Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries for the Small-Scale Fisheries in Gökova Bay, Turkey: Baseline Report
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ISSN 2070-7010 FAO 646 FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE TECHNICAL PAPER 646 Implementation of the ecosystem Implementation of the ecosystem approach to fisheries for small-scale in Gökova Bay, Turkey: baseline report approach to fisheries for the small-scale fisheries in Gökova Bay, Turkey Baseline report This document F AO FAO FISHERIES AND Implementation of the AQUACULTURE TECHNICAL ecosystem approach to PAPER fisheries for the small-scale 646 fisheries in Gökova Bay, Turkey Baseline report by Vahdet Ünal Department of Fishing and Fish Processing Technology Faculty of Fisheries Ege University İzmir, Turkey Z. Derya Yıldırım Mediterranean Conservation Society İzmir, Turkey and E. Mümtaz Tıraşın Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology Dokuz Eylül University İzmir, Turkey FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Rome, 2019 Ünal, V.; Derya Yıldırım, Z. & Mümtaz Tıraşın, E. 2019. Implementation of the ecosystem approach to fisheries for the small-scale fisheries in Gökova Bay, Turkey: baseline report. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper No. 646. Rome, FAO. 68 pp. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. The views expressed in this information product are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of FAO. 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Queries regarding rights and licensing should be submitted to: [email protected]. Cover photograph: ©FAO-Claudia Amico iii Preparation of this document Upon the request of Turkey, a pilot case study on the ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) in Gökova Bay, Turkey, was initiated in 2016 within the framework of the FAO Mediterranean Project EastMed (Scientific and Institutional Cooperation to Support Responsible Fisheries in the Eastern Mediterranean). The case study was funded by the FAO EastMed project and implemented in collaboration with the Mediterranean Fisheries Research, Production and Training Institute, Antalya, Turkey. One of the first steps in the pilot case study was the elaboration of an EAF Baseline Report (EAF-BL), which is presented in this publication. The objective of the EAF–BL is to complete the EAF planning phase by defining the scope of the case study. The EAF–BL is a document that outlines the available information on the small-scale fisheries in Gökova Bay that can assist with the remainder of the EAF management planning process. It documents all relevant information about the fishery, the species and geographical areas covered in the case study, the socio-economic profile of the fishery and the institutional arrangements for its management. iv Abstract Gökova Bay is situated in the eastern Aegean Sea, southwest of Anatolia, Turkey. In 1988, a considerable part of the land and marine areas of Gökova Bay were incorporated into a Special Environmental Protection Area. In addition, six no- fishing zones were established in 2010. With over 723 identified marine macroscopic species, 34 of which are protected under national and international treaties, the biodiversity in Gökova Bay is considered to be high. Fishing is an important economic activity in the region and has developed as a small-scale enterprise because of the conditions of the coastline, geography and productivity of the bay, and the conservation status of the area. The fishery in the bay is characterized as a typical multispecies and multigear small- scale fishery that targets both demersal and pelagic species, as in many other Mediterranean countries. To secure the sustainability of the fisheries in the Gökova Bay marine protected area (MPA), a pilot case study on the implementation of the EAF in Gökova Bay was initiated in 2016 within the framework and with the financial support of the FAO Mediterranean Project EastMed. Various stakeholders, including fishery cooperatives, non-governmental organizations, several ministerial and other governmental and public institutions, as well as universities contributed to, and collaborated with, the project. This technical paper presents the EAF baseline report that was prepared to complete the planning phase of the project by defining the scope of the case study. It outlines the available information on the small-scale fisheries in Gökova Bay and documents relevant information about the fishery, the species and geographical areas covered in the case study, the socio-economic profile of the fishery and the institutional arrangements for its management. v Contents Preparation of this document iii Abstract iv Acknowledgements vii Acronyms iix Introduction 1 1. Overview of the fishery and the resources exploited 1 1.1 Fishing gear used and areas fished 1 1.2 Importance of the fishery to the local/national/regional economy 12 1.3 Available knowledge on the status of fisheries resources 20 Brief biology of the major species 20 Common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) 20 Gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) 20 Common dentex (Dentex dentex) 20 Pink dentex (Dentex gibbosus) 21 Two-banded sea bream (Diplodus vulgaris) 21 White grouper (Epinephelus aeneus) 21 Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) 22 Goldblotch grouper (Epinephelus costae) 22 Red mullet (Mullus barbatus) 22 Goldband goat fish (Upeneus molluccensis) 22 Common sole (Solea solea) 22 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) 23 Grey mullets (Mugilidae) 23 Randall’s threadfin bream (Nemipterus randalli) 23 Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) 24 Status of the stocks 24 1.4 Legal and administrative frameworks 26 Fisheries management plan 27 1.5 Management measures 27 Existing management measures and regulations in the Gökova MPA fishery 27 Strengthening the System of Marine and Coastal Protected Areas of Turkey Project 31 Fishing vessels monitoring system 32 1.6 Main stakeholders 33 Fishery cooperatives 34 2. Threats to fisheries sustainability 35 2.1 Threats to ecological well-being 35 2.2 Threats to community (human) well-being 37 2.3 Ability to achieve (including external drivers) 38 Conclusions 39 References 39 Annexures 44 Annexure I 45 First draft of a fisheries management plan for the Gökova MPA fishery 45 Annexure II 52 Draft action plan for Gökova MPA 52 vi Figures Figure 1 2 Map of Gökova MPA and protected area, Southern Aegean Sea, Turkey Figure 2 6 Characteristics of thin bottom longlines used in Gökova MPA Figure 3 7 Methods of laying longlines on (a) muddy and flat ground; (b) rocky seabeds Figure 4 8 Technical plan of medium longlines used in Gökova MPA Figure 5 9 Technical plan of thick longlines used in Gökova MPA Figure 6 10 Distribution of preferred fishing gears Figure 7 10 Fishery mooring areas in Gökova MPA Figure 8 11 Areas in which encircling nets are used in Gökova MPA Figure 9 11 Areas in which traditional longlines are used in Gökova MPA Figure 10 12 Areas in which trammel and gillnets are used in Gökova MPA Figure 11 25 Annual total catch statistics for European hake and grey mullets (tonnes) in the Eastern Aegean Sea from 1970 to 2015 Figure 12 25 Annual total catch statistics in tonnes of the major species (excluding European hake and grey mullets) in the Eastern Aegean Sea from 1970 to 2015 Figure 13