How will this decision affect diving tourism in Kaş?

Controlled diving activities will continue; however, much stricter penal sanctions will be imposed on uncontrolled entries and polluting elements that could disrupt the ecosystem.

Which cities are affected under the decision?

The boundaries of the national park encompass the maritime jurisdiction areas of both Muğla (Fethiye) and Antalya (Kaş) provinces.

Does the decision have an economic cost?

No direct budget is specified in the official decision, but a public budget will be allocated for conservation management, and there will be compliance costs for commercial activities in the region to adapt to the new rules.

PRESIDENTIAL DECISIONS16 August 2026

Maritime Use Has Changed in Fethiye and Kaş

Official titleDecision on the Designation of the Area Whose Boundaries Are Specified in the Attached Map and Coordinate List as the "Fethiye-Kaş Marine National Park" (Decision Number: 11626)

With Presidential Decision No. 11626, the boundaries of the 'Fethiye-Kaş Marine National Park' between the provinces of Muğla and Antalya have been officially designated.

Details of the Regulation

Pursuant to the decision signed on 15 August 2026, a vast marine area encompassing the Fethiye and Kaş regions has been declared a national park on the basis of Article 3 of the National Parks Law No. 2873. According to the detailed map and coordinate list attached to the decision, the total area of the park has been calculated as approximately 21,706.03 km2. This regulation aims to protect marine biodiversity in the region, ensure the sustainability of the ecosystem, and secure the habitats of protected species. The administrative management process will be carried out by the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

REGAS Commentary

This decision represents a monumental step in Türkiye's marine protected areas strategy. Although the protection of marine life in prime tourism regions such as Fethiye and Kaş will increase ecotourism revenues in the long term, it indicates that new regulations and restrictions are on the horizon for commercial fishing and yacht tourism activities in the region. For citizens, this translates to cleaner waters, but also more strictly regulated and inspected coastal usage.

Questions You Might Have

How will this decision affect diving tourism in Kaş?: Controlled diving activities will continue; however, much stricter penal sanctions will be imposed on uncontrolled entries and polluting elements that could disrupt the ecosystem.
Which cities are affected under the decision?: The boundaries of the national park encompass the maritime jurisdiction areas of both Muğla (Fethiye) and Antalya (Kaş) provinces.
Does the decision have an economic cost?: No direct budget is specified in the official decision, but a public budget will be allocated for conservation management, and there will be compliance costs for commercial activities in the region to adapt to the new rules.

Key Terms

Milli Park: A piece of nature that possesses national and international rare natural and cultural resource values in scientific and aesthetic terms, as well as protection, recreation, and tourism areas.
GCS WGS 84: The coordinate reference system used globally as a standard, upon which maps and GPS devices are based.
2873 Sayılı Kanun: The National Parks Law regulating the selection and protection of national parks, nature parks, and nature conservation areas.

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