Nearly 1,000 supporters turned out at Sığacık Square to greet the Greenpeace vessel and to protest a tuna farm in the area. Greenpeace was invited by the Seferihisar mayor, and the Rainbow Warrior came to support the municipality's efforts and “demand immediate action to protect the endangered Mediterranean bluefin tuna from commercial extinction.” At the rally, Environmental Protection Association President Vahdi Sarıkaya addressed throngs of supporters.Sarıkaya said in his comments that they had collected 10,000 signatures opposing the tuna farm and would be delivering them in October to Parliament and the relevant Turkish ministries.
Seferihisar District Mayor Tunç Soyer also spoke, thanking Greenpeace for its attention to the issue. “The law exists to protect the rights of the citizenry and public. The Seferihisar public does not want these tuna farms. It says that it's necessary to turn away from this wrong. That's what's at the heart of this action. No matter what is necessary to reverse this, we'll do it, and we won't allow these farms here,” he said.
“I want to send out a message here. Recently the European Union made a decision to limit tuna trade; we've taken action within these bounds. … In October we're going to make a speech before the European Commission and seek our rights there,” Soyer continued.
Speaking on behalf of Greenpeace, Banu Dökmecibaşı thanked the supporters for their welcome of the Rainbow Warrior and its crew. “What a shame it is that industrial gains are on the verge of eliminating our most beautiful resources. Tuna are among the clearest examples of this, with this type about to become extinct. There has been a very serious movement throughout the world with regard to this, but unfortunately in Turkey, we're still discussing whether to set up a farm here or there and which coves would be the best location.”
