Page 276 - 7. State Of Environment Report Of Türkiye

The peninsula is defined as an archeological site including areas that need to be protected as
they are the products of various civilizations from history to the present and they are archaeo-
logical, urban, natural, historical, etc. areas that represent the social, economic, architectural, and
similar characteristics of the periods they lived. These areas are scattered on the peninsula.

In 2023, to reveal the current spreading status of the Otter (Lutra lutra) species in the Datça-Boz-
burun SEPA and Köyceğiz-Dalyan, Fethiye-Göcek and Gökova SEPA together with the Datça-Boz-
burun SEPA, to determine the possible protection measures against the threats to the species, to
prevent these threats, to obtain information about the existing aquatic ecosystem in the region
and to determine the presence of other important species in the region together with the ot-
ter, the “Otter (Lutra Lutra) Conservation and Monitoring Project in the Special Environmental
Protection Areas of Muğla Province” was launched in order to identify threats to the species and
develop solutions, and observations were made with photo-traps placed in 38 different areas
in 4 SEPAs.

F.3.1.3. Foça Special Environmental Protection Area

Foça has been declared as a Special Environmental Protection Area in order to protect its natural
and historical richness. Foça is a well-known region for the Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus
Monachus), which is among the endangered species. Pine forests and maquis shape the vegeta-
tion and have created habitats for creatures such as wolves, foxes, jackals, martens, partridges,
pigeons and quail. The Gediz Delta within Foça SEPA is very rich in fish species and is frequented
by migratory birds.
The peninsulas forming the coasts of Foça and on which there are no settlements (British and
Fener Cape etc.) are protected areas in terms of Foça silhouette and environmental values as
natural extensions opening to the sea. İncir, Fener, Eşek, Hayırsız, Orak Islands and Siren Rocks
also adorn these bays.

F.3.1.4. Gökova Special Environmental Protection Area

Gökova Special Environmental Protection Area is an ecologically important region with its rich
flora and fauna and shows the vegetation characteristics of the Aegean Region and the Mediter-
ranean Region together. Boncuk Cove is a sand shark (Carcharinus plumbeus) breeding area and
Akyaka Kadın Creek is an otter (lutra lutra) breeding and feeding area. In addition, the region is
the habitat of Audouin’s Gull (Larus Audoinii), Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus Monachus)
and European Shag (Phalacrocorax Aristotelis) species.

One of the important areas in the region is Sedir Island, known as Ketra, Setra, Sedir or Şehirlioğlu
Island. The island is located in the southern part of the Gulf of Gökova and contains inscriptions
from the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
The area is also quite rich in fauna. Winged animal species are distributed all over the area and
these include turtle dove, quails, partridge, cormorant, heron, Eurasian nightjar, swallow, wood-
pecker, starling, ouzel, reed bunting, crow, kite, black francolin, mallard, greylag goose, tree spar-
row, eagle, hawk, accipiter and owl.

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