After citizens, marine life is also going hungry

The Marine Mammal Research Association (DMAD) has drawn attention to data regarding dolphins and whales in Turkish waters based on the results of scientific research.

Founder Dr. Aylin Akkaya stated that while Turkey holds an important place in the Mediterranean in terms of coastline length, the number of scientific studies is quite low. Noting that the ecosystem and biodiversity are rich in the seas where whales and dolphins are sighted, Dr. Akkaya said, "With our work, we have in a way proven the richness of the biodiversity. The Eastern Mediterranean is as rich a region for dolphins and whales as other parts of the Mediterranean. These species are flagship species, which also shows that the region where they are seen must be protected."

'THEY ARE A SPECIES THAT SHOULD BE LARGE, BUT THEY HAVE GOTTEN A BIT THIN'

Stating that the most common marine mammal species in Turkey, especially in the Bosphorus, is the bottlenose dolphin, Dr. Akkaya said, "These are somewhat large and bold species. Since they are seen in coastal areas, they are present in all Turkish waters from the Bosphorus and the Black Sea to the Hatay region in the Eastern Mediterranean."

Mentioning that there are also worrying situations regarding whales, Akkaya said, "While we used to observe 10 individuals, we generally see 2-3 individuals now. When we look at their body structures, they have become a bit thin, even though they are a species that should be large. Their ribs are more exposed, and the area where they breathe has sunken in a bit. We can see these pressures especially in the Bosphorus. Although it is a local species in our country, unfortunately, their populations are not very promising right now."

'WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SEE THIS SPECIES SINCE 2019'

Stating that the reason for the thinning of bottlenose dolphins and the visibility of their ribs is hunger, but that the cause of this is not yet known, Dr. Akkaya expressed that dolphins might be stressed due to threats such as insufficient fish stocks in the Bosphorus or underwater noise.

Saying that the striped dolphin is a more beautiful and colorful species, Dr. Akkaya said, "They can be observed as smaller than the bottlenose. We see this species both on our coasts and in open waters. But the striped dolphin species is under threat not only in our waters but throughout the entire Mediterranean. Because their numbers are decreasing significantly. We have not been able to see this species in the Eastern Mediterranean since 2019."

Explaining that sperm whales are found in deep waters, Dr. Akkaya said, "We have proven that 30 individuals are observed intensively in Turkey and during the summer seasons. Our country's waters are of great importance for this species. It is a species that is also considered to be under threat throughout the Mediterranean. It is thought that there are approximately 350 individuals."

'THEY ARE DECREASING DAY BY DAY IN OBSERVATIONS IN THE REGION'

Pointing out that beaked whales are being observed in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Antalya despite the intense maritime traffic, Akkaya said, "We used to see these species frequently. Beaked whales are also quite shy and are among the deepest-diving species. There are records of them at 3,000 meters. While this species could be observed off the Mediterranean and Lara Gulf, unfortunately, we can no longer see them. One of the most important threats to beaked whales and sperm whales is underwater noise. For this reason, they are decreasing day by day in observations in the region."

Stating that while the presence of dolphins in Turkish waters is known, whales are not well known by the public, Dr. Aylin Akkaya noted that habitat loss, maritime traffic, underwater noise, and marine pollution are the main threats.