Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Turkey.
Curated from various news sources.
NEWS
Fethiye Marks Turkey’s Environment Week with Awareness-Raising Events
FETHIYE, MUĞLA – Turkey’s Environment Week celebrations in Fethiye began with a series of events designed to promote environmental awareness and encourage sustainable living among residents of all ages.
Wreath-Laying Ceremony and Environmental Awards
The week’s activities commenced with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Atatürk Monument. Following the ceremony, participants visited the Upcycling Stands prepared by FETAV, showcasing creative ways to reuse and repurpose materials.
Awards were also presented to students who achieved success in the Short Film Competition and the Inter-School Battery Collection Competition. The competitions aimed to encourage young people to engage with environmental issues and contribute to sustainability efforts within their communities.
Officials highlighted the importance of environmental responsibility and noted that Environment Week activities will continue throughout the district with a range of educational and awareness-raising events.
Environmental-Themed Play Draws Audience
As part of the celebrations, the play “White Tale, Black Tale” was performed at the Özer Olgun Cultural Center by the Drama Group of the Fethiye Kardelen Art Association.
The production focused on environmental awareness and the impact of human actions on nature, delivering its message through art and storytelling. The performance attracted local residents and art enthusiasts, who gathered to support the initiative and learn more about environmental protection.
Organisers thanked everyone involved in bringing the production to the stage, as well as the audience members who attended and supported the event.
Environmental Festival Brings Community Together
Environment Week celebrations continued with the Environmental Festival at Şehit Fethi Bey Park, which attracted strong participation from local residents.
The festival featured a variety of activities designed to increase environmental awareness, including face painting, an ecotherapy area, environmental quizzes, kite flying and interactive workshops for children and families.
Young participants enjoyed a day of fun while learning about the importance of protecting nature and preserving the environment for future generations.
Organisers said they remain committed to promoting a cleaner environment and a more sustainable future through continued education, community engagement and environmental awareness initiatives.
Source: Fethiye Belediye
Muğla Ready for 2026 Fire Season with 23 Aircraft and 1,943 Personnel
MUĞLA – Extensive preparations have been completed across Muğla ahead of the 2026 forest fire season, with strengthened air and ground resources, advanced technology, and nearly 2,000 personnel ready to respond to potential wildfires in one of Turkey’s highest-risk regions.
The Muğla Forestry Regional Directorate has significantly expanded its firefighting capacity for the season, deploying a total of 23 aircraft and increasing personnel and equipment resources to ensure rapid and effective intervention in the event of forest fires.
Under the 2026 operational plan, the region will be supported by 15 firefighting helicopters, one administrative helicopter, an Antonov tanker aircraft, four Air Tractor firefighting aircraft, and two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These aerial assets will remain on active duty throughout the fire season.
Ground operations have also been reinforced. The directorate’s fleet now includes 158 first-response vehicles, 160 water tankers and fire engines, and 29 pieces of heavy machinery, including bulldozers and graders.
A total of 1,943 personnel have been assigned to wildfire response duties. The workforce consists of 1,264 firefighting workers, 284 technical staff, and 395 forest rangers.
Technology will play a key role in early fire detection and response. Of the 51 fire observation towers across the region, 31 are equipped with camera-supported digital monitoring systems capable of detecting potential fires quickly and reducing response times.
To support firefighting efforts in remote areas, 402 water collection pits and fire pools have been prepared and kept operational. Volunteer participation has also increased, with 3,218 trained forest fire volunteers available to assist professional teams when required.
Aircraft have been strategically positioned in high-risk locations including Fethiye, Marmaris, Bodrum, Milas, Yatağan, Menteşe, Köyceğiz, and Dalaman. UAVs will be used for real-time monitoring, mapping, and assessing the spread of fires, helping teams make faster and more informed decisions during emergencies.
Officials from the Muğla Forestry Regional Directorate said the region is fully prepared for the 2026 fire season thanks to enhanced air and ground capabilities and improved technological infrastructure. They also urged residents and visitors to remain vigilant and take precautions to help prevent forest fires.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/mugla-yangin-sezonuna-23-hava-araci-ve-1943-personelle-hazir
Label, Scale and Producer Certificates Checked at Fethiye Producer Market
FETHIYE, MUĞLA – Comprehensive inspections were carried out by Fethiye Municipality police teams at the producer market held every Friday, with checks focusing on compliance with regulations designed to protect consumers and ensure fair trading practices.
During the inspections, municipal teams examined a range of issues, including whether traders displayed price labels correctly, possessed valid producer certificates and sold only products covered by their official documentation.
Officials also checked compliance with the market’s stall allocation rules, including the requirement for producers to operate within the designated two-metre stall space granted to them.
As part of the inspection process, teams ensured that price tags were clearly visible and accurately displayed for customers. Scales used by traders were also inspected and verified, with stamping procedures carried out where required.
The inspections form part of ongoing efforts by Fethiye Municipality to maintain transparency, support genuine local producers and safeguard consumer rights.
Authorities stated that regular inspections will continue at the producer market to ensure compliance with regulations and to promote safe, fair and reliable trading conditions for both producers and shoppers.
MUSKİ Introduces New Technology to Protect Environment and Public Health
MUĞLA – The Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Water and Sewerage Administration (MUSKİ) General Directorate has launched a major technological investment aimed at strengthening environmental protection and public health across the province.
The initiative forms part of a wider project that will see new-generation disinfection systems installed at 13 wastewater treatment plants, with a total investment of 275 million TL. The first phase of the project has now been commissioned at the Marmaris Wastewater Treatment Plant with an investment of 38 million TL.
The newly installed Sodium Hypochlorite Generator system produces chlorine solution from salt and water, enabling treated wastewater to be disinfected more safely before it is released into the environment.
Developed in line with the vision of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Aras, the project aims to use advanced technology to safeguard both environmental and public health.
The system works by processing a mixture of salt and water using electricity. Through electrolysis, a chlorine-based disinfectant is produced on-site and used to treat wastewater before discharge.
Officials said the process effectively neutralises bacteria, viruses and other harmful microorganisms, helping to ensure that treated water can be released into the environment and receiving waters more safely.
By improving the quality of treated wastewater, the system is expected to reduce environmental risks while contributing to the protection of public health throughout the region.
One of the key advantages of the new technology is that it eliminates the need for large quantities of externally sourced chemicals. Producing disinfectant on-site reduces risks associated with chemical transportation and storage while increasing operational safety.
The system also provides a continuous supply of freshly produced disinfectant, improving treatment efficiency and offering a more economical and sustainable solution for wastewater management.
MUSKİ officials stated that the Marmaris installation represents the first step in a wider programme that will see the technology introduced at 13 wastewater treatment plants across Muğla as part of the 275 million TL investment project.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/muskiden-cevre-ve-halk-sagligi-icin-yeni-teknoloji
Ölüdeniz Neighbourhood Reopens for Residence Permit Applications
FETHIYE, MUĞLA – Foreign residents and property owners in the Ölüdeniz area have received welcome news following reports that neighbourhoods previously closed to residence permit applications have now been reopened across Turkey.
According to information from reliable sources, new regulations have lifted restrictions in areas where residence permit applications had previously been limited due to the proportion of foreign residents exceeding the 20 per cent threshold.
In Fethiye, the reopening applies to the Ölüdeniz neighbourhood, including the popular areas of Ovacık, Hisarönü and Ölüdeniz. Homeowners and tenants in these locations can once again apply for residence permits and complete address registration procedures.
The changes are also expected to affect numerous neighbourhoods in Antalya and hundreds of districts in Istanbul that had been subject to similar restrictions.
The previous regulations were introduced to limit the concentration of foreign residents in certain areas. As a result, many foreign nationals faced difficulties obtaining residence permits despite owning or renting property in those neighbourhoods.
The reopening of these areas is expected to provide significant relief for expatriates, property owners and long-term residents who have been affected by the restrictions in recent years.
Authorities have not yet released detailed official guidance on the implementation of the new arrangements, and applicants are advised to check the latest requirements with local immigration offices or professional advisers before submitting applications.
Source: Gürkan Gürol
Fethiye Among 24 Districts Most Likely to Become Turkey’s 82nd Province
MUĞLA – Discussions about the possibility of increasing the number of provinces in Turkey from 81 to 82 continue to attract attention, with 24 districts across the country widely regarded as the strongest candidates for provincial status.
The debate has resurfaced as districts meeting key criteria set by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) are increasingly viewed as functioning like provincial centres due to their population size, economic importance, transportation networks and distance from existing provincial capitals.
According to the criteria, a district must have a population of at least 100,000 and be located more than 30 kilometres from its provincial centre to be considered for provincial status.
Among the districts most frequently mentioned is Fethiye, which has a population of 187,332 and is one of Muğla’s largest and most economically significant districts. With its strong tourism sector, extensive infrastructure and strategic location, Fethiye is often cited as a leading candidate should any future administrative changes be introduced.
Other districts on the list include Alanya in Antalya, with a population of 371,547, Tarsus in Mersin with 358,510, Çorlu in Tekirdağ with 306,939, İnegöl in Bursa with 306,004, Siverek in Şanlıurfa with 277,399 and Manavgat in Antalya with 266,480 residents.
Also frequently highlighted are İskenderun, Edremit, Ereğli (Zonguldak), Erciş, Bandırma, Cizre, Nazilli, Lüleburgaz, Konya Ereğli, Ergani, Ünye, Kozan, Kahta, Elbistan, Polatlı, Midyat and Yüksekova.
While no official government decision has been announced regarding the creation of a new province, the ongoing discussion continues to generate interest in districts that already serve as major regional centres and meet the established population and distance requirements.
Any change to Turkey’s provincial structure would require legislative approval and a formal administrative process. For now, the 24 districts remain among the most frequently cited candidates should the number of provinces be expanded in the future.
Smoking Ban Introduced at Popular Antalya Beaches
ANTALYA – Smoking will be banned at several of Antalya’s most popular beaches as part of new measures aimed at reducing environmental pollution and creating healthier public spaces.
The first phase of the initiative will apply to Lara, Belek, Çamyuva and Beach Park beaches, with local authorities planning to expand smoke-free zones across the region. The move forms part of Antalya’s broader environmental agenda as the city prepares to host the COP31 climate conference later this year.
The beach restrictions come as lawmakers consider tougher nationwide tobacco regulations. Draft legislation would prohibit smoking and other tobacco products, including hookahs, in a wider range of public areas such as beaches, playgrounds, sports facilities, schools, healthcare institutions and places of worship.
İzzet Ünlü, president of the Antalya Maritime Platform, has called for a nationwide smoking ban on beaches and stronger penalties for littering cigarette butts, highlighting similar measures already in place in Spain and France.
The proposed legislation would also ban smoking in outdoor dining areas of restaurants and cafés, while significantly increasing fines for both individuals and businesses that violate the rules. Officials say the measures are designed to protect public health and reduce the environmental impact of tobacco waste along Turkey’s coastline.
Source: https://www.dailysabah.com/turkiye/turkiyes-antalya-bans-smoking-on-major-beaches/news
SPORT
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor update.
Young swimmers and water enthusiasts have the opportunity to join Fethiyespor’s upcoming swimming course, which will take place at the pool located within the club’s facilities.
The course began on Saturday, June 6, and club officials have announced that only a limited number of places remain available.
Parents and participants interested in enrolling are encouraged to register as soon as possible to secure a place.
For registration and further information, applicants can call or send a message to 0531 614 19 33 or visit the Fethiyespor Youth Academy Building.
Fethiyespor continues to expand its youth development programmes, offering sporting opportunities for children and young people across the Fethiye region.
Stay connected with all things Fethiyespor — join the Fethiyespor Yabancilar Facebook group for breaking news, matchday updates, and community discussions.
You can also follow Fethiyespor on Twitter and Instagram
Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates
The British Pound bought 61.46 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 60.69 TL.
The US Dollar bought 46.06 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 45.85 TL.
The Euro bought 53.08 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 53.47 TL.
Source: exchangerates.org.uk
Weather Forecast
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.
Source: Living Earth
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