Türkiye's Antalya hotels protect sea turtle nests with new measures

In Antalya, nests identified by volunteers from the Ecological Research Association (EKAD) on the beaches of five-star hotels in the Kundu and Lara tourism regions are being carefully protected. Led by Dr. Ali Fuat Canbolat, a lecturer at Hacettepe University and EKAD President, the 'Sea Turtle Monitoring and Conservation Project' has been working along the 30-kilometer Belek beaches for 26 years. Efforts are made by academics and volunteers to help endangered loggerhead turtles (caretta caretta) from nests to the sea. This year, the project also extended to the beaches of hotels in the Lara and Kundu tourism regions. With permission from the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks and support from the Lara and Kundu Tourism Investors Associations, teams identified 400 nests on the beaches of tourist facilities and ensured their protection by the hotels. Hotels have started to pay attention to the use of lights and loungers on the beach at night and have trained their staff on the nesting and hatching process of loggerhead turtles. They have also placed informative signs in four different languages around the protected nests to warn tourists to be mindful of turtle nests. EKAD President Ali Fuat Canbolat expressed a desire to expand the 'Sea Turtle Friendly Tourism Facility' certification, supported by the TUI Care Foundation, from the Belek area to Lara and Kundu. Canbolat noted that the nests on the Lara and Kundu beaches are well protected by the hotels, with some even moving their umbrellas, loungers, and shades 35-40 meters back from the beach. He expects an increase in the number of nests due to improved attention to light usage. He expects an increase in the number of nests due to improved attention to light usage. Canbolat emphasized that Antalya is a crucial nesting area for loggerhead turtles. 'These facilities, which host millions of tourists annually, have a significant responsibility towards the turtles. Just as they warmly welcome their guests in five-star facilities, they need to show the same care for the sea turtles, the true owners of these beaches. We are seeing an increase in the care shown to the turtles in the region. The number of facilities receiving the Sea Turtle Friendly Tourism Facility certification will increase this year,' he said.