Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing in the Sea of Marmara: An assessment based on enforcement data and the amendments to Fisheries Law No. 1380 (2017–2022)
Aquatic Research, cilt.9, sa.3, ss.211-227, 2026 (Scopus, TRDizin)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 9 Sayı: 3
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.3153/ar26018
- Dergi Adı: Aquatic Research
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.211-227
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Fishery regulations, Fishery violations, Illegal fishing, Sea of Marmara
- İstanbul Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing is one of the major threats to the sustainability of marine resources. It disrupts the balance of ecosystems and leads to substantial economic losses. This study aims to analyze inspection activities conducted in the Sea of Marmara, one of the most important Turkish fishing grounds, between 2017 and 2022, and to assess the on-site impact of the 2020 amendment to Fisheries Law No. 1380. A total of 10,599 fisheries violations were examined within the scope of the study, based on data obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Turkish Coast Guard Unit. The findings indicate that the number of violations, which showed an increasing trend during the 2017–2019 period, declined markedly after 2020, when penalties were intensified, and inspection efforts were strengthened (7,202 violations in 2017– 2019; 3,397 violations in 2020–2022) and in terms of the distribution of violations by fishing method, purse seine fisheries ranked first (63.63%), followed by diving-based mussel fishery (14.61%) and trawl fisheries (10.25%). Among the confiscated products, Mediterranean mussel accounted for the highest proportion (82.48%). In conclusion, while the deterrent effect of legal regulations has increased, a multidisciplinary approach is needed to combat IUU fishing in sensitive ecosystems such as the Sea of Marmara. This approach should include stricter controls at landing points, the effective use of electronic monitoring systems, and enhanced public awareness.