Sea turtles found dead in Kuşadası Bay

Four sea turtles were found dead in Kuşadası Bay, Aydın, within a two-day period. The deceased animals included three juvenile green sea turtles and one adult Caretta caretta.

Bahattin Sürücü, President of the Ecosystem Protection and Nature Lovers Association (EKODOSD), noted that the deaths coincided with the start of the fishing season. While initial examinations showed no obvious external wounds, Sürücü suggested the turtles may have drowned after being caught as bycatch in trawl nets. He highlighted that trawl fishing, which occurs even near the coast at night, poses a significant risk to the marine ecosystem by destroying seagrass beds and habitats.

Tissue and shell samples from the turtles have been sent to Professor Oğuz Türkozan at Adnan Menderes University for further scientific analysis.