Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Calis Beach Forum => Calis Beach Questions and Information => Topic started by: Canavar2 on July 12, 2019, 11:41:22 AM
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Anyone else worried / bothered about the algae explosion in the Fethiye area?
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It has been like that for some time now, we were over in June and it was an electric green/yellow, very weird looking. We were told it was pollen, so surprised it is still that colour.
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This was in the Fethiye Times
https://www.fethiyetimes.com/news/44-news/31193-fethiye-times-news-week-ending-06-july-2019.html
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This was in the Fethiye Times
https://www.fethiyetimes.com/news/44-news/31193-fethiye-times-news-week-ending-06-july-2019.html
And the week before that the FT said the sea colour had returned to normal!
Ian
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Strange that the green sea problem has only been happening in the last few years it seemed to start when the all inclusive resort opened futher down the cost. Coincidence?
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Algae! My ar*e...
http://www.yuzme.saglik.gov.tr/?fbclid=IwAR1lYdGRkk0wmbRzm2kGv9cG6ZEwhN75wLovBLN5CHrimgolqx8q3fKqq_A
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The same link was posted on Facebook yesterday. It shows how clean the water is. Zoom in and click for information re Calis beach
Seems it's the dirtiest in the area.
I am quite concerned about bathing in the sea now to be honest.
The smell around the harbour area was quite horrendous when we were over in June.
The green so called algae coupled with a covering of white scum looked and smelled absolutely awful.
There has been so much money spent in the area over the past few years but unless this is dealt with properly tourism will surely suffer
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In Corfu, the beaches all have the EU blue flags BUT many of the hotels discharge effluent into the sea on a regular basis during the summer months.
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:-XYes we went on a boat trip in Corfu, we were about to dive in when
we noticed raw sewage, floating on the water,we were told the local Village empty
their waste at certain times, :-X :o :o :angel:
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The Govt.map when zoomed in shows that the water is “well quality and swimmable”which by their figures shows as cleaner than 2018
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The sea is still green, not normal if clean water. The map shows Calis beach as being kotu , bad for swimming. If you compare the readings for Calis, Koca Calis and Kargi beach to other beaches, the results for Calis look terrible. Jarvis is marginally better but now t enough to get excited about. Possibly is algae, but caused by stuff that certainly should not be in the sea. I went into the sea a couple of weeks ago, but left very quickly. Not only green but macerated paper floating around and god knows what else. I have lived in Fethiye for a lot of years, and find this very sad for Calis and Fethiye. I certainly will not be going in that sea again!
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Must be the translation or I’ve read it wrong.Has anyone reported this to the authorities as there’s nowt like dirty water to destroy a beach resort
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Steve, perhaps I have read it wrong. But if you click on each link, it seems quite clear. I checked on other beaches, in different areas. From what I can see, Calis seems to be the worst readings, though obviously I did not check the whole of Turkey, just checked against Oludeniz, Marmaris and the peninsula, Kalkan area.
The readings from Hillside are ok, though you could argue the current is taking it away from there..
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On the app if itthe symbol is blue it's clean, green ok, yellow(amber) not recommended, red avoid...
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Algae! My ar*e...
http://www.yuzme.saglik.gov.tr/?fbclid=IwAR1lYdGRkk0wmbRzm2kGv9cG6ZEwhN75wLovBLN5CHrimgolqx8q3fKqq_A
So the blue smiley is High Quality and the green is Swimmable
Just avoid the red smiley (not seen one for Calis yet !!!)
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According to that website; If the values are more than below, the sea is not swimmable.
Total Coliform 10.000+ (Calis 560)
Fecal Coliform 2.000+ (Calis 160)
Fecal Streptecoc 1.000+ (Calis 44)
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when we were over in June for 3 weeks we noticed a faecal odour when crossing the bridge over the canal on a number of evenings; as has been said, not good for the tourist trade. They only need a couple of people who fall ill complaining to the press in Britain when they get home and bookings will fall and probably stay depressed for a while.
We're back in a few weeks, hope the situation improves.
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Strange that the green sea problem has only been happening in the last few years it seemed to start when the all inclusive resort opened futher down the cost. Coincidence?
I’m no expert but I think it would take a lot more than an AI hotel to cause that amount of discolouration.
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I thought I had read the chart correctly !
The smell in the canal has been there on and off for years.Its rotting vegetation due to the reed beds at the sides.
Years ago they cut the reeds down,no smell but people complained of the effect on wildlife ,you cannot win.
Unfortunately nature smells sometimes.
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Its all over social media at the moment, some are even saying that swimming may be banned it it gets worse. Its a shame hope it gets sorted.
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Latest seems better.
(https://i.postimg.cc/BPG2V9Cd/5744-DF72-FEBE-464-F-BC25-E5-BB89-E1-E7-F8.png) (https://postimg.cc/BPG2V9Cd)
(https://i.postimg.cc/BtxT1bSs/89616-DE7-864-F-4323-8-C12-DE76299-CA1-FC.png) (https://postimg.cc/BtxT1bSs)
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Pictures taken by FRT yesterday of the Algae Bloom/pollution still affecting the bay in Fethiye.
(https://i.postimg.cc/w7bHjvyP/Algae-1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/w7bHjvyP)
(https://i.postimg.cc/z3X9HNr1/Algae-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/z3X9HNr1)
(https://i.postimg.cc/nX8R2b6r/Algae-3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/nX8R2b6r)
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Perhaps the new hotels need to review their sewage outlets as this has only happened recently. The weather may contribute to algae but this region gets very hot during the summer and has done for years. This recent problem may be something to do with the new developments. Whatever is causing it, it needs to be sorted.
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Perhaps the local council and or MUSKI need to review the permits they've issued, and are about to issue in the future, for the building of hotels and the control of their sewage ?
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today it is back to Kotu - bad. I won't be on the beach in front of the restaurants when we get there, off to where the green symbol or better is every day. I can't believe that people like Mete Ay are letting this continue; it could affect next year's bookings.
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I'm sure if Mete is able to do anything, he'll be doing it. Just not shouting about it.
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It will certainly impact on tourism if it isn’t sorted.
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From Fethiye area news:
The ongoing issue of the Gulf of Fethiye continues, 7 professors working at GAZI University published a report on the color change in Fethiye Bay, the most important reason of pollution was from agricultural drainage water Murt Creek they stated.
The report from Dr. Pelin Yildirim , Professor of research. Dr. Lale Balas, Professor Dr. Hale Hopoğlu, Professor Dr. Aysel Çağlan Günay and Prof. Dr. Ahmet Altindag did. Consultancy of the project. Dr. Example: Ahmet ErkanKüseyş and Prof. Dr. Sinet Selmin Burak stated there are 4 items of concern.
The first item of the cause of pollution was the discharge of agricultural drainage water and treatment water from Murt ( Mersinli ) Creek.
The second reason for pollution is the agricultural drainage waters carried by other channels in the Gulf.
The third reason is connected to the treatment of residential areas and facilities.
Lastly the pollution from Fethiye Marina and other boats was the other item of concern
The scientific report stated that, "Murt Creek" is transported directly in to the Gulf of Fethiye together with the agricultural discharge waters which are rich in nitrogen and phosphorus salts.
Their conclusion is that "Murt Creek and the said canals are the main source of pollution in the Gulf. "
No doubt there will be new reports in the coming weeks from more experts, we will post them when we receive them, hopefully all the information in the countless reports will lead to action to rectify the issue.
https://m.sondakika.com/haber/haber-7-profesorden-fethiye-korfezi-raporu-12302531/
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It’s still really as clear as mud ,or the sea.Todays Fethiye Times quotes various local officials who have confirmed it’s the waste water treatment plant has been working over capacity for six years meaning that it is not being fully treated before being discharged into the bay.
They talk about waste water do they meant human waste ?
Is is harmful / can you swim/ will it make you ill ?
No answers anywhere to these questions which I feel are the important ones For tourists.
Someone on FB today saying Calis very quiet and the reason is the dirty sea,it’s an unqualified comment but a bad direction to go in.
The “authorities” really need to get a grip of this now,have a consistent approach,message and visible action.
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It'll be interesting to see if it has any effects on the Turkish tourist numbers during Kurban Bayram.
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Reported on Turkish national tv so likely to affect tourism over next weeks Bayram, you would have thought. Very few people in the sea, or on the beaches. And yes, I think they do mean human waste, can't see what else would come from residential areas and facilities. Ther is another article somewhere abou the waste treatment plant, will look for it.
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Not the article I as looking for but reported today on Fethiye area news: Fethiye’s mayor Alım Karaca will be making a statement at 13.00 today about the colour change and pollution in Fethiye bay we at Fethiye area News will post the video ...
https://www.facebook.com/257540757611364/posts/2667404253291657/
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For generations agricultural waste and run off from various sources have run into the gulf of Fethiye,with no reported problem,indeed due to all of the building that has taken place on what was farm land there's possibly less.
What has increased,seemingly out of control and with little forethought is the dramatic increase in humans and their bodily waste.
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Anyone know what the announcement said
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Simply working on the basis that "if it shouldn't be there, it probably isn't worth risking it", I wouldn't want to go swimming or scuba-diving anywhere near it, let alone in it.
Some years ago - when Yugoslavia existed as a nation state - I recall a similar-sounding issue on the Adriatic coast. Marine biologists at the time encouraged people to avoid swimming in it as they were unsure of it's origins, what it contained (toxic or just unpleasant) and what the potential repercussions might be of ingesting even a small amount or getting it into one's system via a cut, etc. From memory, I think there was also some comment that the Med / Adriatic / Aegean and Black seas are virtually landlocked and don't have the same amount of "sluicing" effect that deep-water oceans like the Atlantic have. Therefore, it takes longer for these anomalies to disperse.
Those who promote tourism are, arguably and understandably, more likely to play down the situation. Another consideration is one's constitution. Even if it's only regarded as mildly problematic and not outright poisonous / dangerous, the young, those in less than 100% health and the elderly may hhave a greater adverse reaction to coming into contact with it.
Don't take my comments as advice, though. I'm cautious by nature but, then again, I'm sort of glad that my wife and I are planning to use Calis / Fethiye (this time round) as a base for exploring inland and coastal cultural and historic sites.
For everyone's sake, I really hope it turns out to be nothing harmful and easily remedied.
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Translated by Fethiye area news from the Mayors statement:
Here is the statement from the Mayor, Alim Karaca, regarding the state of the Gulf of Fethiye, we have tried to condense it without missing the main points
Mayor Karaca stated that he has not made any explanation for 2 months in order to avoid any damage to the tourism sector. "We should not make political distinctions on this issue. If we are to clear the bay of this issue, the government, the metropolitan municipality, the district municipality and the NGOs need to solve this problem together. ”
Mayor Alim Karaca said that they closely followed the subject saying “There has been a huge amount of information about the pollution in the public regarding the colour change of the Gulf in Fethiye for 2 months. Pollution has been in the Gulf for years. Firstly, 'Why does Fethiye Municipality not explain for 2 months' I will answer the question. We have thousands of tradesmen who live on tourism and earn their livelihoods. As a responsible people, every word that comes out of our mouths is in the national and local press. On behalf of the future of tourism, we did not explain. However, we followed the issue closely. We are working hard on how to overcome this problem ”
Karaca stated that they were subjected to ugly and unjust attacks under the title of 'CHP municipalities' through social media and said, “We should not make political distinction here. If we are to clean the bay, the government, thr metropolitan, the district municipalities, the NGOs need to solve the problem here. But I regret to see that on social media false accounts state that the 'CHP' municipality' is the cause of the problem and we get the blames. Even the expression 'CHP municipality' is an indication that they are politically abusive. This is not about politics.
We are not looking for criminals. This is not a problem of the past 5, 10 or 20 years, but a problem from 50 or 100 years ago. Alluviums from the creeks and soils caused by erosion have entered the bay. Because of the build up in the bay the boats are having difficulty to navigate. Our Environmental Protection and Control Manager will soon release the scientists' reports. We need to trust the scientists. Because we see opinions coming out of everywhere. You've seen it on national channels. We cannot get anywhere just by accusing Metropolitan and MUSKI. The foundation of MUSKI is based on 5 years and the pollution of the bay is based on years. The Ministry monitors the water outlet values of the treatment plant online, the data can be accessed by the public ”.
Karaca referred to the promise made by the Minister of Environment and Urbanization to clean the Gulf of Fethiye. We will meet with the relevant Ministers. I'il see the President if necessary. We know the problem in the bay. When the Minister of Environment and Urbanization came to Fethiye, he made promises about the cleanliness of the Gulf. It is not possible to clean the Gulf only with the budget of Fethiye Municipality. I have already stated that it can be done with a figure of 125 million lira. However, these figures now exceed 200 million lira. Not only will we need to clean the Gulf, all the canals connected to the Gulf should be rehabilitated without being filled with concrete. I recently examined the canal passing by Erasta shopping centre and black water was flowing into it. I invite the authorities here to do their duty. Fethiye Bay should be cleaned and the streams and canals should be improved. If this is not done, it will be Fethiye that will be losing, not a political party losing. I have a request from members of the press.
The Mayor referred to the report of the 7 scientists from Gazi University, (that Fethiye Area News posted), adding, Fethiye Municipality is obliged to set up and operate the “Blue Card” system as Waste treatment Obligation for solid and liquid wastes originating from the boats, as required by the Waste Reception and Control of Waste from Ships. Apart from this, there is no authority to apply any inspection or sanction on Fethiye Bay under any legislation.
Although we have no jurisdiction, Fethiye Municipality, with the help of other professional bodies check the seawater quality, we have been monitoring these since March 2016, once a month in 14 different locations. Changes in physical and chemical parameters are observed, in addition, calculations related to current, wind speed and seasonal changes are taken into account by Gazi University. The current status of the water quality of the inner Gulf of Fethiye has been determined by all monitoring and measurement studies carried out by the University.
Municipality Environmental Protection and Control Manager, Selver Hatice Kabak, presented information about the sharing of duties and said, "that In the prepared scientific report, the agricultural discharge waters that are rich in nitrogen and phosphorus salts are carried by Murt Creek are directly deposited in to the Gulf of Fethiye. The pollution in Murt Creek alone has the potential to affect the inner Gulf of Fethiye. The other canals running in to the gulf carry the agricultural drainage waters of the entire plain directly behind the Gulf of Fethiye without having any treatment or sedimentation. Murt stream and the canals are the main source of pollution in the Gulf. ”
It was stated that more than one institution or organization is responsible for the prevention and control of land-based marine pollution and marine-based marine pollution in the Gulf.
The control of enterprises having treatment in places where there is no infrastructure in place is the responsibility of the Provincial Directorates of Environment and Urbanization,
Checking if wastes discharged from sea going vessels are discharged to the sea is the responsibility of the Coast Guard Command.
For development projects the responsibility is with DSI
The swimming water quality measurements are the responsibility of Fethiye District Health Directorate
The responsibility for the infrastructure is MUSKi.
Despite all these organisations having responsibilities the situation does not reduce our responsibility in any way, but the competent authorities in this regard, although more than one municipality is seen as the single most important responsible authority.
Kabak also related to the system in his assessment about the Blue Card, (already referred to by the Mayor), adding that this system was established in 2011 by the Municipality of Fethiye in Turkey for the first time and the system is working in a good way.
Muğla Deputy CHP Suleyman Girgin, said that in November 2018, the issue of Gulf of Fethiye was taken at the TBMM, Girgin said, “Tourism, Environment and Urbanization, also the Ministry of Transportation and have conveyed the status of the Gulf. The minutes of the Assembly are there. On November 5, 2018, we made a motion for a question. The motion was; 'The dredging of the sludge caused by environmental factors of the harbor of Fethiye and alluviums carried by the streams flowing to the harbor affects the sea traffic. We learned that a feasibility study was carried out for harbor floor sludge cleaning and dredging. We said "Was there a tender date for cleaning? We urge you to intervene in this matter urgently"
We forwarded this issue to the Minister of Environment and Urbanization. 'Although the Murt stream has been rehabilitated, there is still a need for an effective study for the disposal of alluvials and wastes from the stream. Prevention of environmental and marine pollution is important for Fethiye. Let's urgently intervene in this' we said.
in concluding it was stated that "We have to get together with all the institutions and clean up the Gulf. Our goal is not to blame someone elsr. This problem should be solved with the state budget. We have met with the Minister of Environment and Urbanization and I said to him, “We will be an embarrassment to the world as soon as it is forbidden to enter Fethiye Bay for swimming. We will need to start to work on the cleanliness of the Gulf of Fethiye'. We have expressed this to the Minister and we hope that he will follow this promise ”.
http://www.fethiye.bel.tr/haberDetay.aspx?ID=3007
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thanks for that Lissa, at least someone is admitting that the problem needs to be dealt with.
Cheers for your response Scunner, i would think you're right about Mete; stayed at the Golden Moon, and had to spend a fair few quid in his old gold shop over the late 1990s and 2000s. It's a shame that the pollution has got to this level.
Should be out there in a couple of weeks, staying out of the sea won't be that big a hardship but I'm sure the boat trip folks sill be a bit miffed.
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So it’s agricultural run off not human waste,but there could be human waste from shipping,they’ve known about it sometime but didn’t want to impact tourism but haven’t done anything to improve the situation.All of the depts.will talk as wel, as talking with Govt.?
Is it safe and what action is planned - not addressed .
Could be a lean few years as people will not travel to a beach resort with dirty water
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Seem to be very careful not to mention human waste from residential but I would suspect this plays a part also.
With regard to boat trips, possibility ok as boats go out of this area, just don't jump into the sea near the gulf!
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With regard to boat trips, possibility ok as boats go out of this area, just don't jump into the sea near the gulf!
The boats shouldn't be dumping untreated waste anywhere. It should be pumped out and taken away for treatment on docking at the harbour / marina.
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Yes, there are obviously a whole lot of issues here but they really must be addressed - and very soon - regardless of cost! Once, as is starting to happen, the problem is known out of the area, it will devastate tourism and the businesses in the area. I saw a Turk had put a photo of Calis Beach on facebook today with virtually no one on it. If tourists won't go in early August then there is already a big problem. It is obviously going to be expensive to fix but instead of trying to hide the issue everyone involved needs to get moving and be seen to be doing something about it. Widespread media coverage will create a smear that Calis will not be able to clear itself of for years. I feel very sorry for the local businesses and hope that they are objecting strongly about the situation to the right people. The more outrage there is seen to be, the more pressure will be applied. (I feel I am going to be embarrassed bringing visitors out to stay with me next month. 😢 ;)
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There’s a report in the press today of a couple who holidayed at the TUI Sensitory 5 star resort having contracted dysentery and spent 3 days on drips in the hospital. The couple said they hadn’t eaten anywhere else other than the hotel BUT did they go to the beach or swim in the sea. This could get very nasty.
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Ray 1951.....
Can you clarify your second sentence please.
Did the couple say one way or the other that they went to the beach and/or swam in the sea.
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There’s a report in the press today of a couple who holidayed at the TUI Sensitory 5 star resort having contracted dysentery and spent 3 days on drips in the hospital. The couple said they hadn’t eaten anywhere else other than the hotel BUT did they go to the beach or swim in the sea. This could get very nasty.
I've only been saying it for 20 years but it is misinformation like this that plays the biggest part in threatening the lives and livelihoods of businesses, owners, barmen, waiters, cleaners and all the other good folk working in tourism in Turkey.
If anyone bothered to take the time to read the article, they will see that the current issue with the sea would not have caused this couple to become ill - they holidayed in the Sensatori in September 2016 - coming up to three years ago now.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/couple-contract-dysentery-five-star-18837900
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Even the Daily Fail have managed to get the story right.
"After returning home to Norwich in September 2016 they had nearly a year long series of repeated correspondence and phone calls...."
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There isn't an article in Fethiye times online on the statement made by the former mayor, Behcet Saatci, and the algae bloom. Interesting reading.
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There is !
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Don't quite know how I managed to put there isn't an article, meant to say there is an article in Fethiye times online!
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;) It's a good job some of us are on the ball. ;)
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This all sounds horrific and I really feel for the local businesses and tourists alike.
If it's man-made pollution - rather than a simple algal bloom - then tracing the cause(s) could be a long, protracted process. Once traced, eradicating those causes might also prove difficult as disposing of whatever it is that's causing the green stuff in a safe / more environmentally acceptable way might be a lot more expensive than those creating the problem can afford.
I've seen a few references to this situation in UK press / internet since booking our holiday a couple of weekends ago. Although I'm not yet sufficiently concerned to re-book somewhere else, if the pollution is genuinely harmful and if the seafood / fish is caught locally and sold in the market / served in local restaurants, it's easy to see how it might actually cause (or be wrongly blamed for) illnesses.
I really hope that the Turkish government fully engages with this situation and sorts it out as quickly as possible - for the locals more than anything - as most tourists won't take risks with their / their kids' health.
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Reported on Fethiye expat : http://gercekfethiye.com/baskan-gurunden-meclis-uyelerine-fethiye-aritmasi-bilgilendirmesi/19954/
In 2014 it was first highlighted that there was a pollution problem in the Gulf of fethiye, nothing was done about it, fast forward 5 years, during water samples collected, traces of e-coli, human faeces and other nasty's are showing high readings, 30,000,00TL will become available to start the process of reducing the impact caused or eradicating it completely, work will either start at the end of 2019 or at the end of 2020, the current levels are just below the danger zone as it stands, if it reaches the danger zone, the beaches around the gulf of fethiye will be too dangerous to swim in, this is a very bad situation but one that has just been ignored for 5 years.
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The original article says 30 Milyon lira, not 30,000,00
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they may start work on improvements to waste treatment etc at the end of this season but how long will it be before the water quality is consistently safe to swim? These projects take time and they won't instantly clean the bay up.
It may be wise to have a Plan B for at least next year's holiday folks and maybe a year or two after that.
As an aside are the small fishing boats still out in the bay at night as they were in June?
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its a great shame that the green sea is a major problem for the area, it started to turn murky when we were there 2 months ago , we have been thinking about going elsewhere for our usual june holiday, but Calis draws us to go yet again,,, its our 17 th year in calis in june , hotel room booked as its 50 % fully booked already ,, just waiting for 1 st week September when easy jet release flights up to end june
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Could decimate tourism, house prices etc. Urgent action needed not long term
Once tour operators get fed up of customers complaints it will have serious implications for the area
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https://www.wect.com/2019/08/09/warning-pet-owners-toxic-algae-kills-three-dogs-matter-hours/
This is worrying for animals and humans
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i don't think that the algae is a threat, it's what the algae is feeding on...
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In a further report, it says that waste from Sovalye island goes straight into the sea. No sewage treatment there. Not the only culprit for the appalling state of the sea, but certainly not helping! Sea at Gunluklu also reported as being green, so this algae bloom is spreading quickly.
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I hate to harp on about this, but nothing seems to being done..... absolutely horrendous situation happening. But fish are now dying in this polluted sea. This has been seen just along the 'new' promenade in Fethiye.
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TripAdvisor certainly becoming very negative re Calis/ Fethiye
Cannot believe the authorities are just doing nothing
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well we're back after our second trip to Calis but i was wondering if the authorities have made any progress with respect to remedying the pollution at Calis; last heard that they may not even have it sorted before next season! Looking at http://yuzme.saglik.gov.tr/ it would appear that the water quality in the Letoonia area is rated Bad also.