Beymelek Lagoon
Beymelek Lagoon is a lagoon on the Mediterranean coast, which is used as a fishery, in Antalya Province, southwestern Turkey. It is named after the village of Beymelek, which is located to the west of the water body. The lagoon is situated in the Demre ilçe of Antalya Province at coordinates.
The total area of the lagoon is about excluding the land area. It inhabits 13 fish species.
The Beymelek Lagoon, located to the east of the Demre Delta, is formed by the accumulation of the alluvial deposits of Demre Creek in front of the Beymelek Bay through the coastal dynamics affected by the dominant south winds. The lake, fed with karstic resources, is independent of the Demre Creek's catchment, except for the southwestern delta area and coastline in today's conditions. The lagoon is fed by the Lake Kaynak, which covers an area of some west of the lagoon and is connected to it with a narrow channel.
Applied fishing methods in the lagoon are fish trapping and gillnetting. Most caught fish species are gilt-head bream, thicklip grey mullet, European seabass, flathead grey mullet, thinlip mullet, sand steenbras, white grouper and sargo, as well as blue crab. Average fishing Catch efficiency is given with 21.3 kg fish per hectare.
Endangered turtle species loggerhead sea turtle is also under protection in the fishery. The fishery is also a sanctuary for 20 bird species.