DİP SÜRÜTME AĞLARININ BENTİK MAKROFAUNA ÜZERİNDEKİ ETKİLERİ: MARMARA VE KARADENİZ’DEKİ GÜNCEL DURUM

Abstract

<div><!--block-->The physical disturbance caused by towing gears effect the benthic ecosystem by reducing or changing the abundance and distribution patterns of both infaunal and epifaunal communities. It is known that the biodiversity in faunal assemblages alters within habitats under a continuous scraping effect of the towing gears such as bottom and beam trawls. This study includes the experimental surveys to determine and minimise the impact of towing gears on benthic ecosystem that are still in use in Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara.&nbsp; The discard rates in red mullet and whiting reach, Average 17 % and 40% respectively of total catch, depending on misusage and insufficient selectivity of mesh size in bottom trawls those operating in demersal fishery.&nbsp; However, the results showed that the use of bottom trawl nets with 40 mm square mesh increased the length selectivity for target species; whiting and red mullet and also reduced the rate of discard and bycatch.&nbsp; On the other hand, the modifications such as sledges instead of the traditional shoes and the removal of the steel rope in beam trawls used in sea snail fishery in nearshore Black Sea coasts and the use of grid panels in beam trawls used in the Sea of Marmara provided a 50% reduction in amount of bycatch.</div>