Evaluation on Minimum Landing Size Regulations in Turkish Marine Fisheries from Scientific Perspective

Crucial point of fishery management is to let the fish or other species reproduce at least once during their life. Therefore it is very important to determine the length at maturity (Lm) for given species before the first capture. Focus of this study is to determine the consistency between scientific results and minimum landing size (MLS) regulations in the marine fishery of Turkey. For this purpose, 4/1 communique on commercial fishery (2016/35) published by the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry was investigated in order to expose the MLS of given species in Turkey. Literature survey on Lm was also conducted preferably on studies which were performed in Turkish waters or from the Mediterranean basin in order to avoid regional differences. While 86 marine species were reported to be landed in the official fishery statistics, only 49 of them were appointed with a MLS in the commercial fisheries regulation. It was determined that MLS of 27 species were below the Lm according to the selected literature, 7 of them require result on Lm, status of the 2 species couldn’t be decided due to different length types and 13 (27% of the decisions on MLS) of them were found to be in accordance with the scientific literature on Lm. This study shows that MLS regulation must be revised for most of the species in the surrounding waters of Turkey and comprehensive maturity studies are urgently needed in order to fulfill the scientific gap.

PDF

___

Akyol O, Tokac A, Unsal S. 1996. An investigation on the growth and reproduction characteristics of the sardine (Sardina pilchardus Walbaum, 1792) in the bay of Izmir (Aegean Sea). Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 13:383–394.

Bingel F, Gücü AC, Nierman U, Kıdeyş AE, Mutlu E, Doğan M, Kayıkçı Y, Avşar D, Bekiroğlu Y, Genç Y, Okur H, Zengin M. 1996. Karadeniz stok tespiti projesi balıkçılık araştırmaları. Final raporu. Deniz Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Erdemli ve Su Ürünleri Araştırma Enstitüsü, Yomra, TÜBİTAK. 172 p.

Brusle S, Brusle J. 1977. Les muges de Tunisie: Peˆche lagunaire et biologie de la reproduction de trois espe`ces (Mugil capito, M. cephalus et M. chelo) des lacs d’Ischkeul et de Tunis. Rapp Comm Int Mer Me´dit. 24:101–128.

Cayré P, Amon Kothias JB, Diouf T, Stretta JM. 1993. Biology of tuna. In (A. Fonteneau, J. Marcille). Resources, fishing and biology of the tropical tunas of the Eastern Central Atlantic. Rome, FAO. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper 292. pp:147- 244. ISBN 92-5-102652-1.

Cetinić P, Soldo A, Dulčić J, Pallaoro A. 2002. Specific method of fishing for Sparidae species in the eastern Adriatic. Fisheries Research. 55:131–139.

Ceyhan T, Akyol O, Ayaz A, Juanes F. 2007. Age, growth, and reproductive season of bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) in the Marmara region, Turkey. ICES Journal of Marine Science. 64:531-536. DOI: 10.1093/icesjms/fsm026.

Cikeš Keč V, Zorica B. 2011. The reproductive traits of Scomber japonicus (Houttuyn, 1782) in the Eastern Adriatic Sea. Journal of Applied Ichthyology. 28:15–21. DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0426.2011.01893.x.

Corriero A, Karakulak S, Santamarina N, Deflorio M, Spedicato D, Addis P, Desantis S, Cirillo F, Fenech-Farrugia A, Vasallo-Aguis R, De La Serna JM, Oray Y, Cau A, Megalofonou P, De Metrio G. 2005. Size and age at sexual maturity of female bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus L. 1758) from Mediterranean Sea. Journal of Applied Ichthyology. 21:483–486. DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0426.2005.00700.x.

De Silva SS. 1973. Aspects of the reproductive biology of the sprat, Sprattus sprattus (L.) in inshore waters of the west coast of Scotland. Journal of fish biology. 5(6):689-705. DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1973.tb04505.x.

Engin S, Seyhan K. 2009. Age, growth, sexual maturity and food composition of Sciaena umbra in the south-eastern Black Sea, Turkey. Journal of Applied Ichthyology. 25:96–99. DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0426.2008.01173.x.

Erdem Y. 2018. Karadeniz barbunya balığının (Mullus barbatus ponticus) ilk üreme boyunun tahmini. Journal of Advances in VetBio Science and Techniques. 3(2):30-37. DOI: 10.31797/vetbio.450369.

Ergene S. 1998. Reproduction characteristics of thinlip grey mullet Liza ramada (Risso, 1826) inhabiting Akgöl- Paradeniz Lagoons (Göksü Delta). Turkish journal of Zoology. 24:159–164.

Eryılmaz L, Dalyan C. 2015. Age, Growth, And Reproductıve Biology Of Turbot, Scophthalmus Maximus (Actınopterygii: Pleuronectıformes: Scophthalmıdae), From The South- Western Coasts Of Black Sea, Turkey. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria. 45(2):181–188. DOI: 10.3906/zoo-1311-25.

Froese F, Pauly D. 2019. FishBase. [version 02/2019] Available from http://www.fishbase.org. Accessed 2019-03-18.

Genç Y, Zengin M, Basar S, Tabak İ, Ceylan B, Çiftçi Y, Üstündağ C, Akbulut B, Sahin T. 1998. Research Project for economic fishes. Tarım ve Köyişleri Bakanlığı Tarımsal Araştırmalar Genel Müdürlüğü, TAGEM/IY/96/17/3/001 Sonuç Raporu, Trabzon, Türkiye. Trabzon Su Ürünleri Merkez Araştırma Enstitüsü.

Gil MDM, Grau A, Basilone G, Ferreri R, Palmer M. 2013. Reproductive strategy and fecundity of meagre Argyrosomus regius Asso, 1801 (Pisces: Sciaenidae): implications for restocking programs. Scientia Marina. 77(1):105-118. DOI: 10.3989/scimar.03688.28A.

Goñi R, Quetglas A, Reñones O. 2003. Size at maturity, fecundity and reproductive potential of a protected population of the spiny lobster Palinurus elephas (Fabricius, 1787) from the western Mediterranean. Marine Biology. 143(3):583-592.

Hajjej G, Hattour A, Allaya H, Jarboui O, Bouain A. 2010. Biology of little tunny Euthynnus alletteratus in the Gulf of Gabes, Southern Tunisia (Central Mediterranean Sea). Revista de Biología Marina y Oceanografía. 45:399–406. DOI: 10.4067/S0718-19572010000300004.

Hotos GN. 1999. Biology and population dynamics of Liza aurata (Risso, 1810) (Pisces: Mugilidae) of the Mesolongi- Etoliko lagoon. Doctorate thesis. University of Patra, Greece.

Jennings S, Kaiser MJ, Reynolds JD. 2001. Marine Fisheries Ecology. 1st Ed. Blackwell, Oxford. Blackwell Publishing. ISBN:0-632-05098-5.

Kaim-Malka RA, Jacob SS. 1985. Donne´es pre´liminaires sur la biologie de trois espe`ces de Scorpaenidae de la re´gion de Marseille. Rapp Comm Int Mer Médit, 29:45–47.

Kara MH. 1997. Cycle sexuel et fe´condite´ du loup Dicentrarchus labrax (Poisson Moronide´) du golfe d’Annaba. Cahiers de Biologie Marine. 38(3):161–168.

Karlou-Riga C. 1995. Biology and dynamics of the Trachurus species (Pisces, Carangidae) in the Saronikos Gulf. Doctorate thesis. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.

Kınacıgil HT, İlkyaz AT, Metin G, Ulaş A, Soykan O, Akyol O, Gurbet R. 2008. Balıkçılık Yönetimi Açısından Ege Denizi Demersal Balık Stoklarının İlk Üreme Boyları, Yaşları ve Büyüme Parametrelerinin Tespiti. TÜBİTAK, ÇAYDAG- 103Y132 nolu Proje Kesin Raporu.

Kosior M, Kuczynski J, Grygiel W. 1996. Reproduction of Baltic flounder (Platichthys flesus L.) in relation to some somatic factors. ICES C.M. J:29.

Koutrakis ET. 1994. Biology and population dynamics of grey mullets (Pisces, Mugilidae) in the Lake Vistonis and the Lagoon of Porto-Lagos. Doctorate thesis. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.

Lizarraga-Cubedo HA, Tuck I, Bailey N, Pierce GJ, Kinnear JAM. 2003. Comparisons of size at maturity and fecundity of two Scottish populations of the European lobster, Homarus gammarus. Fisheries Research. 65(1-3):137-152.

Marino G, Mandich A, Massari A, Andaloro F, Porrello S, Finoia MG, Cevasco F. 1995. Aspects of reproductive biology of the Mediterranean amberjack (Seriola dumerilii Risso) during the spawning period. Journal of Applied Ichthyology. 11(1-2):9-24.

Mater S, Kaya M, Bilecenoğlu M. 2011. Türkiye Deniz Balıkları Atlası. Ege Üniversitesi Su Ürünleri Fakültesi Yayınları. ISBN: 9754835465. No:68. 169 p.

McDonough CJ, Roumillat WA, Wenner CA. 2005. Sexual differentiation and gonad development in striped mullet (Mugil cephalus L.) from South Carolina estuaries. Fishery Bulletin. 103(4):601–619.

Metin G, İlkyaz AT, Soykan O, Kınacıgil, HT. 2011. Biological characteristics of the common pandora, Pagellus erythrinus (Linnaeus, 1758), in the central Aegean Sea. Turkish Journal of Zoology. 35(3):307-315. DOI: 10.3906/zoo-0904-4.

Morales-Nin B, Moranta J. 1997. Life history and fishery of the common dentex (Dentex dentex) in Mallorca (Balearic Islands, western Mediterranean). Fisheries Research. 30(1-2): 67–76.

Okumus İ, Başçınar M. 1997. Population structure, growth and reproduction of introduced Pacific mullet, Mugil so-iuy, in the Black Sea. Fisheries Research. 33(1-3):131–137.

Orsi Relini L, Palandri G, Garibaldi F. 2003. Reproductive parameters of the Mediterranean swordfish. Biologia Marina Mediterranea. 10(2):210–222.

Silva L, Sobrino I, Ramos F. 2002. Reproductive biology of the common octopus, Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797 (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) in the Gulf of Cádiz (SW Spain). Bulletin of Marine Science. 71(2):837-850.

Soykan O, İlkyaz AT, Metin G, Kınacıgil HT. 2010. Growth and reproduction of blotched picarel (Spicara maena Linnaeus, 1758) in the central Aegean Sea, Turkey. Turkish Journal of Zoology. 34:453-459. DOI: 10.3906/zoo-0903-29.

Soykan O, Ilkyaz AT, Metın G, Kinacigıl HT. 2015. Age, growth and reproduction of European hake (Merluccius merluccius (Linn., 1758)) in the Central Aegean Sea, Turkey. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 95(4):829-837. DOI: 10.1017/S002531541400201X.

Soykan O, İlkyaz AT, Metin G, Kınacıgil, HT. 2015. Growth and reproduction of Boops boops, Dentex macrophthalmus, Diplodus vulgaris, and Pagellus acarne (actınopterygii: perciformes: sparidae) from east-central aegean sea, Turkey. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria. 45(1):39-55. DOI: 10.3750/AIP2015.45.1.05.

Sümer Ç, Teksam İ, Karatas H, Beyhan T, Aydin C.M. 2013. Growth and reproduction biology of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896, in the Beymelek Lagoon (southwestern coast of Turkey). Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 13:675-684. DOI: 10.4194/1303-2712-v13_4_13.

Techetach M, Hernando-Casal JA, Saoud Y, Benajiba MH. 2010. Reproductive biology of chub mackerel Scomber japonicus in Larache area, Moroccan North Atlantic coast/Biologie de la reproduction du maquereau Scomber japonicus de la region de Larache, Atlantique Nord marocain. Cybium, International Journal of Ichthyology, 34(2):159-166.

Tsikliras AC, Antonopoulou E. 2006. Reproductive biology of the round sardinella (Sardinella aurita) in the northeastern Mediterranean Sea. Scientia Marina. 70(2):281–290. DOI: 10.3989/scimar.2006.70n2281.

Tsikliras AC, Koutrakis ET. 2013. Growth and reproduction of European sardine, Sardina pilchardus (Pisces: Clupeidae), in northeastern Mediterranean. Cahiers de Biologie Marine, 54(3):365-374.

TÜİK (Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu). 2018. Fishery Statistics 2018, Ankara.

WoRMS (2019). World Register of Marine Species. Available from http://www.marinespecies.org at VLIZ. Accessed 2019- 03-18. doi:10.14284/170.

Zeichen MM, Agnesi S, Mariani A, Maccaroni A, Ardizzone GD. 2002. Biology and population dynamics of Donax trunculus L. (Bivalvia: Donacidae) in the South Adriatic coast (Italy). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 54(6):971-982. DOI: 10.1006/ecss.2001.0868.