T.C.T.C. ÇEVREÇEVRE VEVE ŞEHİRCİLİKŞEHİRCİLİK BBAKANLIĞIAKANLIĞI Empowered lives. Resilient nations. Final Report for Determination Work on Marine Biodiversity at Ayvalık Adaları Nature Park T.C.T.C. ÇÇEVREEVRE VEVE ŞEHİRCİLİKŞEHİRCİLİK BAKANLIĞIBAKANLIĞI Empowered lives. Resilient nations. Final Report for Determination Work on Marine Biodiversity at Ayvalık Adaları Nature Park Strengthening the System of the Marine and Coastal Protected Areas of Turkey 2013 © 2013 Ministry of Environment and Urbanization General Directorate for Protection of Natural Assets (GDPNA) Mustafa Kemal Mah. Eskişehir Devlet Yolu (Dumlupınar Bulvarı) 9. km (Tepe prime Yanı) Çankaya/ANKARA Tel: +90 312 222 12 34 Fax: +90 312 222 26 61 http://www.csb.gov.tr/gm/tabiat United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Birlik Mahallesi 415. Cadde No. 11 06610 Çankaya/Ankara Tel: +90 312 454 1100 Fax: +90 312 496 1463 http://www.tr.undp.org Empowered Lives. Resilient Nations. This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profi t purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. GDPNA or UNDP would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source. No use of this publication may be made for resale of for any other commercial purpose whatsoever without permission in writing from GDPNA or UNDP. For bibliographic purposes this text may be referred as: Yokeş, M.B., Demir, V., 2013. Ayvalık Adaları Tabiat Parkı Denizel Biyolojik Çeşitlilik Çalışması – Determination Work on Marine Biodiversity at Ayvalık Adaları Nature Park. PIMS 3697: Strengthening the System of the Marine and Coastal Protected Areas of Turkey. Technical Report Series 20: 104 pp. This publication is prepared within the framework of large scale “Strengthening the System of Marine and Coastal Protected Areas of Turkey Project” which is funded by the Global Environment Fund (GEF) and executed by the General Directorate for Protection of Natural Assets of the Turkish Ministry of Environment and Urbanization and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the General Directorate of Fisheries & Aquaculture of the Turkish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock and the General Directorate for Nature Conservation and National Parks (GDNCNP) of the Turkish Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs. Technical Report Series: 20 Report by: Mehmet Baki Yokeş, Volkan Demir RESEARCH TEAM WWF-Turkey Project Liasion Offi cer Nilay AKÇA Project’s Research Team Coordinator Assist. Prof.Dr. Mehmet Baki YOKEŞ (Haliç University) Research Team: Prof.Dr. Murat Bilecenoğlu, Prof.Dr. Melih Ertan Çınar, Assist. Prof.Dr. Emine Şükran Okudan, Assist. Prof.Dr. Volkan Demir, Evrim Kalkan, S. Ünsal Karhan, Dr. Ertan Dağlı, Alper Evcen, Cemil Zekioğlu, Yaprak Arda, Ertuğrul Koç, M. Zeynep Akpolat Yokeş GIS maps: Volkan Demir Control Unit: Atasay Tanrısever, Güner Ergün, Esra Kartal, Harun Güçlüsoy Cover and Layout Design: Evren Çağlayan Cover Photos: Fishes, Yaprak Arda; Limpet, S. Ünsal Karhan; Ayvalık Islands, GDPNA Archive Photos: 1,4, Ünsal Karhan; 2,6,7, Yaprak Arda; 3, Alper Evcen; 5, Baki Yokeş This document should not be considered as an offi cial Turkish Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, GEF and United Nations document. ii Final Report for Determination Work on Marine Biodiversity at Ayvalık Adaları Nature Park Foreword urkey is a country surrounded by the sea on and harbors; establishes procedures and principles T three sides. Turkey’s nature and climatic con- for use of protection and use of such areas; carries ditions adorn it with a signifi cant biodiversity in its out other integral coastal management activities and coastal areas. However, there are also problems that strives to minimize risks that threaten such assets. touch these regions and that become more imminent everyday. Urbanization, industrialization, tourism, Protection of marine and coastal resources being other residential areas and activities alike that leads a global priority, Marine Protected Areas are fast to irregular and unplanned development that have developing and expanding as a concept. Turkey severe impacts on coastal and marine areas. is no exception to this rule where considerable awareness raising efforts are being carried out. Developments, especially in the economy also in- crease marine transportation and dependency on Through the large scale GEF Project entitled the use of marine and coastal areas for develop- ‘Strengthening Turkey’s Marine and Coastal Pro- ment, housing, commerce, recreational activities tected Areas’ covering the term between 2009-2013 and basic needs. Furthermore, the pressure of fast and with the UNDP as the implementing partner, urbanization and settlement activities on coastal the General Directorate has taken a very fi rst step areas leads to many problems including loss of for devising a long term solution for the protection dunes, salt beds and marshes; marine and coastal of marine biodiversity in Turkish coastal waters; pollution, deterioration and loss of coastal ecosys- for the restructuring of marine and coastal protect- tems. Biodiversity and fertility of coastal and ma- ed areas database and to guarantee effectiveness rine areas are faced with this increasing pressure, and sustainability of ecological service functions. leading to damages that cannot be undone. A series of technical reports that are prepared as a These coastal and marine areas are one of the part of the project on economic analysis, socio-econ- most precious assets we have and we must pro- omy of fi sheries in coastal areas, together with other tect them. In order to alleviate these pressures and efforts on the identifi cation of marine sensitive areas, overcome these challenges, relevant structures and integration of economic principles to planning pro- infrastructures for effective implementation and cesses, ensuring fi nancial sustainability, mitigation surveillance to ensure that these areas are sustain- of pollutants from marine vessels and determina- ably managed, preserved and protected without tion of alternative livelihood resources are expected being deteriorated and with a balanced approach to yield the following project outcomes: between use and protection. In this regard, all re- lated agencies and institutions have to go under a - Responsible institutions have the capacities capacity building process to meet the demands of and internal structure needed for prioritizing the required structures and infrastructures; coop- the establishment of new MCPAs and for more eration and coordination between all parties have effectively managing existing MCPAs. to be improved and an effective and effi ciently op- - MCPA fi nancial planning and management erating work program and a model for fi nancial systems are facilitating effective business plan- resources have to be developed. ning, adequate levels of revenue generation and cost-effective management. In its responsibility area covering a coastline that - Inter-agency coordination mechanisms in place extends over some 8,592 km, General Directorate to regulate and manage economic activities for Protection of Natural Assets carries out research within multiple use areas of the MCPAs. activities for the protection and study of threat- ened and endangered species and habitats that are Documents covering the three main outcomes of duly specifi ed in the national legislation as well as the Project so far mentioned are submitted to your in international conventions that Turkey is a party; perusal. carries out research activities on the biodiversity of marine and coastal environments; determines the Osman İYİMAYA marine surface vessel capacity of important bays General Director Strengthening the System of the Marine and Coastal Protected Areas of Turkey iii Table of Contents 1. Introduction . 1 2. Ayvalık Adaları Nature Park . 2 2.1. Natural Characteristics . 2 2.2. Historical Background . 2 2.3. Physical Characteristics and Climate . 4 2.4. Population and Economy . 4 2.4.1. Agriculture. 4 2.4.2. Tourism . 5 2.4.3. Fishery . 5 3. Materials and Methods . 6 3.1. Project Area . 6 3.2. Marine Biodiversity Assessment . 7 3.2.1. Coastal Investigation and Scuba Diving . 7 3.2.2. Grab and Dredge Sampling. 9 3.2.3. Analysis of the Biological Material. 9 3.3. Physical measurements. 10 3.3.1. Sea Water Temperature, Salinity, pH, Dissolved Oxygen and Secchi Disc Measurements . 10 3.3.2. Surface Water Current Measurement . 11 3.4. Fishery Questionnaire . 11 4. Marine Biodiversity of the Ayvalık Adaları Nature Park . 12 4.1. Identifi ed species . 12 4.1.1. Overall Findings. 12 4.1.2. Macroscopic Algae . 14 4.1.3. Phanerogams. 15 4.1.4. Macroscopic Animal Species . 16 4.1.5. Protected Species . 17 4.1.6. Important Coral Species Observed in the Nature Park . 23 4.1.7. Alien Species Observed in the Nature Park . 25 5. Sea Water Quality . 27 5.1. Physical Parameters of the Sea Water . 27 5.1.1. Temperature and Salinity . 27 5.1.2. Dissolved Oxygen and pH Levels . 27 5.1.3. Secchi Disc Measurements . 28 5.2. Current Measurements . 28 5.3. Marine and Coastal Pollution . 29 6. Fisheries Activity. 30 6.1. Fishery Questionnaire . 30 iv Final Report for Determination Work on Marine Biodiversity at Ayvalık Adaları Nature Park 7. Conclusion and Suggestions . 33 7.1. Overall Evaluation . 33 7.2. Marine Biodiversity. 33 7.2.1. Underwater Prairies. 33 7.2.2. Protected Species . 34 7.2.3. Commercial Species . 34 7.2.4. Coral Fields . 35 7.2.5. Alien Species. 35 7.3. Physical Parameters That Determine Water Quality . 35 7.4. Fishery Problems . 36 7.5. The Ayvalık Adaları Nature Park from an Integrated Coastal Zone Management Perspective . 36 7.6. Recommendations . 37 7.7. Monitoring . 37 8. References . 39 APPENDIX 1. Fishery Questionnaire.. 43 APPENDIX 2. Marine species recorded during skin diving surveys.. 44 APPENDIX 3. Marine species recorded during scuba diving surveys. 63 APPENDIX 4. Marine species obtained by grab and dredge samplings. 83 List of Figures Figure 1. Ayvalık Adaları and boundaries of the Nature Park .