Mass Fish Kills on Aegean Coasts Raise Alarm
· Milliyet Ekonomi
Increasing fish and tuna deaths along the coasts of Çeşme and Karaburun highlight risks from water pollution, rising sea temperatures, and overcapacity fish farms.
Mass Fish Kills on Aegean Coasts
The recent fish and tuna deaths observed along the coasts of Çeşme and Karaburun in the Aegean Sea reveal serious crises in the marine ecosystem. Dr. Erol Kesici, Hydrobiologist and Science Advisor at the Turkish Association for the Protection of Nature, stated that the deaths are caused by the deadly bacterium Lactococcus garvieae, which compromises the immune system. Dr. Kesici emphasized that rising water temperatures, decreased rainfall, and a rapid drop in dissolved oxygen levels are causing stress in marine life. The disruption of the ecological balance directly threatens aquatic life and fish populations.
Fish Farms and Pollution Pressure
Overcapacity in tuna farming facilities is identified as a primary factor increasing water pollution in the region. Dr. Erol Kesici explained that exceeding the carrying capacity of tuna farms located in semi-enclosed bays and gulfs generates intense bacterial risks in the area. This pollution, combined with high summer temperatures, makes the environment completely unfavorable for both cage aquaculture production and the habitats of natural marine life. Experts report that water quality needs urgent protection.