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Turkey's beaches: Night closure to protect sea turtles!
Holidaymakers in Turkey must now avoid popular beaches at night to protect sea turtles during the breeding season.
Turkey's beaches: Night closure to protect sea turtles!
The popular beaches of the Turkish Mediterranean coast, especially in Antalya, are currently the focus of tourism. With the start of the summer season, flights to Turkey are increasing and many holidaymakers are looking forward to relaxing days by the sea.
But a new regulation has recently come into force that regulates access to certain beaches. From now on, the beaches of İztuzu, Patara and Çıralı are not allowed to be entered between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. This measure serves to protect the endangered sea turtle species Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas, which lay their eggs during this time. The breeding season runs from May to September, and the turtles bury their eggs at night, so people should stay away to avoid getting in the way of the animals.
Rules and consequences
The new regulations are clear and strict. Visitors must leave the beaches by 8 p.m. at the latest, and camping, barbecuing and driving vehicles are also prohibited during the night-time access closure. Violations can result in fines of up to 557,212 Turkish lira, which corresponds to around 16,000 euros.
These beaches are of great importance for sea turtles, and the Antalya region is considered particularly important for their reproduction. There are a total of 21 registered nesting beaches in Türkiye, nine of which are in the province of Antalya. A well-known nesting site is the 30-kilometer-long beach of Belek, where the first nests were discovered at the beginning of May and marked by conservationists from the EKAD organization.
Protective measures and appeal to holidaymakers
The EKAD organization is actively involved in protecting sea turtles and safeguards the clutches in order to minimize the impact of tourism. They appeal to locals and tourists to respect the new closing times and to actively contribute to the protection of sea turtles.
The night-time access ban to the beaches is not only a step to protect nature, but also a sign of responsible treatment of the environment in one of Turkey's most popular holiday destinations.