Is Trawl Fishery on the Verge of Collapse in Foça, Türkiye, Eastern Mediterranean?

Year 2023, , 1 - 14, 04.07.2023

Vahdet Ünal , Fikret Öndes

https://doi.org/10.46384/jmsf.1209173

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to examine the status and historical change of trawl fishing fleet in the Foça in the Aegean Sea. The data of the study representing all actively working trawlers in 1998-1999 and 2019 were collected through face-to-face interviews with trawler boat owners in Foca. The questionnaire consisted of questions related to the characteristics of the vessels, fishing activity, socio-demographics of fishers, running costs, annual landings of species and management issues. The study indicated that the annual landings of the main target species significantly decreased over the last two decades. Fishers reported the landings of some species including Dentex gibbosus, Dentex macrophthalmus, Homarus gammarus, Mustelus mustelus, Octopus vulgaris, Parapenaus longirostris, Scomber colias, Scorpaena porcus, Scorpaena scrofa, Spicara smaris, Trachurus spp. and Zeus faber decreased considerably over this period. Over the same period, a decrease was found in the mean length of Merluccius merluccius, Lophius piscatorius and Zeus faber. The vessels’ fuel tank volume and tow duration showed significant increases from 1999 to 2019. The trawl fleet decreased by ~75% from 1999 to 2019 and 55% of the current fishers reported that they may leave the fishery sector within the next 10 years. A change was also determined in the tradition of the sharing system, which is the number of crews paid in shares rather than a fixed salary, significantly decreased. Moreover, the crew numbers from vessel owners’ households significantly decreased. As a result, we discussed the changes, problems, regulations and restrictions related to trawl fishery in Foça, which used to be the most important trawling fishing center of the Aegean twenty years ago. We found dramatic changes in many aspects compared to what it was two decades ago and provided suggestions regarding fisheries management.

Keywords

Mullidae, Mustelus mustelus, Lophius piscatorius, fisheries management, trawl fishery, Mediterranean

Thanks

We would like to thank Necdet Turguttekin a former of Foça Fishery Cooperative and all other trawlers who cooperated with us over the years.

Foça'da (Doğu Akdeniz, Türkiye) Trol Balıkçılığı Çöküşün Eşiğinde mi?

Abstract

Bu çalışmada, Ege Denizi Foça'daki trol filosunun mevcut durumu ve tarihsel değişimi hakkında bilgi vermeyi amaçladık. 1998-1999 ve 2019 yıllarında aktif olarak çalışan tüm trol teknelerini temsil eden çalışmanın verileri, Foça'da bulunan trol teknesi sahipleri ile yüz yüze görüşülerek toplanmıştır. Anket; gemilerin özellikleri ve balıkçılık faaliyetleri, balıkçıların sosyo-demografik özellikleri, balıkçılık giderleri, türlerin yıllık karaya çıkış miktarları ve yönetim konuları ile ilgili sorulardan oluşmaktadır. Bu çalışma, hedef türlerdeki av miktarının son yirmi yılda önemli ölçüde azaldığını gösterdi. Balıkçılar, Dentex gibbosus, Dentex macrophthalmus, Homarus gammarus, Mustelus mustelus, Octopus vulgaris, Parapenaus longirostris, Scomber colias, Scorpaena porcus, Scorpaena scrofa, Spicara smaris, Trachurus spp. and Zeus faber gibi bazı türlerin karaya çıkışlarının bu dönemde dikkate değer bir düşüş gösterdiğini rapor etti. Aynı dönemde Merluccius merluccius, Lophius piscatorius ve Zeus faber gibi bazı türlerin ortalama boylarında da azalma görülmüştür. Gemilerin akaryakıt tanklarının hacmi ve operasyon süreleri 1999'dan 2019'a önemli artışlar gösterdi. Foça'nın trol filosunda 1999'dan 2019'a yaklaşık %75 azalma saptandı. Mevcut balıkçıların %55’i önümüzdeki 10 yıl içinde balıkçılık sektöründen ayrılabileceklerini bildirdi. Bu durum trol balıkçılığında paycılık sistemi geleneğini de değiştirmiş; maaş yerine pay olarak ödenen personel (mürettebat) sayısı önemli ölçüde azalmıştır. Ayrıca, tekne sahiplerinin hane halkından gelen mürettebat sayısı son yirmi yılda önemli ölçüde azalmıştır. Sonuç olarak, yirmi yıl evvel Ege’nin en önemli trol merkezi olan Foça’da günümüzde nasıl bir değişim olduğunu, sorunları, balıkçılık düzenlemeleri ve kısıtlamaları tartıştık. Yirmi yıl öncesine kıyasla birçok açıdan çarpıcı değişiklikler bulduk ve balıkçılık yönetimine ilişkin önerilerde bulunduk.

Keywords

Mullidae, Mustelus mustelus, Lophius piscatorius, Balıkçılık yönetimi, Trol balıkçılığı, Akdeniz

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