Wetland issues faced in Turkey: Şat Delta sample, Fethiye

Today wetlands are curicial as they are habitat for a lot of living creatures and pay important role in coordinating water use in the region.Muğla Fethiye Şat cape wetland which is located in the seaside and whose deepest point is 6-7 meters is fresh-salty wetland, steams from Murt Stream which comes from North to delta. With the location, of Fethiye Gulf in the South and Şat cape and Çalış beach in the West, the wetland has reeds up to 5-6 meters and small islands. The study area is being used for harbouring fishermen or tour boats.Şat Delta had formed at the northwest end of Fethiye plain and its sequel found the possibility at development, the wetland area hosts 210 bird species. Of these 30 species are native, others are migrant birds. Birds that migrate North from Africa, Access the need of rest and nutrition in the area. In addition, the endangered otter, 3 out of 5 sea turtle species found in the Mediterranean basin, olsa live here. The most important of this the Caretta Caretta.The area which is under environmental protection, has several threats. The first is settlemente problem. Çalış beach and the adjacent wetland area has caused the concentration of tourist facilities here. Moreover boat tourism is done in the canal that feeds the wetland. This effects living organisims negatively. Finally being open to the publich, recreation and fishing activities are another problems seen in the wetland area.Around Murt creek that feeds the delta there are a lot of greenhouses and as a result of mixing their spray into water and soil makes a majör threat. The increase of Phasphate and Nitrojen in water is caused by algea growing rapidly and wetlands to dry out. Developed faster than the usual reeds olsa help to dry out. Another threat is the construction waste, it not only creates the delta wetland area to dry out but olsa it causes damage to living creatures.Şat Delta Wetland which is under special protection has the problem at control. Whit this ambiguity no institution or foundation accepts fully the responsibility of this place.Making conferences and briefings yo the public and tourists that came here, to describe the importance of the ecology the Şat Delta Wetland, developing canal cleaning Project, opening bird watching tourism inland and abroad are considered as a few ways of solution to revive wetland.Keywords: Şat Delta wetland, wetland issues, the special environmental protection, wetland ecology