15.10.2026 09:51
Three adult dolphins were found dead on the coasts of Gümüldür, Pamucak, and Pananos in the Gulf of Kuşadası. Bahattin Sürücü, President of the Association for Ecosystem Protection and Nature Lovers (EKODOSD), stated that scratches and abrasion marks were seen on the dolphins' skin, and suggested that they might have become entangled in the nets of trawlers that had concentrated in the gulf during the fishing season.
The Ecosystem Protection and Nature Lovers Association (EKODOSD) President Bahattin Sürücü claimed that dolphin deaths increased after the concentration of trawlers in the Gulf of Kuşadası.
President Sürücü said, “As every year, with the start of the fishing season at sea, the concentration of trawlers in the Gulf of Kuşadası and dolphin deaths have come to our agenda again.”
WASHED ASHORE ON THREE DIFFERENT COASTS
Sürücü said, “In recent days, a female Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) was found dead on the coasts of Gümüldür, and a male Striped Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) was found dead on the southern shores of Selçuk Pamucak. Today, a 2.40-meter-long male Common Dolphin washed ashore dead at Pananos Beach in Selçuk.
Thus, three adult dolphins were determined to have died. Observations on the dead dolphins revealed scratches and abrasion marks on their skin surfaces. These marks suggest that the individuals may have become entangled in fishing nets. If dolphins cannot surface to breathe, they may die by drowning. Dolphins can become entangled in nets as bycatch during fishing activities. In addition, marine pollution, plastic waste, habitat degradation, and other human-induced pressures also pose significant threats to marine mammals,” he said.
NECESSARY MEASURES MUST BE TAKEN
“Pananos Beach is an important natural area that is exposed to intense human and vehicle pressure, especially in the summer months, and must be protected in terms of its dune ecosystem,” said President Sürücü, “Waste and plastic pollution resulting from uncontrolled use negatively affect the marine ecosystem. Effective measures must be taken to reduce these pressures and protect the area. The breeding and calf-rearing behaviors of Common and Striped Dolphins, previously observed in the region, reveal the importance of the Gulf of Kuşadası for these species. For this reason, the gulf should be evaluated not only as a fishing area but also as a habitat for marine mammals. Dolphins are important members of the marine ecosystem. Their presence is of great importance for the protection of biodiversity and ecological balance in the seas. Our call is for the relevant institutions to investigate fishing activities and bycatch deaths, increase inspections, and protect sensitive coastal ecosystems.
The seas do not belong only to human use. They are also the home of countless living beings that continue their lives in these waters. Protecting dolphins and our seas is the responsibility of all of us,” he stated.