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Mounted gendarmerie teams in eastern Türkiye are patrolling river mouths around Lake Van to protect pearl mullet, a fish species known for swimming against the current during its breeding migration.
The patrols are being carried out in Van, where pearl mullet live in Lake Van before moving into freshwater streams and rivers to lay their eggs. The migration draws visitors each year, as the fish push upstream and leap over natural obstacles in a striking seasonal display.
Lake Van, Türkiye’s largest lake, covers 3,712 square kilometers and provides the natural habitat for the species. During the breeding period, security forces step up inspections to prevent illegal fishing and help the fish complete their migration.
The mounted team, formed within the Van Provincial Gendarmerie Command, patrols areas where streams and rivers meet the lake. These points are difficult for vehicles to reach, making horseback patrols useful for monitoring the shoreline and nearby waterways.
The team also informs visitors about illegal fishing and supports wider protection efforts during the spawning season. Their presence has turned the patrols into both a security measure and a visible part of the migration experience for visitors.
Sevda Cakir, who came from Malatya to watch the migration, said the inspections carried out by security forces were important. She noted that she had the chance to spend time outdoors with the mounted team and described the day as enjoyable.
"We had come to watch the pearl mullet migration. We also saw that our mounted gendarmerie units were protecting the fish here. Seeing the mounted gendarmerie team made us happy," she said.
Betul Babadag, another visitor watching the migration, said seeing the fish move upstream was "miraculous." She added that the mounted units were protecting the fish during the fishing ban and also informing visitors, which made their patrols meaningful.
For 7-year-old Ahsen Bozkurt, the visit was also a first encounter with the migration. She said she enjoyed seeing the fish, playing with friends and petting the horses.
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