1.5 million trout allegedly killed due to waste in Turkey’s west

DENİZLİ

DHA Photo

Some 1.5 million trout belonging to a company have allegedly been killed due to the waste from juice factories on the Menderes River in the southwestern province of Denizli, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported. 

The company owner, Osman Özpek, said almost half of his fish in the pools were killed in the Çivril district of Denizli, resulting in a loss of almost 3.5 million Turkish Liras.

Özpek also said that they faced similar incidents four times in the past, resulting in total damages of 12 million Turkish Liras. 

“We made submissions to the court but we haven’t been able to get any result. The trout were killed along with other creatures due to the waste of juice companies on the Menderes River. We have requested a solution to this issue,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the Environment and Urban Planning and Food, Agriculture and Livestock Provincial Directorates have launched an investigation into the issue.

In addition, Çivril Mayor Gürcan Güven noted the need to prevent pollution.

Güven said fish had been killed en masse twice a year due to effluent from the juice factories, adding that the facilities’ treatment facilities were insufficient.   

“We also get drinking water from this river. There are a lot issues with the Menderes River and Işıklı Lake. We applied to officials about this incident but we haven’t been able to get any result. The sentences given were insufficient. We should stop the pollution. Environmental pollution is becoming an ever greater problem day by day. We are witness to these mass killings. Everyone must do their duty. We are serious about this and, if necessary, we will go to higher authorities,” he said.