Şarköy Beach Sand Lilies Receive Protection, 699,245 TL Fine for Removal

Retired hydrobiologist Levent Artüz discovered eight individuals of the endangered sand lily (Ânıtır) on Şarköy’s Cumhuriyet Mahallesi beach in Tekirdağ, Turkey, and reported the finding to Prof. Dr. Tamer Özcan of Istanbul University. The botanist’s scientific report confirmed a limited natural population, highlighted possible seed dispersal by Marmara Sea currents, and called for interdisciplinary research on coastal geomorphology and seed viability.

Following the report, Şarköy Municipality cordoned off the site and placed the habitat under official protection. The municipality’s mayor, Alpay Var, said, "Alanı koruma altına aldık. Kurumlarımızın yapacağı incelemeleri bekliyoruz," emphasizing the commitment to safeguard local rare plants. The report noted that removal or damage of the sand lilies carries an administrative fine of 699,245 TL (effective from 2026). The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the species as “Sensitive,” with its shoreline habitat threatened by holiday housing, heavy beach use, and mechanical cleaning.