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

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