The Directorate General of Nature Conservation and National Parks (DKMP) is carrying out a project called “Natural Trout Production, Breeding, and Fish Stocking of Inland Waters” to optimize the natural trout populations in forest streams, rehabilitate deteriorated trout habitats, and preserve genetic resources. Under this project, DKMP produces 5 million trout annually at production stations in Trabzon Altındere, Mersin Çamlıyayla, and Bolu Abant.
The red-spotted trouts produced under the project are released into forest streams. DKMP General Manager Kadir Çokçetin stated that conserving, developing, and passing on wildlife in Turkey is the main mission of the directorate. They conduct studies on endangered species, establish production stations, and release animals such as red deer, Anatolian mouflon, and fallow deer into nature. Additionally, red-spotted trout facilities have been established.
Çokçetin recalled that the project for stocking forest streams with fish was initiated in 2006, and in the past 18 years, approximately 45 million red-spotted trouts have been released into natural waters within the scope of the project. Emphasizing that they have declared protected areas in Turkey as part of the DKMP, Çokçetin highlighted their efforts to protect the biodiversity, natural beauties, and resources of national parks, nature parks, nature conservation areas, and wildlife development areas.
Concerning the red-spotted trouts, Çokçetin mentioned that they conduct marking studies to monitor their settlement in their natural habitat, sustainability, adaptation, coloring, nutrition, growth periods, and the egg performance of individuals reaching breeding age, such as egg size. He also stated that they have approximately 2,500 game protection personnel in the field who routinely conduct inspections to combat poaching.
Çokçetin also discussed the significant efforts they have made in combating poaching, with around 2,500 game protection officers conducting regular inspections in the field. He mentioned that colleagues in each province organize game protection programs to control the areas more effectively and highlighted the severe compensation fines for poaching deer and mountain goats to serve as a deterrent. Through the cooperation of conscious citizens who report poaching activities, DKMP continues their protection efforts in the field.
To combat poaching, DKMP utilizes technological products such as drones, and Çokçetin emphasized the benefits they have seen from these tools. He noted that as a result of their efforts in combating poaching, there has been a significant increase in wildlife populations, although sometimes complaints are received from farmers about an overpopulation of deer causing damage to their crops.
