Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Türkiye.
Curated from various news sources.
🧿 LOCAL NEWS
Endangered Caracal Killed on Muğla-Fethiye Highway: Experts Call for Ecosystem Transition Areas
In a tragic incident highlighting the dangers faced by wildlife, an endangered caracal was killed after being struck by a vehicle on the Muğla-Fethiye Highway in İnlice, Fethiye. The loss has sparked renewed calls from experts for better safety measures on highways to protect vulnerable species.
Following the report, teams from the Fethiye Nature Conservation National Parks (DKMP) Directorate arrived at the scene, where it was confirmed that the caracal cub had died from the impact. Investigations revealed that the young animal suffered a spinal fracture and significant head and internal injuries. DKMP officials collected tissue and DNA samples as part of the ongoing Caracal Species Protection Action Plan.
Dr. Yasin İlemin, Director of the Biodiversity Application and Research Center at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, conducted an on-site investigation and highlighted the growing threat to the species. “Caracals are one of Turkey’s five native wild cat species, primarily found in the southwestern provinces, including Muğla, Antalya, Aydın, Denizli, and Burdur,” Dr. İlemin explained.
He stressed that the population of caracals is rapidly declining, with highway collisions posing a significant threat. “On average, two caracals die each year due to vehicle accidents in Muğla alone. Concrete barriers along highways block their natural migration paths, leading to these tragic incidents. Lynxes in areas like Seydikemer Plateau face similar dangers,” he added.
Dr. İlemin emphasised the urgent need for “ecosystem transition areas”—designated safe crossings that allow wildlife to move between habitats without the risk of vehicle collisions. “We must implement these transitions at key points along the highways to protect not only caracals but also other wildlife species at risk,” he urged.
Conservationists are calling for immediate action to integrate such wildlife corridors into regional infrastructure planning to prevent further loss of endangered species.
Source: Fethiye TV
13th Gastro Fethiye National Gastronomy Festival in Fethiye
Fethiye hosted the 13th Gastro Fethiye National Gastronomy Festival, bringing together chefs from across Türkiye. alongside culinary students, the future chefs of the industry.
The festival, held at the Çatalarık Social Facility on 20-21 February, began with chef candidates from various cities competing in individual categories on the first day, showcasing their culinary talents.
Experienced chefs served as jury members, evaluating the dishes based on taste, presentation, and kitchen cleanliness. Thanks to a transparent and fair scoring system, participants competed in an equitable environment.
The opening ceremony saw the attendance of Fethiye Deputy Mayor Metin Sevinç, Deputy Mayor Veli Uysal, and Fethiye Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Osman Çıralı, who showed their support for the event.
Onur Arslan, President of the Chef Mavi Fethiye Professional Chefs Association, expressed satisfaction with the growing interest in the festival. “There is great interest in our festival, which we organised for the 13th time this year, from all over Türkiye. We are happy to host chefs and students from different cities. We ensure fair scoring in the competitions, which is why many students are eager to participate, knowing they will be judged justly,” Arslan said.
He also highlighted the festival’s structure, noting that while the first day focused on individual competitions, the second day would feature team-based contests.
The two-day festival offered a platform for emerging culinary talent and celebrated the rich gastronomy culture of Türkiye.
Source: Fethiye TV
Handicrafts by Disabled Individuals Showcased at Erasta AVM
Residents of the Private Fethiye Disabled Care Center showcased their handcrafted creations at Erasta AVM, receiving widespread appreciation from visitors.
The exhibition, which featured a variety of decorative handicrafts made by disabled individuals, drew significant attention and admiration from attendees.
The opening ceremony was attended by several notable figures, including Muğla Family and Social Services Provincial Director Yakup Kütük, Private Fethiye Disabled Care Center owner Enver Birim, Fethiye Deputy Mayor Metin Sevinç, Nursel Özdemir Educational Institutions and Fethiye Peer Academy Founder Salih Dündar, along with disabled individuals and other invited guests.
Institution Manager Serdar İnce spoke about the centre’s mission, stating, “Fethiye Disabled Care Center, as an organisation affiliated with the Ministry of Family and Social Services, has been providing combined care and health services since April 2023. We have the capacity to serve 65 people, meeting all the needs of our residents.”
İnce highlighted the importance of such events in supporting the socialisation of disabled individuals. “Today, we are proud to exhibit the products they have crafted with their own hands. Events like these help accelerate the socialisation process for our residents, and it brings us joy to see the positive impact. We extend our gratitude to everyone who contributed to making this exhibition possible,” he added.
The exhibition not only celebrated the creativity and talent of disabled individuals but also emphasised the importance of inclusion and community engagement.
Source: Fethiye TV
🧿 NEWS FROM AROUND TÜRKIYE
Inuit-style ice fishing thrives in Türkiye’s subzero winter
In Türkiye’s eastern Bayburt province, amateur fishermen are using traditional Inuit-style ice fishing techniques on the partially frozen Çoruh River to combat harsh winter conditions. With temperatures dropping to -20°C (-4°F), the river has developed an ice layer up to 30 cm (12 inches) thick, providing an opportunity for residents of Bayraktar village to fish during their free time.
Early each morning, fishermen use pickaxes and hatchets to break through the thick ice before casting their nets. To lure fish such as freshwater chub, blackfish, mirror carp, and silverfish, they tap tree branches against the ice, creating vibrations that startle the fish below. In stronger currents, ice sheets serve as makeshift rafts, allowing the fishermen to cross the river safely.
The catch is divided among families and shared with neighbours, especially the elderly or those unable to fish. Local fisherman Osman Yıldırım highlighted the tradition’s significance, noting that it has been passed down for generations. “We fish for food and recreation, sharing with those in need and ensuring we respect the fish’s spawning season,” he said.
Uğur Koçanoğlu emphasised sustainable fishing practices, explaining that the villagers only take what they need and fish sparingly in winter to preserve local fish populations.
Ali Yıldırım described the tradition as both demanding and enjoyable, noting the community spirit it fosters during Bayburt’s long winters. “Breaking the ice and pulling out the fish takes a whole day, but it’s a fun and rewarding experience, especially when we bring our children along,” he added.
This age-old tradition not only provides sustenance but also strengthens community bonds while promoting respect for nature.
Source: Daily Sabah
Türkiye’s Erzurum moves toward UNESCO gastronomy city recognition
Erzurum, one of Türkiye’s leading winter tourism hubs, has taken a major step towards becoming the world’s 57th “City of Gastronomy” under UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network. After nearly two years of preparation, the Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality’s Tourism and Gastronomy Directorate successfully submitted the city’s application, which has now been accepted by the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO.
The commission will draft a report to be sent to the UNESCO Directorate for final approval. If successful, Erzurum will join Gaziantep, Hatay, and Afyonkarahisar as Türkiye’s representatives in the global network celebrating culinary excellence.
Erzurum Metropolitan Mayor Mehmet Sekmen highlighted the city’s deep-rooted historical and cultural heritage, spanning the Saltuk, Seljuk, Ottoman, and republican eras, and its growing reputation in the culinary world.
“Through our application to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, we aim to officially register and celebrate Erzurum’s unique flavours. Currently, Erzurum ranks third in Türkiye for the most registered gastronomic products, but our goal is to become No. 1,” Sekmen told Anadolu Agency (AA).
He also announced the registration of six local cultural and culinary items, including the Erzurum bar dance costume, Erzurum sinisi (traditional tray), Erzurum tava ketesi (a pastry), Erzurum ayak paça çorbası (lamb’s feet soup), and Erzurum göğermiş peynirli pidesi (a cheese-stuffed flatbread).
“By officially documenting these dishes, we ensure they are preserved for future generations. What isn’t recorded risks being forgotten,” Sekmen noted, stressing the importance of cultural preservation.
Erzurum was recently named the “Tourism Capital” of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) countries, a designation that Sekmen believes can create synergy between the city’s strong winter tourism sector and its culinary heritage.
“If we secure a spot on UNESCO’s list, tourists who come for skiing will also want to explore Erzurum’s culinary scene. Likewise, food tourists will have the chance to enjoy winter sports. This blend of winter tourism and gastronomy will boost visitor numbers significantly,” Sekmen explained.
The final decision from UNESCO could mark a transformative moment for Erzurum, solidifying its position on the global culinary map while enhancing its status as a premier winter tourism destination.
Source: Daily Sabah
Türkiye Begins Major Egg Exports to the U.S. Amid Bird Flu Crisis
Türkiye has started exporting around 15,000 tonnes of eggs to the United States as a severe bird flu outbreak continues to slash U.S. production and push prices higher, a leading industry official announced on Wednesday.
Ibrahim Afyon, chairman of the Egg Producers Central Union in Türkiye , confirmed that shipments began this month and will continue through to July. “The export will take place through our member companies with the required authorisations, while two firms will coordinate the process,” Afyon stated.
In total, 15,000 tonnes of eggs — equivalent to 700 containers — will be shipped to the U.S. as part of the agreement.
The United States has been struggling to contain the spread of bird flu, which was first detected in dairy cattle in Texas last March. Since then, the virus has reached over 970 herds across 17 states. Nearly 70 people, mostly farm workers in direct contact with infected poultry or cattle, have contracted the virus, with one fatality reported.
Afyon highlighted Türkiye’s growing presence in the global egg market, noting that the country ranks among the world’s top 10 egg exporters.
🧿 SPORT
TFF Postpones 2nd and 3rd League Matches Due to Adverse Weather
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) postponed the TFF 2nd League Week 24 and TFF 3rd League Week 21 fixtures that were scheduled for this past weekend due to severe weather conditions affecting travel and player safety.
In a statement, the TFF explained that the decision was made to prevent teams from facing difficulties during travel caused by the adverse weather. The postponed matches were rescheduled to be played on Wednesday, April 2.
Additionally, the Development Leagues Organizing Committee postponed all fixtures in the Development Leagues and the Women’s 3rd Football League, which were originally set for February 21-24. New dates for these matches will be announced later.
The TFF emphasised that the safety of players, staff, and fans had been the top priority as weather conditions disrupted travel and matchday logistics across the country.
Source: https://www.kirsehircigdem.com/tff-2-ve-3-lig-ve-gelisim-liglerinde-maclar-iptal-edildi
Fethiyespor
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor update.
Match Results
The match against 1461 Trabzon FK, scheduled for Sunday, 23 February at 13:00, was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.
League Matches
Sunday 2 March away against Adana 01 FK. The kick-off time is at 14:00.
Fethiyespor remain in 9th position in the league table.
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Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates
The British Pound bought 46.01 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 45.61 TL.
The US Dollar bought 36.42 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 36.22 TL.
The Euro bought 38.12 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 38.01 TL.
Source: exchangerates.org.uk
Weather Forecast
Global warming, while primarily associated with rising global temperatures, can paradoxically trigger more extreme weather events, including colder winters in certain regions. As polar ice melts and ocean temperatures rise, atmospheric patterns like the jet stream can become destabilised. Harsher winter conditions and cold snaps are becoming more common across the country.
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.
Source: Living Earth
