Natural assets of Turkey's Saros Gulf face destruction

The natural assets of the Saros Gulf, in the Keşan district of the northwestern province of Edirne, face destruction due to the opening of stone and limestone quarries, Doğan News Agency reported May 23.

"The trucks at the mines have been passing through our villages every day at every hour. We are inhaling dust. It sticks to our throat," said one villager, Dilber Sarı.

The Gulf of Saros, as well as its coasts and surroundings, have a high potential for tourism with natural, cultural and historical assets. Accordingly, Turkish officials declared the unique environment as a Cultural and Tourism Protection and Development Zone with a regulation in 2006.

The Gulf of Saros also attracts many marine biologists and divers due to its large variety of fish, sea plants and sponges. The gulf was announced as Special Environmental Protection Area with a regulation in 2010. 

The Environment and Urban Planning Ministry, however, declared in March report that "an environmental impact assessment report (ÇED) was not necessary" to conduct mining works in the region, prompting the Saros Gulf Mecidiye Tourism and Environment and Cultural Artifact Protection Association to appeal to an Edirne administrative court to demand a stay of execution.

The court agreed that such projects require an assessment report with an interim decision.

Although the case is continuing, some firms have reportedly made two new applications to the ministry to acquire a license to open two limestone quarries by the seaside in the region. The ministry has reportedly not provided either an affirmative or negative decision to the firms' applications. 

Bülent Kaçar, a lawyer for the environmental association, said there was already a regulation that...