Antalya imposes beach smoking ban as plastic waste surge uncovered

In Antalya, authorities have prohibited smoking on several beaches as part of a clean‑air and anti‑pollution drive. Professor Mehmet Gökoğlu of Akdeniz University highlighted the severity of litter, noting that "there may be up to a hundred cigarette butts per square metre" on the sand.

During a dive at Konyaaltı Beach, Gökoğlu and his students retrieved large quantities of plastic debris from the seabed. He warned that the combined waste threatens the Mediterranean ecosystem, disrupts water inflow from underground sources, and diminishes marine biodiversity. The professor called for stricter enforcement of the smoking ban, increased public responsibility for trash disposal, and protection of coastal streams to preserve the sea’s health.

Gökoğlu stressed that "Antalya is a world city; those who pollute must face penalties" and urged societies to treat beaches as clean public spaces rather than dumping grounds.