Aquaculture for all

Concerns mount for fish farming as new project voted out

TURKEY - Demonstrators are celebrating after the spectre of a fish farm off the beautiful coast of Altinkum was finally killed off.

Aydin Provincial Council voted in favour of blocking plans for the farm to be sited off Panayır Island, less than a mile from Altinkum`s famous main beach.

Votes from 23 councillors rejected the plans, with nine in favour and 13 abstaining.

Protestors watching the voting said they were happy the plans were thrown out, almost a year after they were first proposed.

Doğan Ersoy, county councillor from Didim, said: “Victory is ours. The people of Didim, by showing their opposition, have achieved their aim. This fish farm could have had severe consequences on the town.”

Last August an unprecedented demonstration was held in Didim, where hundreds of people had marched against the farm off its shores.

Courts to rule on fish farms

Operating under the directive to vacate their businesses by May 13, time is running out for fish farms as they wait for the Constitutional Court's final decision on whether or not they may stay where they are.

Currently, there are a number of farms in bays along the West coast of Turkey that are located close to tourist areas.

On January 24 this year, the Ministry of Environment and Forest asked fish farms to leave their locations by May 13 out of concern that the fish farms and their inherent production of fish excrement, would hurt tourism in their surrounding areas.

Source: Voices Newspaper

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