Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Turkey.
Curated from various news sources.
NEWS
Fethiye Residents Enjoy 3rd Stage Waterfront and Call for Cleanliness
Fethiye, Muğla — Fethiye’s 3rd Stage Waterfront has become a popular gathering place for residents looking to escape the summer heat, spend time with their families and enjoy the area’s scenic sunsets. Alongside its growing popularity, locals are highlighting the importance of keeping the waterfront clean.
The coastal promenade offers grassy areas, sea views and space for families to relax, making it particularly popular during the hottest parts of the day. In the evenings, the waterfront also attracts residents who come to enjoy Fethiye’s sunset views.
Among the regular visitors is Hüseyin Eftepe, a gymnastics, swimming and diving coach who has lived in Fethiye for around 20 years. A resident of Günlükbaşı, Eftepe frequently visits the waterfront, particularly during hot weather, and considers it an important place for relaxing by the sea and spending time with family.
Local resident Gökhan Vişne is another regular visitor, often making the trip specifically to watch the sunset. He said the waterfront offers particularly clear views, with the changing light creating striking reflections across the sea and moonlight adding to the scenery after dark.
Vişne also highlighted the need for visitors to take responsibility for the cleanliness of the area. With rubbish bins provided at regular intervals along the waterfront, residents are being encouraged to dispose of food waste, sunflower seed shells and other rubbish properly rather than leaving it behind.
As the 3rd Stage Waterfront continues to attract residents and families throughout the summer, locals say maintaining the cleanliness of the shared space is essential to ensuring everyone can continue to enjoy the seaside, grassy areas and spectacular sunsets.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/fethiyeliler-3-etap-sahil-bandinda-vakit-geciriyor-temiz-birakmaliyiz/
Fire at Forest Edge in Fethiye’s Faralya Extinguished Quickly
Faralya, Fethiye— A fire that broke out at the edge of a forest in Faralya was brought under control within around half an hour, thanks to the rapid response of local residents.
The fire started in the Kızılkaya locality, behind the Hisar Cemetery and close to the forest boundary. According to Faralya Neighborhood Headman Hasan Karaburun, the flames affected an area of approximately 10 square metres.
After noticing the fire, local residents quickly organised through a WhatsApp group and made their way to the scene with water tankers.
Their intervention prevented the flames from spreading into the surrounding forest, and the fire was brought under control before it could develop further.
The incident highlights the importance of rapid action when fires occur near forested areas, particularly during the hot and dry summer months.
‘Floating Fortune’ Megayacht Refuels in Fethiye with 60 Tons of Fuel
Fethiye, Muğla — The 65-metre luxury megayacht Cedar Sea 2, reportedly owned by the Mouawad family, has attracted attention in Fethiye after taking on 60 tons of fuel at the town’s pier.
The yacht, which is reported to rank among the world’s 100 largest luxury megayachts, docked in Fethiye while cruising the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.
Two tankers brought the fuel from Aliağa in İzmir, with approximately 60 tons loaded onto the yacht. Local reports said the fuel cost around 5 million TL, paid in foreign currency.
Built in the Netherlands in 1986 and sailing under the Gibraltar flag, Cedar Sea 2 is reportedly 65 metres long and can accommodate up to 24 guests and 25 crew members.
The megayacht is said to regularly offer guests luxury “Blue Cruises” along the Fethiye-Göcek, Marmaris and Bodrum coastlines during the tourism season.
Known locally as a “floating fortune”, the yacht is reported to feature luxurious interiors, including gold-plated fittings and decorations incorporating precious gems. Its striking appearance attracted the attention of tourists at the Fethiye pier.
It was not confirmed whether members of the Mouawad family were aboard at the time of the refuelling.
The Mouawad family is associated with the international luxury jewellery business Mouawad, whose high-profile clientele has included members of the British royal family and celebrities including Jennifer Lopez, Kate Winslet, Kim Kardashian, Gigi Hadid, Uma Thurman, Elizabeth Taylor and Nicole Kidman.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/yuzen-servet-fethiyede-60-ton-akaryakit-ikmali-yapti/
Fethiye: The Next Stop in the Campaign to Protect the Seas
Fethiye, Muğla — Fethiye is set to become the next focus of Turkey’s campaign to protect its seas, with a major seabed sludge cleanup operation due to begin in Fethiye Bay on September 8.
The programme will be attended by Emine Erdoğan, wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change.
During the event, a Mooring Buoy System designed to protect seagrass meadows will also be unveiled.
The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change has been implementing the Integrated Marine Pollution Monitoring Program (DEN-İZ) since 2014 to regularly monitor marine pollution.
The programme operates across 428 stations covering all of Turkey’s seas, monitoring pollutants, eutrophication, biodiversity and marine debris. For the 2026–2028 period, the microplastic monitoring network has been expanded to 40 stations.
Zero Waste Blue Movement
Efforts to reduce marine debris and protect coastal ecosystems are also being carried out under the Zero Waste Blue Movement, launched on June 10, 2019, under the auspices of Emine Erdoğan.
Marine debris collection operations have been carried out in 28 coastal provinces, alongside education and awareness activities nationwide.
The first five-year Provincial Marine Debris Action Plans covered 2020–2024, while the second five-year plans, covering 2025–2029, came into effect on January 1, 2025.
Approximately 375,000 tonnes of marine debris have been collected through the Zero Waste Blue initiative to date. The amount collected from the seas in 2026 alone has reached around 55,000 tonnes.
Lessons from İzmit and Lake Van
Seabed sludge removal has become an important part of Turkey’s efforts to protect its seas and water resources.
In the Gulf of İzmit, 70% of the Eastern Basin Seabed Sludge Removal Project has been completed. Launched in 2022 under the Sea of Marmara Protection Action Plan, the project aims to remove 3.8 million cubic metres of sludge. So far, 2.4 million cubic metres have been extracted and disposed of.
Minister Kurum inspected the İzmit cleanup operations by diving into the gulf in June. The return of marine life, including seagrass, starfish and sea cucumbers, has indicated that the ecosystem is beginning to recover.
Similar work is continuing in Lake Van, where 2,206,422 cubic metres of bottom sludge have been removed to date. The overall target is to remove 2.78 million cubic metres.
In Tatvan, Bitlis, where approximately 600,000 cubic metres of sludge is planned for removal, 42,915 cubic metres have been extracted so far.
Source: https://www.gercekfethiye.com/denizleri-koruma-seferberliginde-yeni-durak-fethiye/128737/
Recovery Support Begins One Day After Seydikemer Fire
Seydikemer, Muğla— Recovery efforts for agricultural producers affected by a fire in Seydikemer began within a day of the blaze, with Muğla Metropolitan Municipality providing essential materials to help restore damaged production facilities.
The fire broke out on Saturday, August 29, prompting teams from the municipality’s Department of Agricultural Services to visit the affected area and assess the damage and needs of local producers.
The assessment found that a greenhouse belonging to producer Özge Durman had been damaged in the fire. Following the assessment, the municipality arranged support to help repair the greenhouse and enable production to resume as quickly as possible.
Just one day after the fire was extinguished, the municipality delivered 12 rolls of greenhouse plastic sheeting to Durman.
The assistance forms part of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality’s wider efforts to support agricultural producers affected by fires across the province and help minimise disruption to local production.
Officials said the rapid response was intended to ensure that essential materials reached affected producers as quickly as possible, allowing damaged greenhouses to be repaired and agricultural activities to resume.
The municipality will continue to assess the needs of producers affected by the recent fires and provide support where required.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/seydikemerde-yanginin-yaralari-bir-gunde-sarilmaya-baslandi/
Free Groundwater Surveys Offered to Fethiye and Seydikemer Fire Victims
Fethiye, Muğla — A senior geophysicist has launched a free groundwater and geophysical survey initiative to support farmers and producers affected by the recent fires in Fethiye and Seydikemer.
Dr. Engin Erçetin, an expert in groundwater exploration and seismology, said the region’s urgent need for water prompted him to offer his expertise free of charge.
“Every drop of water is essential right now,” Erçetin said, explaining that identifying groundwater could help affected agricultural land recover and allow crops to grow again.
Erçetin previously carried out similar work following the 2021 fires, identifying groundwater sources on the land of several local residents. He said those areas have since recovered, with the soil effectively “coming back to life.” Some of the artesian wells identified during that work were even used by water tankers during the recent fires.
The surveys use electrical currents sent into the ground to measure resistivity and conductivity, allowing specialists to identify potential groundwater sources beneath the surface. Erçetin compared the process to a medical scan, explaining that it can help determine the most suitable locations for drilling and, in some cases, estimate water flow rates.
Fire-affected citizens in need of the service can contact Dr. Erçetin directly to benefit from the free surveys.
Erçetin also highlighted the wider environmental impact of the fires. The loss and drying of tree roots can affect how water moves through the landscape, while changes to soil structure may increase the risk of erosion and localized landslides.
He stressed that the initiative is about more than technical expertise, describing it as an act of solidarity with local farmers and producers.
“We need to revitalise agriculture. We need to revitalise the soil. We need to breathe again,” Erçetin said, adding that he intends to continue supporting producers in Fethiye and Seydikemer as the region begins its recovery.
Uludağ to Introduce Artificial Snow as Warmer Winters Threaten Ski Season
Uludağ, Bursa — Uludağ, one of Turkey’s best-known winter tourism destinations, is preparing to introduce artificial snow as delayed snowfall and increasingly mild winters threaten the length and reliability of the ski season.
According to the Uludağ Area Presidency’s 2026 Institutional Financial Status and Expectations Report, climate change has increasingly delayed natural snowfall in recent years, resulting in later openings for the winter season. The shorter season has also led to reservation losses for hotels operating at the popular resort.
The report says an artificial snowmaking system is needed to extend the winter tourism season and help Uludağ continue hosting national and international sporting events.
Snowmaking is also required by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) for certain competitions, making reliable snow infrastructure increasingly important for Uludağ’s ability to host ski races.
Authorities will first assess the required snowmaking capacity and calculate the costs before putting the system into operation.
Climate concerns grow for ski destinations
Uludağ’s plans reflect a wider challenge facing ski resorts around the world as climate change alters snowfall patterns and increasingly shortens traditional winter seasons.
Turkey is also forecast to experience a relatively mild winter, although weather conditions can vary significantly between regions.
The U.K. Met Office has warned that a strengthening El Niño could contribute to exceptionally high global temperatures in 2027, potentially pushing the year above the current global temperature record set in 2024. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has likewise forecast elevated global temperatures and significant changes in precipitation patterns.
Scientists stress that El Niño does not produce the same conditions everywhere. Its regional impacts depend on atmospheric circulation, ocean temperatures and other climate patterns.
More broadly, El Niño is a temporary natural phenomenon occurring against a much warmer baseline caused by human-driven greenhouse gas emissions.
For Uludağ, the increasing unpredictability of natural snowfall presents a growing challenge for the tourism industry, with artificial snow now being considered an important tool for protecting the resort’s winter season and its role as a venue for international sporting events.
Source: Hürriyet Daily News
SPORT
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor update.
Fethiyespor Announce Ticket Prices for 52 Orduspor FK Match
Fethiyespor have announced ticket prices for their opening match of the 2026–2027 Nesine 2nd League Red Group season against 52 Orduspor FK.
The Week 1 fixture will take place on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at 19:00.
Ticket prices:
- 🎟️ Behind-the-Goal: 250 TL
- 🎟️ Marathon Stand: 400 TL
Tickets will go on sale from 11:00 on Saturday, September 5 (today) at the Fethiyespor club administrative building.
Tickets will also be available from the stadium ticket booths on match day.
Important: Fethiyespor have confirmed that tickets for home matches this season will not be sold online. Tickets will be available exclusively as physical paper tickets, with prices subject to change from week to week.
Match Results
Fethiyespor lost the first game of the season at home against 52 Orduspor FK. on Sunday. The final score was 0-3
Fethiyespor start the season in 17th position in the league table.
League Matches
Fethiyespor will play away against Ankara Demirspor on Saturday 12th September 2026. Kick-off time is 16:00.
Stay connected with all things Fethiyespor — join the Fethiyespor Yabancilar Facebook group for breaking news, new signings, matchday updates, and community discussions.
You can also follow Fethiyespor on Twitter and Instagram
Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates
The British Pound bought 65.46 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 64.80 TL.
The US Dollar bought 48.43 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 47.88 TL.
The Euro bought 56.24 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 55.40 TL.
Source: exchangerates.org.uk
Weather Forecast
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.
Source: Living Earth
