 (1998) on the conservation status of some nesting beaches for marine turtles in Turkey”. The Turkish

Delegation document is annexed to this short report. The below comments to the report concern information

regarding Fethiye nesting beaches only.

Several nesting records on Fethiye reported in the table “Number of nesting areas of Caretta caretta by years”

of the abovementioned report are totally incorrect (in red and bold). The below table provides the correct

numbers as per the 2010 IUCN report (in bold italics).

NESTS RECORDED IN FETHIYE

Year

2010 Turkish Delegation Report to

the Standing Committee

2010 IUCN Report

1993 122 118

1994 281 158

1995 697 191

1996 147 88

1997 196 95

1998 97 93

1999 273 100

2000 248 110

2001 123 114

2002 84 84

2003 106 106

2004 85 58

2005 80 80

2006 72 72

2007 106 106

2008 79 79

2009 90 90

2010 93 93

Mean value 165.5 102

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It should also be noted that the number of nesting sites in Turkey has been revised. The Baran & Kasparek 1989

survey identified 17 important nesting beaches; Turkozan and Kaska (IUCN report, 2010) indicate that 4

additional important nesting sites have been identified since 1989 in Turkey, bringing the total to 21.

COMMENTS ON THE SECTION “FETHIYE-GOCEK 2010 SUMMARY” OF THE REPORT SUMBITTED BY THE TURKISH

DELEGATION

Point 3 of the summary report: When compared to other beaches in Turkey (Cirali, Dalaman, Belek, Akyatan,

Anamur, Dalyan, Demirtas and Gazipasa; Bolton & Witherington, 2003), the original nest numbers recorded at

Fethiye make it of primary importance. With what criterion has it been declared of “secondary” importance in

this report? Özdemir et al. 2007 state that “Fethiye Beach represents one of the most important nesting sites of

loggerhead turtles” and “its importance increases because of the relatively higher proportion of male-producing

nests (35%-40% of the hatchlings were males during the period 2000-2002) than other Turkish beaches.”

The mean value of nests in Fethiye (165.5) deriving from the incorrect data in the table “Number of nesting

areas of Caretta caretta by years” of the report is clearly incorrect. Türkozan (2006) and Ilgaz et al. (2007) show

that the mean number of nests in Fethiye is 105, which largely agrees with the value in point 3 of the 2010

summary report (108.9). However, the Turkish report fails to recognise that the nest numbers are decreasing

and there is no mention or explanation for the decrease of nest numbers in Fethiye.

Point 13 & 15: Although the report mentions that hatchling success reaching the sea is about 83.7%, it fails to

note that, due to the extreme light pollution and heavy disturbance due to tourism and other activities,

almost all hatchlings at Calis have to be collected and brought to a darker part of the beach, where they can find

their own way to the sea. In addition, the hatchling mortality at Calis beach would possibly be nearly 100% if

protective cages were not placed on each nest and guarded for the entire incubation period. Also, the report

does not indicate that a major cause of hatchling mortality at Yaniklar beach is erosion: the hatchlings get stuck

in between cobbles, partly due to the sand mining occurring on the beach.

Point 17: “The foremost factor of decrease is the hatchling success of the sea turtle nests in Fethiye Beach is the

high ratio of egg decaying (20.9%)”: The author does not provide egg decay ratios from other nesting beaches in

Turkey in order to justify why the ration in Fethiye is considered high. In addition, the ratio of egg decay at

Fethiye beach is not the foremost factor for the reported decrease in hatchling numbers. Sand mining over the

past years may be another significant reason for the decay of eggs, as this changes the structure of the beach.

In conclusion, the report misses virtually all the critical elements that are causing the scientifically proven nesting

decline at Fethiye SPA: light pollution; unlimited vehicle and visitor beach access at night; dense rows of beach

furniture; waste pollution on the beach; absence of information signs; tree planting on the beach; and the plan to

build a dry dock facility in Akgöl, among other developments.

REFERENCES

CASALE P. & MARAGARITOULIS D. (Eds.) 2010. Sea turtles in the Mediterranean: Distribution, threats and

conservation priorities. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. 257-294

ILGAZ C, O. TÜRKOZAN, A. ÖZDEMIR, Y. KASKA, M. STACHOWITSCH. 2007. Population decline of loggerhead turtles:

two potential scenarios for Fethiye beach, Turkey. Biodiversity and Conservation 16, 1027–1037.

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MARGARITOULIS D., ARGANO R., BARAN I., BENTIVEGNA F., BRADAI M., CAMINAS J.A., CASALE P., DE METRIO G.,

DEMETROPOULOS A., GEROSA G., GODLEY B.J., HADDOUD D.A.,HOUGHTON J., LAURENT L.,LAZAR B. 2003:

Loggerhead Turtles in the Mediterranean Sea: Present Knowledge and Conservation Perspectives. In: Bolton A.B. &

Witherington B.E. (eds.) Loggerhead Sea Turtles, Smithsonian Institution pp. 175-231

ÖZDEMIR A., TÜRKOZAN O., GÜÇLÜ Ö. 2007: Embryonic Mortality in loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) Nests: A

comparative study on Fethiye and Göksu Delta Beaches. Turkish Journal of Zoology 32: 287-292

TÜRKOZAN O. 2006. Preliminary Results for the population trends of two index beaches, Fethiye and Dalyan, Trukey,

in: Frick, M., A. Panagopoulou, A. Rees and K. Williams (eds). Book of Abstracts - 26th Annual Symposium on Sea

Turtle Biology and Conservation, p. 330.

DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED

(September 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

(March 2010) Summary of follow-up actions to the Complaint submitted to the Bern Convention on 02-09-2009: Turkey: Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) in Fethiye.

(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

(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

Monitoring and Consery{tiorr Project for Selt l nftb (Cuntlla ctnllt4t, Chelottfu m!11,1) Ln l Nilc

Aur e(Tt itrtvx tritutgrri$) Population

, iir" ..,: tl

(Seventeen ar€as)have been localized in oLrr country fof nesting ofthe sea turtles. Thifteen of thesebEache! have primafy inrpo[ar)ce and 5 of thert (Kdycegiz-Dalyan, Iiethiye-G6cel(, Gdksll Deltasr,Belel( and Patafa SEPAs) are Special Environlnental Protection Afeas.

Continuous ffonitofing studies have beerr carried out within their reproductiolr period siDceestablishment ofOur Agency ( 1989). Ainr ofthese studies is i

. to reduce adverce effects of activities ou sea tuftles on beaches in SpecialEnvironmental Protection Arcas (SEPAS) to nininrum,

. to irrplenent r leoessary measurcs within the balance of conservation-use, maiDtainirgnordtorillg studies for population stafted in the previolrli yeam,

. to ensure that problems b6sed pon that toLrrism activities in the region coiicides withnestiIg afeas ofsea tuftles are resolved by nrear]s oftraining and raisirlg awareness.

Monitoring and Marhing Studies on Populntion

During studies made at Dight, mature feruales going out in order to lay in the field aredetermined, their measurement is made and then marked. During studies performed in the daytime every day, Dests of turtles going out the night before are marked and GPS ofthese nestsare recorded, Contlolling lests determined before, data related to pfedation, hatchlingerlergelrcigs and coDtlol openings are lecorded.

Predators and Predstion

Camela is set tlp on beach in order to watch mammals damaging nests and other species atnight. Thercfore infornration about population ofpredators damaging nests are obtained.

Digital maps with scale of 1/25.000 ofnesting areas ofspecies are produced.

I|rfbrnration Saudics

At peak hoLLrs ofbeaches. Local comnrunity and visiton coming tc' beach are informed aboutstlLdies carricd oulgpd sca turtles.

Sea Turtle Rescarch, Rcscue, Rehabilitation and Information Center

A protocol has bccn signed in iztuzu Beach of KtiyceEiz-Dalyar SEPA by EPASA, GencmlDireclorate of Nalure Protectio|r and National Parks, Dalyan Mtunicipality, and PamLrkkaleUniversity for necessary response to the injured sea tutles. This protocol came into force on01.01.2009 and The Sea Turtle Research, Rescue, Rehabilitation and lnformation Centre(DEKAMIIR) starled to strLdies.

The Sea Turtlo Research, Rescue, Rehabilitation and Infornation Centre (DEKAMER) onDalyan beach rcceived 12 injured turtles in 2010. 7 ofthese released back to the sea and 3 arestil under rchabilitation but 2 of them urdbrlunately died. Also,a satellite transmitter wereattached to one loggerhead sea turtLe lested on Dalyan beach and a female green sea turtlebrought liom Italy and their mi$ation roules in Mediterrenean are being followed.

In 2008. Dalyar beach was awarded "Bcst Open Space Europe 2008" prize by Magazine"The Timcs".

2.

Nutltbct oJ ttc$ting !ren! oJ Cuella carctla hJ, Jtea$

Dalyan-lztvzrrSEPA

PatriiF, .'

StrPAllolekS[PA

GiiksuDeltaslSEPA

Fethiye-GticekSEPA

1989 93

1990 5 / 5|l

199r 210 117

1992 89

1993 246 85

1994 91 36 2al

1995 697

1996 104 35 153 36 147

1997 r46 158 196

1998 64 286 94 97

1999 210 79 476 t1a

2000 257 87 490 248

2001 150 85 479 1 t l

2002 286 8 l s88 84

2003 7 \ ) 554 106

2004 ,|, 409 137 85

2005 221 83 434 150 80

2006 269 t21 819 l l 9 72

2007 274 ,7,, 888 106

2008 27'7 109 q10 t02 79

2009 291 94 574, , _ 107 eq

2010 354 116 703 185

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lvfonitorirg rId (:r,nscrvttknr Itrojcsl lbr Sca l urllcs (Cl,/s//t! c(rclt(, Chehui! n.v/l/r) rrrl(l Nilc' l' n lles ('l'r i o n.r x t I i u tt grr'r) Popuhtion

Fethiye-Giicek 2010

SUMMAIIY

Rcgaldilg thc studies cafried olrt on Fethiye Beach between the dates.l[0e l2th 2010 -Seotember I 5th 2010:

l- 160 (:aretta c.r"erLl emergenccs have been deternined during the tield studiesoondLrcted on lrethiye Bcach in 2010. Of thcse emcrgencos. 95 (59.4%) have resulledin nesls, whefeas 65 (40,6%) have not resulted in nests (l1on-neslcd tracks). 'fwo

Chelonict mydu; emergences have been determined during the field studies conductedon Fethiye Beach in 2010. Ofthese erncrgences, one have resulted in nests. whereasonc havc nol resulted in nests (non-nested tracks).No nosls or non-nested traoks ofeither Ti iottyc triungtli,i were encountcrcd duling or.u field studies.

2- Nesting dcnsity has been detemined as I 1,4 nests/km f(t Carellct caretta along thelotal 01 8.3 lsn long studied Felhiyo Beach.

3- According to Canbolat, 2004, annual nean nesting density for a. carel/,l on FethiyeBeach is given as 108.9 nests/year regarding the evaluatiorl ol studies conducted on allnesting arcas in'l'urkey betwoen 1987-2000. Canbolat (11004) has classified FethiyeBeach as a "Nestino Site all Sqc-oodary llnp_ortance" lor C. cdrella according to thisevaluation. As fot this study conducted in 2010, anrlual nesting number for C c4le//,1has been detennined as 95 nests/year. Outcone of this year is close to the evaluationof Canbolat (2004).

4- During the tleld studies condrLcled or Fethiye Beach in 2010, 6 adtlt C. carettalemales have been tagged.

5- Ol'1he Cl. c./rclt4 nests determinled on l'ethiye Beach,40,0% have been caged againstpossibLe human based damage with prism cages.

o ' Gl,Of ,l" C. c4r?rid nesls deterninecl on Fethiye Beach, two nests lras been encounteredV it'r zoto.

7- Of the C. carella nests determined on Fethiye Beach, 100,0"/0 have resulted inhatchlilg emergence.

8- Of the C c(lrctla \esls determined on Fethiye Beach,2,lVo have bee[ subjected todecaying of the entire clutch.

9- Due to the risk ofwashing effect ofthe wavcs tltat may result in decaying ofthe entireclutch.0,0olo of lhe C. caretla \1ests have been relocated and ca ied 10 suitable areasliLrther from the sea.

10- 12 eggs predated has been observed on the eggs ofc carella Dests on Fethiye BeachNevertheless. larval damage on the eggs has been dete nined inside the nesls.

I l- Hatchling emergence success ofthe eggs left in (-l caretta nests on Fethiye Beach hasbeen deten'nined as 79,070.

l2-Decaying densil) ' ol ' thc cggs in ('. turtt!tt nesLsdetermined as 2 i.0%.

l3-lor thc (l rrr-?//,r hatchlings crl lerging flom theirBeach. success to reach the sca has been deterrninedmonality on the way 1() the sea has been dctermined as

olr lrclhiyc Bcach lras bcen

nesrs along ihi 6irir. n"rniy.as 83,79lo, whereas the ratio of16,3%.

14-Ofthe C. crl/'?I/a hatchlings emerging fiotl (heir nests on Fetlliyo Beach.80,57o havcofiented towtuds the directioDs labelLed as Y2+Y3 (exDected [atufal orientationdirections), whereas 19,5% have ofienled towards other dircctions.

15- According to the dala obtained from tl,e hatchling olifl'ltation sludies, succcss ofrcaching the sea for the halchLi[gs leaving tlreir nests has treen clctemrined as 80,070.

16- Fof the tolal ol 7.695 eggs deposited lD the C. cdretta nesls on Fethiye Beach, thenumbef ofhalchlings reaching the sea has been caLculated as 4.949 (64,37o).

17-'fhc fofemost lhctor to decrease the hatchling success oI tlre sea turtlc nosts oD FethiyeBeach is thc high ratio ofegg decaying (20,9%).

Training and Inlbrmatory Studies

A booth was established in the mo[ths between June and September in 2010 al theinformation center fbunded in (lalg district fot local people. staff and managers of tourisml'acilities. native and loreign beach uscrs. ID this booth, the film introd[cing sea turlles wasshown; posteN, stickers and leaflets werg distribuled.Anong thc aclivilies ol Mobile Transporter for Environmental Training, the booth of EPASAtook place as weil and inlbrmatory studies were carried out.

Under the organization and coordination of IIPASA Mulla Direolorate; three distinctmectings were held wilh the padicipation of

1. the pcoplo living on tourism in qahg, Fethiyc.2. the related public irslitutions and local authorities,3. tl,e people living on toudsm ir Yanlldar and NGOs.

In the meetings, the ideas were exchanged with the pafiicipants on;

l. the l'nbitats olsea turtles a[d lil'e cycle ofthe species,2. the measurements to be taken in order to conserve the sDecies.3. the responsibilities of public institutions,4. the Dleasurements to be taken by the people living on tourism during their activities on

the beaches. Protection and usage principles ofthe beacheri where defined as tudlesbreeding area,

5. problerns faced in the area and suggested solutiotls,6. the protection pfogram planned to be implemented in next year-

After these meetings in September'2010, in another neeting was held with the paticipation ofall ofthe people livi[g on tourism in the area, the infonnation on Conservation Aclion Plan ofSea Turtles that is planncd to be inplenented in next y€ar was given.