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In following months, Doga’s experts visited locations of previously reported habitats of the threatened species to check whether they still exist or not and revise distribution data. The fish were found at 16 different locations, all of which are small springs or tributaries flowing to the lake. Adversely, no threatened fish were encountered in the main water body of the lake. Eflatunpınar, which is also protected as an archeological site is one of the most important fountains with large areas available to the fish. These fish populations are diminishing rapidly, chiefly driven by the invasive species introduced to the lake. There are additional obstacles such as dams, irrigation canals, electroshock fishing, factory and sewage wastes which prevent the proper dispersal of fish, isolating their populations and further decreasing their numbers.
All revised data on the distribution of fish, threats, and actions of a Multispecies Action Plan were presented in a meeting conducted with the support of the Municipality of Beyşehir. The Multispecies Action Plan was sent to relevant stakeholders for revision and comments for finalization after the meeting. Meanwhile, a detailed infographic and news story were published on Magma’s October 2017 issue. The news story included first underwater photographs of Eflatunpınar.
On the last month of the project, finalized Multispecies Action Plan for Conservation of Threatened Fish of Lake Beyşehir and its Catchments was sent to the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs to be approved. The plan will be presented at Local Wetlands Committee in December 2018 and come into force.
The project has been a good example of successful collaboration between different levels of stakeholders with the wider fishing community, civil society organizations, academia and governmental agencies. The relationships established during the project’s implementation period will continue for the conservation of these threatened species.