Alburnus tarichi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alburnus tarichi |
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Alburnus
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tarichi
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The Alburnus tarichi, often called the tarek or pearl mullet, is a special type of fish. It is found only in Turkey, living in a unique place called Lake Van. This fish is the only one known to live in this lake. This means it is endemic to the Lake Van area. People in Turkey also call it Turkish: İnci kefalı/balığı, Kurdish: darex, or Armenian: տառեխ.
The Tarek Fish
The tarek is like a "jewel" for Lake Van. This amazing fish can live in the lake's very salty and fizzy water. Most other freshwater or ocean fish cannot survive there. This makes the tarek truly unique!
Amazing Journey
Every year, in May and June, something incredible happens. The tarek fish leave Lake Van and swim upstream into the rivers that flow into the lake. They do this to lay their eggs. They even jump out of the water, much like salmon do!
Protecting the Tarek
Many local people have learned to catch the fish as they jump. They use nets or even bags. They catch so many fish during May and June that they don't need to fish for the rest of the year. People especially like to catch the female fish when they are full of eggs. These eggs are seen as a special food in the town of Erciş and the surrounding area.
Scientists and conservation groups are working to protect the tarek. YYÜ and Doğa Gözcüleri Derneği started a plan to help save the fish in 1997. The government has even banned fishing during the time the fish lay their eggs. However, catching these fish has become a big business. In the 1960s, about 600 tons of tarek were caught each year. Today, that number has grown to 15,000 tons!
Because of these concerns, the tarek was once listed as Endangered in 1994. But thanks to conservation efforts, its status improved in 2014. It is now considered Near Threatened, which means it's still important to watch over them, but they are not in as much danger as before.
Gallery
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Van fish
