In a study aimed at conserving aquatic biodiversity, Dr. Semra Saygın, a faculty member of the Hydrobiology Department at Ondokuz Mayıs University's (OMU) Faculty of Science, Biology Department, has been granted support by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) for her project titled "Identification of Fish in the Van Lake Basin through Electron Microscopy and Shape Analysis of Otoliths."

Collaborating with esteemed colleagues Prof. Dr. Savaş Yılmaz and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Melek Özpiçak from Ondokuz Mayıs University, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ataman Altuğ Atıcı from Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, the project is part of TÜBİTAK's 1002-A Rapid Support Program. The team aims to investigate the morphometric differences and similarities between fish stocks in the Van Lake Basin, comparing habitats, species, genera, and families across the entire basin.

The Van Lake Basin is home to five species endemic to the area, making this research crucial for stock management and future sustainable practices. The pearl mullet, found exclusively in Van Lake, holds significant cultural and economic value for both the local community and the nation. This project intends to illuminate the stocks of pearl mullet and other fish species within the basin through detailed otolith shape analyses.

As OMU continues to lead in scientific exploration, this project underlines the university's commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable resource management, ensuring the preservation of Van Lake's unique aquatic life for generations to come.