Court adopts a stay of execution for three of Turkey’s remote idyllic Aegean bays

MUĞLA – Doğan News Agency

DHA Photo

A local court in Turkey’s Aegean region adopted the motion for a stay of execution regarding a tender to rent a forested bays located on one of the country’s most beautiful coasts, following previous orders regarding two other bays. 

The Muğla second administrative court ruled April 7 for the stay of execution for the tender on renting the Küçük Sarsala (little Sarsala) bay located in the Aegean town of Göcek. This decision came after similar decisions were made for the Bedri Rahmi (Taşyaka) and Göbün bays, located in the same area. 
A complaint has been filed for the fourth bay, Akbük, for which a tender was opened. A stay of execution is also expected for that bay. 

The Muğla Metropolitan Municipality filed the “bay complaints” against the Forestry and Waterworks Ministry, claiming the rights granted to the provincial special administrations (abolished in 2014 by a government decree) were passed on to them, and not to the Forestry Ministry. 

Tenders made by the Forestry and Waterworks Ministry to rent the Bedri Rahmi and Akbük bays for 29 years took place on March 26 at the Dalaman Forest Sub-District Directorate, while the tenders for the two other bays were held on March 27.

The Akbük bay was rented for 29 years for approximately 1.8 million Turkish Liras yearly, while the Taşyaka bay was rented to café owner Hüseyin Gülen in Dalaman for the same yearly price. 
The rent prices were even higher for the other two bays. The Küçük Sarsala bay was rented for about 3.4 million liras yearly for 29 years to Ramazan Çil, while the Göbün bay was rented for about 3.8 million liras to İlyas Kaba.

Many locals opposed the move to rent the bays, claiming it would allow rapid “concretization,” as is the case elsewhere around the country. 

Göcek is located in one of western Turkey’s most remote areas, inaccessible to most highways. This has made the area a particularly popular venue for yachts.