In view of the forthcoming Festival of the Sea, (on Wednesday 1st July), KTLN thought it would be a good idea to find out about the marine life that can be found in this part of the Mediterranean.

We spoke to Fatih Tunalı, an experienced diving instructor who has worked in and around the sea for over 20 years. Fatih is passionate about the environment and the conservation of the marine environment in particular.

Fatih told us about the amazing variety of marine life that can be found close to Kalkan.

The Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea covers approximately 2.5 million square kilometres and in parts is over 5,000 metres deep.  It separates Northern Africa from Europe and Anatolia, and may only be accessed through the Straits of Gibraltar in the west, and the Dardanelles in the north east.  These restricted channels mean that the Mediterranean Sea does not have tides, in the same way as you would see in more open seas and oceans.

The Mediterranean is subdivided into smaller sea areas, and Kalkan is located between the Aegean Sea to the north west and the Cilician Sea which is broadly the sea area in between Turkey and Cyprus.  It is teeming with life.  We detail below some of the things that you can find in the Mediterranean Sea close to Kalkan.

Smaller animals
There are bivalves/molluscs including mussels, oysters, octopus, cuttlefish and squid.  Then we have cnidarians, flower like in appearance, with tentacles to trap their food - these include anemones, jellyfish and corals.

We also find common crustaceans including crabs, lobsters, prawns and shrimps, together with many types of sea urchins, sea cucumbers and although fewer in number these days, sponges.

Fish are plentiful - blennies, cardinal fish, conger eels, damsel fish, garfish, groupers, lizard fish, moray eels, parrot fish, picarel, sea bream, skates and rays, red mullet, flying fish and scorpion fish.  Oil rich fish include barracuda and tuna.  Sharks are very rare - they prefer deeper waters, but the Mediterranean does have them.

But what really fascinate many people are the local turtles (reptiles), and the mammals of the sea - and near Kalkan that means dolphins, seals and on rare occasions, whales.  

Turtles
In the waters off south west Turkey, the most common turtle is the loggerhead turtle (caretta caretta).  You can find many over 1 metre in length, and some have been recorded over 2 metres long.  You can also find the much larger green turtle (chelonia mydas), which used to be known as the soup turtle, as it often found its way on to certain exclusive restaurant menus.  Fortunately, both types of turtle are now protected.  The main nesting season for turtles is in the summer.

There are many loggerhead turtles at Patara Beach, and you can sometimes see the odd turtle venturing into the waters near Kalkan.  From time to time you may even see a turtle on Kalkan Beach.

If you want to read more about Patara Beach and loggerhead turtles, the following link takes you to a PDF document prepared by MEDASSET (Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles), dated October 2005.  It has lots of facts, figures, maps and a few grainy photos.  MEDASSET Report

Dolphins and whales
The Mediterranean Sea is home to many species of dolphins and whales.  The following link takes you to an excellent website, which shows the different species.  Dolphins & Whales

Fatih told us that dolphins are not that easy to spot.  It may be stating the obvious, but they are always on the move, following the shoals of fish on which they feed.  But he has seen them and heard them on many occasions when he has been diving in local waters.  You can also sometimes see them from land, swimming in groups, chasing their fish dinner.  He has often seen them swimming between Kalkan and Kekova, where there are deep channels between the many islands.  This is where the fish swim, so the dolphins go there too.

In Kaş you will find a Dolphin Park on the peninsular.  There are two resident dolphins, Misha and Tom.  We are not sure about the circumstances in which they came to be there, but Fatih points out that now it would be impossible for them to return to the wild.  Dolphins are social animals, and they have their own communities.  Any outsider trying to join the group would not be welcome.

Fatih told us that Misha and Tom are healthy and well cared for.  They also provide fantastic therapy for humans with all sorts of problems and health conditions.  Fatih recounted a story of a young Turkish girl who had come to see the dolphins as part of a course of therapy.  She came from a troubled background where she had suffered abuse, and she had retreated within herself and would not communicate.  But somehow, after some time, she made a bond with Tom.  Fatih recalled how he saw this girl smile and begin to communicate again.  Not a complete cure, but at least a start.  It's amazing how humans and dolphins connect in this way.

Sightings of whales in this area are quite rare (if you don't count the Prince of Wales, who we understand sometimes visits Göcek). 

However a diving friend of Fatih's, Mehmet Avcu came across a sperm whale in 2007, close to Yediburun (between Ölü Deniz and Patara).  The circumstances were quite shocking, as Mehmet found the whale was tangled in a fisherman's net.  See the photograph opposite.  You can see the net tangled in the whale's jaw.

We understand that many whales can die from entanglement in nets, but this particular whale was more fortunate than most.  Mehmet and his fellow divers were able to cut away the net, and he survived.  An amazing story and amazing photograph.

Mediterranean Monk Seals
These animals have a special place in Fatih's affections.  He and his friends established a research group called the Sualtı Araştırmaları Derneği - Akdeniz Foku Araştırma Grubu (SADAFAG) - the Underwater Research Society - Mediterranean Seal Research Group. They have a brilliant website packed with information about this wonderful creature - see the following link: SADAFAG

Seals are shy, but also curious animals.  They are not easy to spot, but you have a better chance of doing so early or late in the season when there is less activity and noise in Kalkan Bay.  The best time of day to see them is very early in the morning.  The Mediterranean Monk Seal is an endangered species.  There are estimated to be around 500 in the wider Mediterranean Sea, of which perhaps 100 are in the Aegean Sea.  There may be as few as 10 to 15 in the waters near Kalkan.

They inhabit local caves, including the Blue Cave near Kapıtaş.  There are many caves between Kalkan and Kekova, where it is believed the seals spend some time, and where they breed.  The local name for them is ayı baliği (bear fish), because they are said to be as big as a bear - some grow up to 3 metres long.

A little further afield, in Foça near Izmir, there is a national park of the sea where they have many seals.  Your chances of seeing seals up there are very good.

Conservation and tourism
Fatih told KTLN about the balance that needs to be struck between conservation of the environment and tourism.  In the late 80's when Fatih was at university, he was part of a research team sent to Dalyan Delta to measure, count and protect loggerhead turtles. He recalls how the locals were not happy having areas of beach designated as no go areas.  They were concerned about the impact on tourism and were less interested in the local wildlife.

It is quite ironic that now, Dalyan Delta has become famous as a haven for wildlife - noteably the loggerhead turtles, and it attracts significantly more tourists than it used to.  Many local people have made a good living from this and their attitude towards conservation has changed.

Closer to Kalkan, Patara Beach is designated as a protected area as it is a breeding ground for loggerhead turtles.  The beach is out of bounds at night.

Other interesting websites

The following links provide more information about marine life and conservation:

Greenpeace on the Mediterranean

The Marine Conservation Society 

Finally, if you are walking past Fatih's office (Al & Tu Tourism) by the harbour, feel free to call in and ask him about local marine life and his experiences as a diver.