Ocean Sentry
(From todayszaman.com) Istanbul, Turkey – Pollution, uncontrolled fishing and over-irrigation have led to the extinction of 12 species of fish in Sakarya”s Lake Sapanca, which is also a source of fresh water for Sakarya and İzmit. Sapanca was home to one of the richest diversities of fish in Turkey.
İstanbul University Faculty of Fisheries Professor Meriç Albay noted that studies on the lake have concluded that 12 species of fish are now extinct and that esox and catfish are now endangered species in the lake.
Albay emphasized that the biggest reason for this is the fact that the amount of salt in the lake increased recently and its chemical and physical composition changed due to pollution.
Other reasons are illegal fishing and over fishing and also the destruction of the fish species’ reproduction sites.
“The fish cannot find a place to leave their eggs. Sports facilities were built on the area where the fish used to reproduce. So long as this construction continues, no fish will be left in Lake Sapanca,” he said.
(By DURAN SAVAŞ)
