Economic Potential and Environmental Effects of Recretional Fishing Activity in Coast of Iskenderun Bay

Abstract

Recreational fishing activity (RFA) is one of the primary sources that have both social and economic potential across the world. The potential of this source was subjected to assess the effects of RFA across Turkey and Iskenderun Bay. The 355 respondents have been surveyed personally in this study. According to the statistics gathered, 35.6% of the recreational fishermen population make this activity more than 10 years. This activity was performed once a week by 35 % of respondents. The most caught fish was sea bream (53%). While 52 % of fishermen have no fishing license, 23% have amateur fishing license and 25 % have professional fishing license. While 75 % of participants go fishing as a recreational activity 33% do it for sport and 21% for making additional income. As a result of this study, it has been estimated that 17,642 people in the Bay. The weekly contribution of these people to the regional economy was (sic)861,000 ((sic)44,794,550.17 per year). In addition, the potential sale for RFA supplies was (sic)9,096,337.57. In the study, the average daily catch of each recreational fisherman was estimated at 0.72 kg. The number of daily trip of RFA was calculated as 16.82% of the total number of recreational fishermen, 2,967 daily trip in the region. In other words, the average of 2,136 kg of fish have caught for per day by marine coast recreational fishery in the region. It showed that this size of catch amount and impact cannot be ignored effect of recreational fishing activity for rational fishery management perspective.