Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
THALASSAS, cilt.38, ss.321-329, 2022 (SCI-Expanded)
The management of traditional capture fisheries in the coastal lagoons is important to protect the lagoon ecosystem health which is vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts. General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean highlighted data gaps for the Mediterranean coastal lagoons and lack of regional management practice. In this study, we aimed to investigate monthly catch and size compositions of fishes trapped on the lagoon-sea interface in Akyatan, which is the largest lagoon in the Mediterranean coast of Turkey and assess the barrier trap fisheries by applying best available data to be able to give recommendations to decision makers providing a practical complement to comprehensive management of the barrier trap fisheries in the lagoon. Using monthly catch and size compositions, it is developed a concern index indicating probability of catching a fish smaller than its minimum landing size. Results showed that the barrier trap targets mainly Mugil cephalus, Dicentrarchus labrax, Sparus aurata, Liza carinata, Chelon labrosus, Liza aurata, and Liza saliens. The most productive months were September with 422 kg day(-1) and December with 473 kg day(-1). M. cephalus was the most dominant species throughout the months, except for November when S. aurata was dominant. The sizes of fishes were remarkably below the minimum landing size in December (84%) and January (81%) for M. cephalus, and August (97%) for S. aurata. The highest concern index values were 24% (December) and 32% (January) for M. cephalus, 23% (August) and 25% (November) for S. aurata, and 26% (January) for L. aurata. Therefore, it is suggested that decision makers should take this information into account while developing regional management plan for Akyatan Lagoon. However, for comprehensive fishing management, data gaps should be addressed with the help of future study recommendations documented in this study.