Scientific researches of STRT in Belek region have started with the financial support of Belek Tourism Investors Association (BETUYAB) in 1999. BETUYAB, by continuing to support BEDEKA-2000 project, has exposed its consistency on the conservation of sea turtles. This is the first time that a private affiliation sponsors a scientific research to protect the sea turtles in Turkey and it is a very important step for the future success of conservation studies.

This research was started with the cooperation of Hacettepe University and BETUYAB and has been carried out with the contribution of Turkish Ministry of Environment, the Authority for Protecting Special Areas (APSA); Turkish Ministry of Environment, General Directorate of Environment and Earthwatch Institute in 2000. The research is carried out on an area of about 29,5km to take the system up as a whole. In the light of data obtained from these studies, it has been revealed that the importance of the region in terms of sea turtles was greater than it was estimated in previous studies. 

Extensive research by STRT in the region has identified the major factors threatening the sea turtles and has guided the development of highly applicable management plans necessary for their conservation. 

Subsequent objective of STRT is to continue the sea turtle monitoring studies in the region and to pioneer for the application of management plans suggested for their conservation. STRT needs the assistance of official authorities such as Ministry of Environment, the Authority for Protecting Special Areas, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Agriculture; of local authorities such as regional Municipalities; of administrators of tourism establishments and summer houses, fishermen, native and foreign societies struggling for the conservation of sea turtles in the region. STRT is willing to receive all kinds of help and cooperation for making these objectives come true.

For Comments, Suggestions and Help;

strt@hacettepe.edu.tr

General Information About the Region

Area of research is in Antalya province, within the borders of Serik and Manavgat and consists of a beach of about 29,5km between River Aksu on the west and River Sarısu on the east. The region is very rich in flora and fauna as it hosts various habitats with different characteristics such as forest, river, stream, agricultural areas, aquatic habitats and sand dunes. While five-star tourism establishments, summerhouses and arbours occupy an important portion of the beach; there is no construction in one part. Most part of the region is under protection regulations such as "Belek Specially Protected Area" and "First Degree Natural Site". Therefore, especially when the summerhouses present in the Special Protection Area and the areas reserved as Tourism Development Area are considered, there are several activities threatening the survival of sea turtles in the region. 

Field studies in the region are conducted during May-September with a team of 30 people regarding the periods when adult females and hatchlings emerge. Data collection during this period have been carried out between 06°°-12°° in morning shifts and between 21°°-05°° in night shifts by monitoring the sections with teams of 2-3 people. 

All nests are recorded efficaciously in morning shifts. In order to determine the exact places of nests, sand on the nest surface is dug 10cm wide until the first eggs are visible and then the nest is covered with the sand that has been dug out to prevent any possible change in the temperature or moisture of the nest. Determined nests are marked by locating sticks beneath the sand showing the nest number and nesting date. Tracks determined during nesting period therefore are possible nests, are also marked in the same way and are controlled for predation and/or hatchling emergence.

All nests determined during field studies as well as any predation, caging, hatchling emergences and uncovering for control are marked on the scale maps in the office in order to monitor the progress of all nests. Besides, daily collected data are written down on the computer present in the office. In this way, all studies in the region can be carried out systematically.

Nests in front of tourism establishments are caged against any possible human damage. In order to ensure a complete protection on these nests, safety guards of the establishments are provided with necessary information and are charged with keeping the nests safe from harm until the hatchlings emerge.  

All previously made nests are checked during morning shifts. In case of coming across a predated nest, teams take down necessary data regarding the predation date, nest number, number of destroyed eggs in the egg chamber and whether there are any eggs left in the egg chamber. The nest is covered after this procedure. Number of destroyed eggs is determined by counting the empty eggshells around the nest after predation. 

In areas where high predation density is in question, surface cages are used against predation. These cages are placed on the egg chamber about 10cm under the sand to prevent being seen from the surface. The cell size of these cages is designed to allow the hatchling pass but prevent predation. In order to prevent mortality because of getting stuck in these cells, all cages are kept under strict control during hatchling emergence period. 

In morning shifts carried out during hatchling emergence period; nests from which hatchlings have emerged, date of emergence, number of dead and/or alive hatchlings on the egg chamber, number of hatchlings that have been able or unable to reach the sea are determined by taking notice of the hatchling tracks on the sand. We try to assess the possible causes of hatchling mortality by following the tracks of predators and hatchlings that have failed to reach the sea.

Hatchling dispersal diagrams are used to assess how much the hatchlings are affected by artificial lights. In order to assess the effects of artificial lights in specific areas, an experiment media have been prepared in 2000. This experiment media is set up on previously determined locations between 17°°-20°° at night and the experiments are conducted between 21°°-04°° . Hatchlings are kept in a pool set up on the beach and filled with seawater until the experiment starts. Approximately 100 hatchlings are used for each experiment and are released to the sea when the experiment is completed. 

At a certain period after the hatchling emergence is finished, the nests are uncovered for control to determine the number of dead and/or alive hatchlings in the egg chamber, total number of hatchling emergence (regarding the number of empty egg shells), number of damaged eggs and their embryonic stages. Total number of hatchling emergence is determined by taking notice of the number of empty egg shells counted during uncovering for control and is compared to the data taken down regarding the hatchling tracks during hatchling emergence period.

An information desk is established in Belek in order to provide tourist and local people information which works between 19°°-23°°.

Number of nests determined during two years, have revealed the fact that Belek region is the second largest known nesting area for sea turtles after the Zakynthos Island of Greece. This result puts forward the strong need of paying more attention to the conservation studies in the region in order to preserve the sea turtles as one of Turkey's important biological riches as well as to fulfill the responsibilities we have overtaken in terms of signing international conventions.

In the area of 29,5 kilometers, 612 Caretta caretta nests and 2 Chelonia mydas nests have been determined during the nesting season in year 1999, while 682 Caretta caretta nests and 8 Chelonia mydas nests have been determined during the nesting season in year 2000. These results showed that the region is a "Primarily Vulnerable Region for Sea Turtles".

All problems arising from tourism in the region have started as a result of wrong decisions and applications practiced before. A considerable part of the region was sentenced as a "Tourism Development Area" and a considerable number of tourism establishments have been constructed. Furthermore, another considerable amount of construction is present in the summerhouses area. Summerhouses between Acısu-Köprüçay, despite the fact that they are located at the far back of the beach, do have a serious negative impact on the sea turtles because of artificial lighting. Another empty area where no construction is present yet, is extracted beyond the limits of special protection area and is reserved as a tourism development area. Some parts of the beach are occupied by arbours used by local people.

There is still a considerable chance in areas where construction is planned but has not started. Therefore, as it is not possible to remove all negative factors threatening the sea turtles in areas where construction is completed or about to be completed, studies in these areas may only involve minimizing the negativities.

Considerable amount of predation by foxes and stray dogs is present in areas where is no construction so far.

All problems of sea turtles in the region and applicable suggestions aimed at the solution of these problems are given in detail in "Biology, Conservation and Management of Caretta caretta in Belek Tourism Area".