Marine discoveries and large catches reported in Turkey

In Denizli, three amateur fishermen caught two massive catfish at the Recep Yazıcıoğlu Dam. The fish, estimated to weigh approximately 120 kilograms and 85 kilograms, were caught after a two-hour struggle. Following a catch-and-release policy, the fishermen returned both fish to the water.

Separately, in the Antalya Gulf, divers discovered a tropical fish species known as the striped sergeant fish (Abudefduf cf vaigiensis or Abudefduf cf Saxatilis). Professor Mehmet Gökoğlu of Akdeniz University confirmed the sighting and plans to announce the discovery through a scientific article. This finding is part of a broader trend of tropicalization in the Mediterranean, where 74 species originating from the Red Sea have been identified, potentially impacting native marine life.