Belek, Antalya: 1998 Bern marina recommendation, 2014 hotel-road annulment and 2021 hatchling deaths
- About 62 of my hatchlings died under a wooden walkway at Port Nature Luxury Resort in August 2021, according to EKAD. Cumhuriyet
- 71 more of my hatchlings were rescued alive from a nest under a walkway at Orange County Resort, according to EKAD. Cumhuriyet
- More than 3,000 nests were laid on my 30 km beach in 2021, and 95% of them lay in the first 35 m, according to EKAD's president. Cumhuriyet
- Communities and civil society EKAD: Said the 35 m rule was not followed. Cumhuriyet
- Company or project Port Nature Luxury Resort: Its officials declined to comment. Cumhuriyet
Between 1998 and 2021 the Belek, Kadriye and Bogazkent coast in Antalya, Türkiye, appeared in a Bern Convention recommendation on a marina plan, an administrative court ruling that cancelled a hotel road permit, and fines on two hotels after hatchlings died under wooden walkways. EKAD said the 30 km beach had more than 3,000 nests in 2021.
EKAD, as reported by Cumhuriyet. A further 71 hatchlings were rescued alive at a second hotel.
Status As of October 2026: the 2021 fines on two hotels are the latest outcome on record; no appeal in the 2014 case and no outcome of the criminal proceedings were found.
- Royal Belek Turizm A.S. — Annulment of the 29-year permit for the Titanic Delux Hotel Belek road, on its complaint Emlak Kulisi
- Port Nature Luxury Resort and Orange County Resort — Administrative fines totalling TRY 482,790 under Environment Law 2872 Cumhuriyet
- Loggerhead hatchlings at Bogazkent — About 62 died at Port Nature Luxury Resort; 71 were rescued alive at Orange County Resort Cumhuriyet
- The Belek nesting beach — Bern Recommendation No. 66 (1998) called it the area of highest nesting density; EKAD counted more than 3,000 nests on the 30 km beach in 2021 Council of Europe, Bern Convention Standing Committee
What happened
In its Recommendation No. 66 of 4 December 1998 on nesting beaches for marine turtles in Turkey, the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention asked Turkey to re-evaluate recent allocations on Belek and other beaches. For Belek it asked Turkey to "abandon plans for the development of a marina at natural 'SIT' area as this would be incompatible with the nesting activities in this area of highest nesting density", to prevent night use of the beaches, to secure the remaining unbuilt beach plots against development, to prohibit horse riding on the beach and to address light pollution from existing buildings.
On 11 September 2014 the Antalya 1st Administrative Court cancelled a 29-year permit for a 1,280 m road from the Titanic Delux Hotel Belek to the sea. The complaint was brought by Royal Belek Turizm A.S.; the parties named in the case also include Gunaylar Otel Isletmeleri (the Titanic hotels) and the General Directorate of Forestry. The road partly crossed the first 50 m of the coastal strip and 386 m of a first-degree natural site (Kumkoy). The court files were 2013/467 E., 2014/1031 K. and 2014/401 E., 2014/1032 K.
In August 2021 EKAD (the Ecological Research Society) found two nests under wooden walkways at two hotels in Bogazkent. About 62 hatchlings died at Port Nature Luxury Resort, and 71 were rescued alive at Orange County Resort. The Serik Chief Prosecutor opened proceedings under Animal Protection Law 5199, and the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation filed a criminal complaint and fined the two hotels under Environment Law 2872. Cumhuriyet reported on 3 September 2021 that the administrative fines totalled TRY 482,790.
EKAD's president, Ali Fuat Canbolat, told Cumhuriyet that more than 3,000 nests were laid that year on the 30 km beach and that 95% of nests were in the first 35 m, and EKAD said the 35 m rule had not been followed. The Ministry said it would create a 40 to 60 m breeding band separated by wooden barriers on turtle beaches. The sources reviewed do not say whether the 1998 marina plan was dropped, and no appeal in the 2014 case and no outcome of the 2021 criminal complaint are on record.
- 1998Bern Convention Recommendation No. 66 (4 Dec) asks Turkey to abandon the Belek marina plan and to secure unbuilt beach plots
- 2014Antalya 1st Administrative Court cancels the 29-year permit for the 1,280 m hotel road (11 Sep)
- 2021EKAD finds two nests under hotel walkways in Bogazkent (Aug); the Serik Chief Prosecutor opens proceedings and the Ministry fines the two hotels (reported 3 Sep)
What was said
“abandon plans for the development of a marina at natural 'SIT' area as this would be incompatible with the nesting activities in this area of highest nesting density”
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
How it looked
Shown
- The Ministry said it would create a 40 to 60 m breeding band, separated by wooden barriers, on turtle beaches.Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation (Türkiye), as reported by Cumhuriyet · Cumhuriyet
Recorded
- Bern Recommendation No. 66 (1998) asked Turkey to re-evaluate recent allocations on Belek and other beaches and, for Belek, to abandon the marina plan, prevent night use, secure unbuilt plots, prohibit horse riding and address light pollution.
- The Antalya 1st Administrative Court cancelled the 29-year permit for the 1,280 m road from the Titanic Delux Hotel Belek to the sea on 11 September 2014.
- EKAD found two nests under wooden walkways at two Bogazkent hotels in August 2021: about 62 hatchlings died at one and 71 were rescued alive at the other.
- The Serik Chief Prosecutor opened proceedings under Animal Protection Law 5199; the Ministry fined the two hotels a total of TRY 482,790 under Environment Law 2872 and filed a criminal complaint.
Who gained
Reached nature or the ground
Gained elsewhere
Responses on record
- Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation (Türkiye) (August-September 2021): Filed a criminal complaint and fined the two hotels under Environment Law 2872; said it would create a 40 to 60 m breeding band separated by wooden barriers on turtle beaches. · Cumhuriyet
- Port Nature Luxury Resort (2021): Its officials declined to comment to Cumhuriyet. · Cumhuriyet
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- 1998-12-04Outcome not on recordBern Convention Recommendation No. 66 (1998) on nesting beaches in Turkey, Belek paragraphsStanding Committee of the Bern Convention · International court · Bern Convention Standing Committee (recommendation addressed to Türkiye) → Türkiye
The recommendation asked Turkey to re-evaluate recent allocations on Belek and other beaches and, for Belek, to abandon the marina plan, prevent night use of the beaches, secure the remaining unbuilt plots, prohibit horse riding and address light pollution. The sources reviewed do not say whether the marina plan was dropped. Council of Europe, Bern Convention Standing Committee
- 2014-09-11Claimant wonRoyal Belek Turizm A.S. against the 29-year permit for the Titanic Delux Hotel Belek roadAntalya 1st Administrative Court (2013/467 E., 2014/1031 K.; 2014/401 E., 2014/1032 K.) · Administrative · Royal Belek Turizm A.S. → Not stated in the sources reviewed; the parties named are Gunaylar Otel Isletmeleri (Titanic hotels) and the General Directorate of Forestry
The court cancelled a 29-year permit for a 1,280 m road from the Titanic Delux Hotel Belek to the sea. The road partly crossed the first 50 m of the coastal strip and 386 m of a first-degree natural site (Kumkoy). No appeal is on record. Emlak Kulisi
- 2021-09-03Outcome not on recordTRY 482.79bn Total administrative fine to the two hotelsAdministrative fines on two Bogazkent hotels under Environment Law 2872Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation · Administrative · Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation → Port Nature Luxury Resort and Orange County Resort
Cumhuriyet reported on 3 September 2021 that the Ministry fined the two hotels a total of TRY 482,790 under Environment Law 2872 after nests were found under wooden walkways. Cumhuriyet
- 2021-08–Outcome not on recordProceedings under Animal Protection Law 5199 and the Ministry's criminal complaint over the hatchling deathsSerik Chief Prosecutor · Criminal · Serik Chief Prosecutor; Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation (criminal complaint) → Not named in the sources reviewed
The Serik Chief Prosecutor opened proceedings under Animal Protection Law 5199, and the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation filed a criminal complaint. The outcome is not on record. Cumhuriyet
Insurers
What nature saw
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
What we don't know
Nature
- Disputed Whether the 35 m rule for the beach was followed at the two hotels
Court
- Unclear Bern Convention Recommendation No. 66 (1998) on nesting beaches in Turkey, Belek paragraphs: outcome not on record.
- Unclear Administrative fines on two Bogazkent hotels under Environment Law 2872: outcome not on record.
- Unclear Proceedings under Animal Protection Law 5199 and the Ministry's criminal complaint over the hatchling deaths: outcome not on record.
Accounts
- None on record Port Nature Luxury Resort: Its officials declined to comment.
Record
- None on record None on record: whether the 1998 marina plan was dropped; no Bern Convention case file naming Belek was found on the active dashboard.
- None on record None on record: an appeal against the 2014 Antalya 1st Administrative Court rulings, or a Council of State ruling.
- None on record None on record: the outcome of the 2021 criminal proceedings and the criminal complaint.
- None on record None on record: the final compensation paid for the dead hatchlings; the DKMP figures were reported as under discussion.
- Not disclosed Silent: Port Nature Luxury Resort's officials declined to comment to Cumhuriyet.
- None on record Status as of October 2026 is not confirmed beyond the 2021 fines.
Did the harm stop?
The 2021 hatchling deaths were recorded in August 2021. The Ministry said it would create a 40 to 60 m breeding band on turtle beaches; the sources reviewed do not say whether this was done, and no later nest or hatchling data for the two hotels is on record.
Who paid?
The two hotels were fined a total of TRY 482,790 under Environment Law 2872 (Cumhuriyet, 3 Sep 2021). Compensation of TRY 16,000 per dead turtle, about TRY 992,000 for the hotel with 62 deaths, was reported as under discussion on 28 August 2021; no final amount is on record.
Sources
Press and investigations
- Cumhuriyet news report on the decision on the Antalya hatchling deaths (Turkish)Cumhuriyet · 2021-09-03
International bodies
- Recommendation No. 66 (1998) of the Standing Committee on nesting beaches for marine turtles in TurkeyCouncil of Europe, Bern Convention Standing Committee · 1998-12-04
Connected cases
- Anamur (Karaagac) Beach, Mersin, Türkiye: Bern Convention file 2019/5 and Recommendation No. 226 (2024) Türkiye · 1998–2026
- Government of Türkiye (Government) — here: Addressee of the recommendation; Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation fined the two hotels and filed a criminal complaint; there: Party to the Convention; the Turkish Ministry is named among the parties
- Dalyan / Iztuzu Beach, Türkiye: Kaunos Beach Hotel project stopped (1987) Türkiye · 1987
- Government of Türkiye (Government) — here: Addressee of the recommendation; Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation fined the two hotels and filed a criminal complaint; there: Prime Minister Turgut Ozal received the request for a moratorium
- Fethiye and Patara nesting beaches, Türkiye: Bern Convention files and recommendations, 1996-2025 Türkiye · 1996–2025
- Government of Türkiye (Government) — here: Addressee of the recommendation; Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation fined the two hotels and filed a criminal complaint; there: Party to the Convention; reports to the Standing Committee
- Kyparissia Bay (Thines Kyparissias), Greece: construction, roads and beach use at a loggerhead nesting site, CJEU C-504/14 (2016) Greece · 2010–2025
- Council of Europe (International organisation) — here: Bern Convention Standing Committee, Recommendation No. 66 (1998); there: Bern Convention file 2010/5 and Recommendation No. 174 (2014)
- Laganas Bay, Zakynthos, Greece: National Marine Park, Bern file 1986/8 and CJEU C-103/00 (2002) Greece · 1986–2025
- Council of Europe (International organisation) — here: Bern Convention Standing Committee, Recommendation No. 66 (1998); there: Bern Convention file 1986/8; Recommendations No. 7 and No. 9 (1987)
- Mediterranean fisheries bycatch of sea turtles: GFCM rules of 2011 and 2021 and a Tunisian fisher study Mediterranean (multiple) · 2011–2023
- Council of Europe (International organisation) — here: Bern Convention Standing Committee, Recommendation No. 66 (1998); there: Bern Convention Recommendation No. 66 (1998) naming fisheries by-catch in Turkey
- Plastic waste imports into Türkiye (Adana) Türkiye · 2016–2026
- Government of Türkiye (Government) — here: Addressee of the recommendation; Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation fined the two hotels and filed a criminal complaint; there: Sets import rules and licenses recycling facilities
- Register of Damage for Ukraine, the Claims Commission convention and the money meant to pay claims Ukraine · 2024–2026
- Council of Europe (International organisation) — here: Bern Convention Standing Committee, Recommendation No. 66 (1998); there: Sponsor of the Register and the Convention