The impact assessment of cage aquaculture on benthic communities along the south eastern Black Sea

The present study was conducted to examine the impact of cage aquaculture on benthic communities in coastal areas (depth 25 to 50 m) from fish farming operations located along the southeastern Black Sea (Ordu-Perşembe, Trabzon-Yomra and Rize central). Sampling was conducted seasonally from April 2007 to 2009. Sediment samples were taken using Ekman Grab (box core- 0.04 m2). Temperature, salinity, and water velocity were periodically measured to determine influencing sedimentary organic matter in the sediment, oxygenation, and anoxic conditions. In addition, grain size of sediment, organic carbon content, and distribution of benthic communities were investigated. In order to determine benthic impact of fish farms on the region, Shannon – Wiener diversity index (H’), AMBI (AZTI Marine Biotic Index) and M-AMBI (Multivariate- Marine Biotic Index) indices were used. Results of current study showed that benthic zone ecological quality of stations with number 01, 02, 03, and 04 at Ordu-Perşembefish-farming habitat was found to be very low. In autumn 2008, there were 3 species which belonged to Capitella capitata (844 individuals/m2), Capitella sp. (133 individuals/m2), and Heteromastus filliformis (311 individuals/m2) at OP-01 station. In addition, the impact of Trabzon-Yomra fish-farming activity on benthic communities was low. The degree of exposure for Rize fish-farming area in all seasons was quite low, which was not a significant negative impact

Recent changes of the Turkish anchovy fishery in the black seawith special reference to climate change

The Black Sea ecosystem, suffering ecological deteriorations through long-term changes induced by natural and anthropogenic factors, needs to be continuously monitored for its environmental state and ecological processes. In this study we have analysed the changes of the sea temperature over the 25 years of period in the southern Black Sea to look at if there has been an effect of climate changes on the Turkish anchovy fishery. Conclusions derived through this present study, comparisons for assessing changes in the Black Sea ecosystem related to climate changes and Turkish anchovy fishery can be summarised as follows: It is clear that there has been an increase in temperature especially in the winter months in the southern Black Sea. Although the data set is not good enough for a complete analysis of the effect of global warming on anchovy fishery, together with ecological problems, pollution, over-fishing, oil prices and tendency in temperature increase over the years may be of the other reasons for anchovy crisis observed in the late 80's

The impact assessment of cage aquaculture on benthic communities along the south eastern Black Sea

The present study was conducted to examine the impact of cage aquaculture on benthic communities in coastal areas (depth 25 to 50 m) from fish farming operations located along the southeastern Black Sea (Ordu-Perembe, Trabzon-Yomra and Rize central). Sampling was conducted seasonally from April 2007 to 2009. Sediment samples were taken using Ekman Grab (box core- 0.04 m2). Temperature, salinity, and water velocity were periodically measured to determine influencing sedimentary organic matter in the sediment, oxygenation, and anoxic conditions. In addition, grain size of sediment, organic carbon content, and distribution of benthic communities were investigated. In order to determine benthic impact of fish farms on the region, Shannon - Wiener diversity index (H'), AMBI (AZTI Marine Biotic Index) and M-AMBI (Multivariate- Marine Biotic Index) indices were used. Results of current study showed that benthic zone ecological quality of stations with number 01, 02, 03, and 04 at Ordu-Perembefish-farming habitat was found to be very low. In autumn 2008, there were 3 species which belonged to Capitella capitata (844 individuals/m2), Capitella sp. (133 individuals/m2), and Heteromastus filliformis (311 individuals/m2) at OP-01 station. In addition, the impact of Trabzon-Yomra fish-farming activity on benthic communities was low. The degree of exposure for Rize fish-farming area in all seasons was quite low, which was not a significant negative impact