ADM Elektrik, the electricity distribution company of Aydın, Denizli, and Muğla, is preparing to implement an important project aimed at protecting the natural life of sea turtles under the consultancy of Lecturer Dr. Sözbilen. Within the scope of the project, Fethiye coasts will be illuminated with “red light” in order to protect the natural life cycle of sea turtles.

Having carried out its pilot implementation in 2025 at Karaot Beach in the Fethiye district of Muğla, ADM is expanding the project to the Kocaçalış Beach area in Fethiye. The project, jointly conducted by Pamukkale University and ADM, will contribute to the long-standing conservation efforts led by academics under the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of the Republic of Türkiye.

Under the consultancy of Pamukkale University Acıpayam MYO Lecturer and Sea Turtle Specialist Lecturer Dr. Doğan Sözbilen, and with the contribution of Aydem Energy and under the leadership of ADM Elektrik, street lighting is being converted to red light for sea turtles that are negatively affected by urban lighting during nesting periods. In this way, sea turtles, which do not perceive red light, will be able to nest safely, and hatchlings emerging from eggs will be able to move toward the sea and reach the water. The implementation carried out on the beaches of Fethiye constitutes an important example of how human activity and natural life can coexist in harmony.

“This Project We Implemented with ADM Elektrik is a First in Türkiye”

Lecturer Dr. Doğan Sözbilen emphasized that this project in Fethiye is a first and pioneering initiative in Türkiye, noting that the Fethiye coastline is among the most important nesting areas for sea turtles in the country. Highlighting the scientific importance of the project, Sözbilen stated:

“Fethiye beaches are an area where monitoring and conservation activities have been carried out continuously for the longest period by the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks under the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of the Republic of Türkiye. At the same time, it is a densely touristic area where the city and nesting beaches are intertwined. Sea turtles are species older than dinosaurs, and thanks to adaptations acquired over millions of years of evolutionary processes, they continue their existence today. However, artificial lighting resulting from increasing human pressure in coastal areas, especially white and bright lights, can negatively affect both the nesting behavior of adult females and the sea orientation of hatchlings. Scientific studies have shown that red light has a much lower impact on sea turtles. For this reason, red light applications have recently become prominent as a conservation practice being promoted worldwide. The project we implemented with ADM Elektrik is a first in Türkiye.”

Artificial Lights Pose a Threat

Stating that hatchlings reach the sea by following natural brightness after emerging from eggs, Sözbilen emphasized that artificial lights therefore pose a significant threat. He noted that thanks to the implementation at Kocaçalış Beach, turtles will be able to reproduce freely in the same places where they were born. He explained that while there has been an increasing trend in the number of nests across the Mediterranean, no significant change has been observed in Fethiye over the past 30 years; therefore, every measure to be taken is of critical importance. Sözbilen also highlighted that sea turtles are creatures that return years later to the beaches where they were born to nest, stressing that it is essential for these nesting beaches to continue to be protected in the future so that the hatchlings being protected today will be able to find healthy nesting areas approximately 20 years later.