Researches on Izmir Bay Purse Seine Fishery
Project no. 1176 · Status: Kapanmış · 2017
Summary
This study tried to reveal that the length characteristics of some fishes captured in higher amount of catch and fish composition and quantity of purse seine used intensively in the catching of pelagic fishes in Izmir Bay. A total of 46 commercial (most of them are pelagic) and 23 non-commercial species were identified in the sampling season between September 1, 2017 and April 15, 2018. It is noteworthy that the brown shrimp (Penaeus aztecus), which started to be seen in Izmir Bay from 2016, are also included in the catch composition. In Izmir Bay, a purse seine that has been working actively for 155 days in this process caught totally 985902 kg of fish with an average of 6361 kg per day. Among the species caught, sardines (Sardina pilchardus and Sardinella aurita) are in the first place in landings with 5175 kg.day-1. Then, it was followed by anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) with 929 kg, mackerel (Scomber scombrus) with 65 kg, bonito (Sarda sarda) with 48 kg, bogue (Boops boops) with 37 kg, grey mullets (Mugil spp.) with 36 kg, little tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus) with 25 kg, gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) with 10 kg, horse mackerels (Trachurus mediterraneus and Trachurus trachurus) with 6.2 kg and needle fish (Belone belone) with 6.2 kg. In addition, 5.6 kg.day-1 Melicertus kerathurus and P. aztecus shrimps amount is also remarkable. Catch amount of the each 16 commercial species is less than 5 kg.day-1. Sardine (S. pilchardus) 12.0 cm (4.5-16.5), anchovy 11.0 cm (7.0-14.6), mackerel 20.6 cm (7.9-35.5), bonito 33.8 cm (29.7-37.3) and horse mackerel 15.1 (10.5-21.6) are above their minimum landing sizes with an average total length. These results show that the Izmir Bay purse seine fishery has a great deal of diversity and richness in quantity as well as it is convenient to the Minimum Landing Size prohibitions stated in the 4/1 Notification.