Summaries of STRT Project Reports 

1) Canbolat, A.F., 1999, The Investigation of Sea Turtle Populations in Köyceğiz-Dalyan and Patara Specially Protected Areas, Final Report, Ministry of Environment APSA, Ankara, 73 p.

The Investigation of Sea Turtle Populations in Köyceğiz-Dalyan and Patara Specially Protected Areas 

Summary of Project Report 

Field studies of 1999 in Dalyan and Patara Special Protection Areas started on June 15th, 1999 and were finished on September 15th-20th, 1999. In this research, number of Caretta caretta emergences observed in Dalyan Beach was 871 with 276 ( 31.69%) resulting in nests while it was 264 for Patara Beach 79 (29.92%) of which resulted in nests. Caretta caretta nesting was determined to reach the highest density ratios during June in Dalyan and during July in Patara. The densest nesting activity was observed in Boğaz section in Dalyan Beach and in both the southeastern part and sections near Stream Esen in Patara Beach. Average distance of nests from the sea was 16.32 m for Dalyan while it was 32.58 m for Patara.

Nests in Dalyan Beach were exposed to high predation ratio of about 55.07%. On the other hand, predation ratio on nests in Patara Beach was about 27.85. The increasing fox predation in Küçük Kumsal (small beach) section of Dalyan causes a great decline in hatchling productivity that Dalyan beach has had of very high percentages for previous years. It has come up that taking immediate measures against high predation ratios affecting the hatchling productivity especially in Dalyan beach is an obligation.

Regarding this year’s data, the ratio of nests with hatchlings is 44.20% in Dalyan Beach and 60.76% in Patara Beach.

The means and necessary measures to be taken in order to preserve Caretta caretta adults, nests, eggs and hatchlings in Dalyan and Patara Beaches are described in “Conservation and Management” section.

2) Canbolat, A.F., 2000, Conservation of Belek Sea Turtles '99, Final Report, Belek Tourism Investors Association (BETUYAB), Ankara, 142 p.

Conservation of Belek Sea Turtles '99

Summary of Project Report

Belek province has been chosen as the research area, regarding the results of the studies in 1996-1998 showing that it hosts approximately 20% of the total nesting potential of Caretta caretta (Yerli and Canbolat, 1998a,b; Yerli et al., 1998) among 17 beaches (Baran and Kasparek, 1989) determined as nesting sites. During the breeding season in 1999, 612 Caretta caretta nests have been determined in the region on a 29.5 km long beach, which is located between Aksu River on the west and Sarısu River on the east. These results in terms of total number of nests revealed that Belek region is the second largest sea turtle nesting area in the Mediterranean after Zakynthos Island of Greece.

The most important sections in terms of local distribution of nests in Belek are determined to be the sections between Köprüçay-Burun (%30.4), Siteler-Köprüçay (%18.0) and Kum Tepesi-Siteler (%13.7) while the most important sections in terms of nesting density are the sections between Siteler-Köprüçay (110.0 nests/km), Köprüçay-Burun (44.3nests/km) and Kum Tepesi-Siteler (30.0 nests/km).

The ratio of predated nests in the whole region is determined as 42.7% while the ratio of nests with hatchling emergence is 49.4%. The most important natural factor affecting the hatchling success of the nests in the region is determined to be fox predation, whereas the human originated negative factors are determined to be related with the usage of beach equipment such as sun parasols and chaise lounges, arbours and the traffic on the beach.

Artificial lighting from tourism establishments, summer houses and vehicle traffic in the region have a disorientating effect on the hatchlings by misdirecting them instead of heading towards the sea besides affecting the local distribution of nesting activity. Death ratios are determined to increase among hatchlings disoriented by artificial lights when compared to the ones heading directly towards the sea.

Regarding the scientific data obtained, necessary general and regional conservation-management plans are made to preserve the potential circumstance of the sea turtle population in the region, to normalize the hatchlings success, to prevent the disorientation of hatchlings and to minimize the negative effects.

The following necessary and highly applicable management plans are suggested for coastal and beach usage:

In the content of general approach for the conservation of sea turtles in the region;

- To establish a particular committee in the province named "The Committee for Monitoring and Evaluating the Sea Turtles of Antalya"

- "Revision of Regional Planning" such as reinsuring the section between Köprüçay-Sarısu back in to the scope of APSA (Authority for the Protection of Special Areas) that had been excluded and reserved as a Tourism Development Area 

- To establish a "Sea Turtle Research, Conservation, Rehabilitation and Education Center" regarding the importance of nesting sites in and around Belek region.

In the content of regional approach for the conservation of sea turtles in the region;

- To prevent the possible adult deaths in the region

- To ensure the continuing of nestings

- To increase the hatchling success

- To prevent the disorientation of hatchlings

3) Canbolat, A.F., 2000, Project for Monitoring Sea Turtles in Belek Specially Protected Area, Final Report, Ministry of Environment APSA, Ankara, 132 p.

Project for Monitoring Sea Turtles in Belek Specially Protected Area

Summary of Project Report

Extensive research by Canbolat (2000) has revealed that Belek Beach -which is approximately 29.5 kilometers long- is the second largest known nesting area for Caretta caretta in the whole Mediterranean after the Zakynthos Island of Greece. Data gained from the study conducted in the same region during the nesting season in year 2000 also verify the results of Canbolat (2000)'s study. These results put forward the strong need of paying more attention to the conservation studies in the region in order to preserve our coastal beauties and the sea turtles as one of our most important biological riches as well as to fulfill the responsibilities we have overtaken by signing international conventions.

In the Special Protection Area of 13.3 kilometers between Acısu River on the west and Sarısu River on the east, 490 Caretta caretta nests and 3 Chelonia mydas nests have been determined during the nesting season in year 2000. In Belek Specially Protected Area; sections between Köprüçay-Burun (29.8%), Siteler-Köprüçay (28.0%) and Kum Tepesi-Siteler (19.8%) have been defined as the most important areas in terms of local distribution of the nests; whereas sections between Siteler-Köprüçay (137.0 nests/km), Köprüçay-Burun (34.8 nests/km) and Kum Kepesi-Siteler (34.6 nests/km) have been determined to be the most important areas in terms of density of nesting activity. These results showed that the region is a "Primarily Vulnerable Region for Sea Turtles".

For the whole Specially Protected Area of Belek, the ratio of predated nests is determined as 28.1% while the ratio of nests with hatchling emergence is 62.0%. It has also been determined that the most important natural factor affecting the hatchling success of the nests is the fox predation, while the human resourced negative factors are related with the usage of beach equipment such as sun parasols and chaise-lounges as well as the arbours and the vehicle usage on the beach.

Artificial lights from tourism establishments, secondary residences and heavy vehicle usage; have a strong negative effect on the local distribution of the nests in relation with their density as well as causing disorientation on the hatchlings. A higher death ratio has been determined among hatchlings which have disoriented when compared to the hatchlings that have headed directly towards the sea.

In order to put the application programs suggested in this project into practice, it is a must to propose a workshop in Belek as soon as possible where all related persons, affiliations and institutions should attend.

4) Canbolat, A.F., 2000, 2nd Sub-project of Ecological Survey on the Conservation of Sea Turtles in Belek Beach-Antalya, Development Report, Ministry of Environment, General Directorate of Environment, Ankara, 130 p.

2nd Sub-project of Ecological Survey on the Conservation of Sea Turtles in Belek Beach-Antalya

Summary of Project Report

Data gained from Canbolat (2000a)'s study in the region in 1999 showed that Belek beach -which is approximately 29.5 kilometers long- is the second largest known nesting area for Caretta caretta in the whole Mediterranean after the Zakhynthos Island of Greece. Data gained from this study conducted in the region and in Special Protection Areas (Canbolat, 2000b) during the nesting season in year 2000 also verify the results of Canbolat (2000a)'s study. These results put forward the strong need of paying more attention to the conservation studies in the region in order to preserve our coastal beauties and the sea turtles as one of our most important biological riches as well as to fulfill the responsibilities we have overtaken in terms of signing international conventions.

In the area of 16.0 kilometers between Aksu River on the west and Acısu River on the east, 192 Caretta caretta nests and 5 Chelonia mydas nests have been determined during the nesting season in year 2000. In Belek Specially Protected Area; sections between Belpark-Acısu (38.0%) and Beşgöz-Asteria (32.3%) have been defined as the most important areas in terms of local distribution of the nests; whereas areas between Aksu-Beşgöz (19.2 nests/km) and Beşgöz-Asteria (17.7 nests/km) have been determined to be the most important areas in terms of the density of nesting activity.

For the whole Special Protected Area of Belek, the ratio of predated nests is determined as 29.0% while the ratio of nests with hatchling emergence is 61.5%. It has also been determined that the most important natural factor affecting the hatchling success of the nests is the fox predation, whereas the human resourced negative factors are related with the usage of beach equipment such as sun parasols and chaise-lounges as well as the arbours and vehicle usage on the beaches.

Artificial lights from tourism establishments, secondary residences and heavy vehicle usage; have a strong negative effect on the local distribution of the nests in relation with their density as well as causing disorientation on the hatchlings. A higher death ratio has been determined among hatchlings, which have disoriented when compared to the hatchlings that have headed directly towards the sea.

In order to put the application programs suggested in this project into practice, it is a must to propose a workshop in Belek as soon as possible where all related persons, affiliations and institutions should attend.

5) Canbolat, A.F., 2001, Biology, Conservation and Management of Caretta caretta in Belek Tourism Center, Belek Tourism Investors Association (BETUYAB) Publications, Ankara, in press.

Publications of Ali Fuat Canbolat, Ph.D

You may find all studies of Ali Fuat Canbolat, Ph.D since 1988 at yunus.hacettepe.edu.tr/~canbolat.