Status of Endemic Freshwater Fish of Southern Turkey:
An Approach for Bio-Diversity and Conservation

Ayhan Altun
Mustafa Kemal University Fisheries Faculty 31034 Antakya-Hatay, Turkey.

Abstract

Bio-diversity is proving its importance as the number of declining wild species of organisms are increasing world-wide. It seems that there is a close relation between human activities and accelerated rate of decline of species. While some human activities destroys the habitat, others i.e., farming activities due to growing need for the production of food for human consumption increases the elimination of wild species. However, it is proven that wild species bear invaluable and reliable genetic sources for both culture and evolutionary progress. Besides, their existence is very important for the ecological balance in their habitat.
Bearing all these aspects in mind, the necessity for the conservation of wild species is, obviously, clear. To do this their status have to be determined and necessary steps have to be taken in order to prevent their extinction. This paper focuses on the documentation of endemic freshwater fishes of Southern Turkey, an area including the city of Hatay, and emphasizes the need of detailed assessment of biological resources in the area.

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