Tarek is endemic to the Lake Van basin for 600 years. It travels upstream through the lake's tributaries to lay eggs, flies through the air. But will pollution in the lake allow it to travel this year?

Van- Tarek (locally known in Turkish: İnci Kefali) is the only fish known to inhabit Lake Van. Found nowhere else in the world, this fish thrives in the lake's salty and carbonated waters. In springs, it travels upstream through the lake's tributaries to lay eggs. But this year, people worry if the fish will be able to travel due to the increasing pollution in the lake.

Last year, many fishes died while trying to travels upstream through the lake's tributaries to lay eggs. Upon the reactions of the citizens, the Faculty of Fisheries of Van Yüzüncü Yıl University (YYÜ) conducted research and issued a statement. The reason for fish deaths was announced as; fishes died due to spending too much energy while traveling. The death rate of female fishes was five times higher than male fishes because female fishes spent more energy being filled with eggs.

The streams flowing into the lake carry garbage

In addition, fishes travel through streams to lay eggs and the excessive pollution of the streams causes fish deaths. Fishes struggle for survival among garbage while traveling through Akköprü Stream flowing into Lake Van. The fishes die without laying their eggs due to plastic bags in the stream.

Every year, thousands of people visit the Erciş district of Van province to watch the travel of Tarek. But this year, no one comes to watch it due to the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns.

An endemic to the Lake Van basin

Tarek is one of the most special fish species in the world. The most important reason for this is Lake Van. Lake Van is more than 600 thousand years old. The lake water is strongly alkaline and rich in sodium carbonate and other salts. It is one of the world's few endorheic lakes of greater size than 3,000 square kilometers and has 38% of the country's surface water. Local people call Lake Van as “Sea of Van”. And Tarek is the only fish known to inhabit Lake Van for 600 years.

Fish lays 10,000 eggs every year

A fish lays at least 10,000, the most 16,000 eggs every year. After hatching, the fishes stay in freshwater for two weeks, and then they swim to the lake. Like their mothers, the fishes travel upstream through the lake's tributaries to lay eggs after three years.