The catch characteristics of a set longline fishery in the FOÇA special environmental protection area, Turkey

Background. Fisheries activities are rarely documented in the marine and coastal protected areas in Turkey. This study aimed to determine the catch composition of set longline fishery in the Foça Special Environmental Protection Area (Turkey), and to understand the effects of factors (e.g., bait type, hook size, and soak time) on the catch per unit effort (CPUE) and the size of species caught. Material and methods. Samples were collected by small-scale fishing boats in 2007 at depths ranging from 1 to 50 m. Kruskal–Wallis test was used to understand if the CPUE changes depended on the fishery specific factors (hook size and bait type). Mann–Whitney U test was used to test if CPUE changes depended on sampling seasons (autumn and summer). Chi-square test was used to determine whether hook size influenced the body size of two commonly caught species. Results. The following 25 fish species were caught, Diplodus sargus, Sparus aurata, Diplodus vulgaris, Boops boops, Lithognathus mormyrus, Oblada melanura, Conger conger, Trachurus sp., Spondyliosoma cantharus, Pagellus erythrinus, Pagrus pagrus, Dentex dentex, Sciaena umbra, Scorpaena scrofa, Belone belone, Serranus sp., Myliobatidae gen. sp., Muraena helena, Sarpa salpa, Diplodus annularis, Coryphaena hippurus, Diplodus puntazzo, Chelidonichthys lucerna, Scomber japonicus, and Dicentrarchus labrax. The most commonly caught species were white seabream, Diplodus sargus and gilthead seabream Sparus aurata. The hook size and bait type were important factors that influenced the CPUE. Moreover, the hook size significantly influenced the body size of caught white seabream and gilthead sea bream. Conclusions. The discard level was low in the set longline fishery in the Foça Special Environmental Protection Area. We recommend using 12 sized hooks rather than 13 to reduce the discards of the main target species in the Foça SEPA. Nevertheless, this also needs an economic assessment, and also identification and use any incentives to promote the shift in the use of larger size hooks. Minimum size limits to be set in the fisheries legislation and alternative bait use studies were also recommended. © 2020, Scientific Society of Szczecin. All rights reserved

New approach for codend selectivity: A case study of coastal beach seine for big-scale sand smelt (atherina boyeri) fishery in İznik lake

2-s2.0-85087373938Sand smelt (Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810), which is an exotic species with invasive character, is the third most caught species in the small-scale fisheries among the inland fisheries in Turkey. The fact that it has become an important source of income for the fishermen with low income due to its export potential has led to the maintenance of its stock recently. In this study, the selectivity of coastal beach seine used in the fishing of the species was investigated. A specially designed coastal beach seine with 10 m codend consisting of 4 different compartments was used in the study. Among the compartments of the codend, which was surrounded by a 6 mm mesh cover, in the codend panels mesh with 9, 12 and 14 mm were used. Field studies were carried out on a monthly basis in 4 different stations of İznik Lake in 2014. Selectivity data were collected by the covered codend method and analyzed by means of a logistic equation with the maximum likelihood method. A totally 3053 individuals were caught length ranged from 2.6-11.2 cm and weight ranged from 0.11-11.02 g. The mean L50 values of 14, 12-and 9-mm panels were determined as 6.71, 5.62 and 4.51 cm total length, respectively. It is concluded that 12 mm mesh size panel is suitable for sustainable A. boyeri fishery by beach seine net when considered given by length at first maturity size. © 2020, Central Fisheries Research Inst. All rights reserved.D/2015/A11/P-02/1This study was supported by Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Agriculture and Forest, General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies [grant number: TAGEM ??A?SÜD ???? ?-02?/1A] ?an? d ?w? hich was presented in 1stInternational Symposium on Limnology and Freshwater Fisheries.This study was supported by Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Agriculture and Forest, General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies [grant number: TAGEM/HAYS?D/2015/A11/P-02/1] and which was presented in 1stInternational Symposium on Limnology and Freshwater Fisheries

Silver-cheeked toadfish, Lagocephalus sceleratus (Actinopterygii: Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae), causes a substantial economic losses in the Turkish Mediterranean coast: A call for decision makers

Background. While some Lessepsian species provide economic benefits for Mediterranean fisheries, others cause economic losses. Lagocephalus sceleratus known as silver-cheeked toadfish poses a great risk to human health if consumed economic losses for fishers by damaging their fishing gears. This study aims to determine the socio-economic impact of silver-cheeked toadfish, with regards to its impact on biodiversity and socio-economic factors for small-scale fisheries. Materials and methods. Face-to-face interviews were completed with a total of 261 fishers from Izmir in the Middle Aegean region to Hatay in the Eastern Mediterranean region, to determine the problems arising from the presence of silver-cheeked toadfish species in the ecosystem and the resulting associated economic losses for a 1-year from 1 January to 30 December 2011. The elements, which should be taken into account in calculating silver-cheeked toadfish related economic losses, are related to fishing gear, labour and the associated losses in catches. However, losses associated with silver-cheeked toadfish predation were beyond the scope of this study. Results. Almost all fishers (91%) agree that silver-cheeked toadfish is a major problem, 82% believe that silver-cheeked toadfish negatively affects biodiversity, and 89% believe it lowers efficiency of their catches. Calculated silver-cheeked toadfish related losses were: 1300 TRY (≈442 EUR) per year, per fisherman; 263 296 TRY (≈89 521 EUR) per year, in total, for the interviewed fishers (261), and 204 fishers suffered economic losses relating to this species; which caused total losses of 6 033 577 TRY (≈2 051 416 EUR) per year in total for the 4719 fishers, which were 78% of all fishers (6051) in the study area. Two-thirds of the study respondents think that the most effective way to battle this problem would be to try to eliminate this species from Turkish waters. Among them, 32% of the fishers believe the most suitable gear to eliminate L. sceleratus from the marine ecosystem is the purse seine and 61% consent to fish L. sceleratus for 4 TRY each as a target species. Conclusion. To start a bounty system and a premium payment for each pufferfish caught will both help to reduce negative impact of the species on the ecosystem and provide an extra income for the fishers