This study evaluates the influence of Yanýklar Creek on the water
quality of Fethiye Gulf. Accordingly, this study demonstrates (i)
change in the water quality of Fethiye Gulf from 2006 to 2007; (ii) the
water quality classification of the Yanýklar Creek feeding Fethiye
Gulf; and (iii) how land-based fish farm influencesYanýklar Creek
water qualityin a Fethiye-Göcek SpeciallyProtected Area. In this
study, the high contribution of nitrite-nitrogen, total phosphate and
number of total and fecal coliform ofYanýklar Creek isverifiedtobe
duetoland-based fish farmlocated on thecreek. Since, ammonium nitrogen,
nitrate nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen and total phosphate concentrations
and, number of total and fecal coliform were elevated and dissolved
oxygen levels dropped at downstream of the fish farm. Water
transparency increased except in July and August. Number of total
coliform increased except in October and November. The number of total
coliform in the gulf also dramatically exceeded the acceptable limit of
1000 CFU/100mL, thereby implicating wastewater inputs to the gulf as
the probable source. Overall data suggest that external phosphorus and
nitrogen loads to Fethiye Gulf derive mainly from tributary streams
impacted by point sources, and land-based trout fish farm
