Development of responsible recreational fishery in Turkey; Concrete achievements through Kaş Kekova Pilot Project

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1 Development of responsible recreational fishery in Turkey; Concrete achievements through Kaş Kekova Pilot Project Cem Orkun Kıraç Underwater Research Society (SAD) Ankara, Türkiye

2 Development of responsible recreational fishery in Türkiye; concrete achievements through Kaş Kekova Pilot Project Why is Responsible Fishing in Turkey is deemed to be developed? The MPAs are reserve areas for sustainable use. However, illegal and over fishing activites are among the most important challenges to be encountered in a successful MPA management. Number of recreational fishermen including spearfishers are so numerous in Türkiye that their pressure are far more than considered, which give direct damage to fish stocks and reduce biological diversity. So, finally this result deteriorates marine ecosystem. Control of illegal fishery and marine surveillance are not only ways to prevent collapse of marine ecosystem caused by over & illegal fishing. Education and communication are considered other effective ways to tackle with this important problem. The project focuses on raising awareness, capacity building and initiate communication among relevant stakeholders.

3 Development of Responsible Recreational Fishery in Turkey Kaş Kekova Pilot Project Development of Responsible Fishery in Türkiye - Datça Pilot Project Responsible Fishery - Enhancement of Land Based Illegal Fishery Control Project

4 Responsible Fishery Project is a communication based project An initial discussion and workshops held in 2013 in Kaş, Antalya gathering all the relevant stakeholders available in the country. SAD achieved to bring together recreational and professional fishermen, speargun fishers, recreational speargun fishermen NGO, restaurant and hotel owners in the area, MPA managers, local and national institutions including Ministry of Agriculture, Coast Guard, led to the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding on responsible recreational fishing in Türkiye. To this end, two more important meetings were organized. The first one in Kaş & Kekova SEPA where more than 60 people from 15 different stakeholders gathered on the theme of "zoning and approved spearfishing practices in MPAs. The second and third gathering happened Ankara and then Datça where 50 participants discussed with the relevant national authorities about ways to improve coordination for the adoption of recreational fishing sustainable practices.

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7 Responsible Fishery Project is a communication based project An initial discussion and workshops held in 2013 in Kaş, Antalya gathering all the relevant stakeholders available in the country. SAD achieved to bring together recreational and professional fishermen, restaurant and hotel owners in the area, MPA managers, local and national institutions, led to the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding on responsible recreational fishing in Türkiye. To this end, two important meetings were organized. The first one in Kaş & Kekova SEPA where more than 60 people from different stakeholder gathered on the theme of "zoning and approved spearfishing practices in MPAs. The second and third gathering happened Ankara and Datça where 50 participants discussed with the relevant national authorities about ways to improve coordination for the adoption of recreational fishing sustainable practices.

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9 Development of responsible recreational fishery in Türkiye; concrete achievements through Kaş Kekova Pilot Project Concrete achievements and outputs of the project 1- It is the first project in its kind in the country. It has been a highly controversial issue that all the parties have avoided even to gather and discuss the subject around a table. 2- An initial discussion and workshops held in 2013 in Kaş, Antalya gathering all the relevant stakeholders available in the country. A Memorandum of Understanding, in the form of joint declaration, has been agreed by all parties at the end of the grand meeting in Kaş. 3- The Kaş Pilot Project has yielded two more relevant projects on Responsible Fishing; Responsible Fishing Datça Pilot Project & Land Based Control of Illegal Fishery in Türkiye. 4- Illegeal spearfishing has widely been publicized in Turkey since Kaş Pilot Project on Responsible Fishery held in 2013 including press news and educational spot video clips. In CNN Türk Channel, a widely watched national TV channel, short and concise illegal speargun fishing video clip has been aired since last 3 years, which increased awareness in national scale much on the subject. 5- Turkish Coast Guard Command has asked SAD to provide 300 more copies of Responsible Recreational Fishery book, the output of the project, to be distributed to candidate officer students in the Coast Guard School in Antalya.

10 Development of responsible recreational fishery in Türkiye; concrete achievements through Kaş Kekova Pilot Project Concrete achievements and outputs of the project 6- Turkish Coast Guard Antalya Regional Command and Iskenderun Group Command have asked SAD to provide additional copies of Responsible Fishing book to distribute Coast Guard patrol boats and the fishery communities. 7- Responsible Fishing Certificate idea and the certificate have been developed in cooperation with the Fisheries Directorate General (Turkish Ministry of Agriculture). It is a volunteer program but several restaurants and some fishing boats have participated the program in Kaş, Kekova, Akyaka (Gökova SEPA), Datça and Palamutbükü in the initial stages. 8- Land based control of illegal fishery concept has been advocated and lobied within the Fisheries Directorate General in Ankara and in the local directorates under the Ministry. 9- The land based controls in the restaurants and the whole sale fish markets have been increased as a result of the lobbying and advocacy activities in the project. 10- MedPAN has announced the book Transition to Responsible Recreational Fishing in Turkey as a white paper. 11- Responsible Fishery concept has been introduced in Turkey among all the relevant stakeholders. SAD has received great support from Fisheries DG and the Coast Guard Command.

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13 OUTPUTS: Bringing different stakeholders to come together, in this very hot topic, around the table for 2 days whom belong different groups and having different interests, cultures, background and motivation.

14 OUTPUTS: A Responsible Recreational Fishing book has been designed and developed. 16 authors have contributed belonging to the relevant stakeholders in the project. In Turkish and English languages.

15 OUTPUTS: A Responsible Fishing book, including professional and amateur fishers and restaurants and fish markets has also been designed and developed. 16 authors have contributed belonging to the relevant stakeholders in the project. In Turkish language. Preface by Fisheries Director General.

16 OUTPUTS: A web site specific to RESPONSIBLE FISHERY was designed and published. Principles of responsible fishery 1 balik cok balik=1 fish many fish All kind of developments regarding responsible fishery in the country E-library including scientific articles, symposium presentations, popular articles and books on responsible fishery Special toys and children plays designed in order to give concept of responsible fishery Information about endangered & vulnerable species

17 OUTPUTS: A comprehensive e-library was formed within the web site dedicated to the project.

18 OUTPUTS: The national scale agreement developed by partners from various backgrounds defines 30 steps for Responsible Amateur Fishing and basis to a future management plan at the national level.

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20 OUTPUTS: The land based control of illegal fishery has been increased much in the last 3 years, especially in the last months in big cities such as Ankara and Istanbul by the Fisheries DG staff.

21 Grazie! Cem Orkun Kıraç SAD (Underwater Research Society) Moving towards responsible tourism in Mediterranean MPAs 2015 MedPAN network regional experience-sharing workshop Sinis, Sardinia, Italy, November