Community-based marine ranger program in Akyaka, Akçapinar and Sarnıç-Akbük Fishery Cooperatives (Turkey)

 

 

The organization and local perspectives on conservation and stewardship

 

Small-scale fisheries dominate fishing activity in the Gökova MPA. There are three fishery cooperatives located at the coastal areas of inner Gökova Bay within the MPA. The Akyaka Fishery Cooperative was founded in 1992, and has 25 members (share-holders). The Akçapinar Fishery Cooperative was founded in 1974. It has 21 members (share-holders). Sarnıç Akbük Fishery Cooperative was founded in 1999, and currently has 13 members (share-holders). They fish in the same fishing area in Gökova MPA (official name is Gökova Special Environmental Protection Area) which has also 6 different No-Fishing-Zones (NFZs). Fishers use gillnets, trammel nets, and longlines as fishing gears and target mostly medium and small-bodied species such as Sparidae, Serranidae, Mullidae, some Lessepsian species such as Nemipterus randelli, Siganus rivulatus, Siganus luridus, etc. They go fishing alone or with their spouse. Almost 20 percent of fishers are women. Women working in fisheries are often involved in marketing, net repair, cleaning fish from nets, and pre-sales fish cleaning, as well as direct workers on board.

 

We must protect the environment otherwise there will be no fish!

 

Stewardship experience: Community-based marine ranger system (NGO/community/fishery cooperatives partnership).

 

The issue or problem being addressed

Increased illegal fishing and loss of habitats, decreased fishing incomes have forced fishers and NGOs to do something new! Therefore, fishery cooperatives, academics and NGOs started to work together to find a solution for the issues above mentioned.

 

The activities

When the No Fishing Zones could not be protected from illegal fishing, fishery cooperatives, an NGO (Mediterranean Conservation Society (AKD)) and scientists held a meeting. Fishermen liked the idea of protecting their own fishing grounds. And so the marine ranger system was launched.

Fishery cooperatives and the AKD started a marine ranger system in 2012 and coordinates daily community-led patrols to prevent illegal fishing practices, which not only deplete marine living resources and harm underwater habitats, but also present a risk to endangered species. In fact, AKD established a marine ranger system in the bay and puts small-scale fishermen at the forefront of monitoring compliance. At the core of this approach is a participatory marine resource management model that engages a wide range of stakeholders (e.g., the Coast Guard, fishery cooperatives, the General Directorate for Protection of Natural Assets, and the Directorate-General for Fisheries and Aquaculture) in monitoring, evaluation, and program design. This approach also ensured that local fishermen have a high level of ownership and are drivers of the management process. To build the capacity of local communities to enforce and monitor designated NFZs, the organization provides marine guard training that integrates a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical training. Training topics range from protected area patrolling to boat safety and from marine biodiversity assessments to public awareness-raising strategies. Local fishing cooperatives choose trainees for the program, selecting experienced fishermen with the most knowledge of fishing grounds and also the types of illegal activities to monitor for.

 

The benefits/impacts including sustainability/environmental effects

Marine rangers worked together with coastguard and fishery cooperatives, playing a vital role to stop illegal fishing in the Bay and also in the NFZs. This has affected their fishing income positively, and increases a sense of connection to the fishing areas. This system also provided a number of new employment opportunities to fishermen in the community.

 

The success and significance of the activities

Fishermen played a direct role in solving a chronic problem. Fishermen from other countries have since come to visit and see this ranger system so that they might learn from the experience and implement similar strategies elsewhere.

 

Some lessons learned or words of wisdom

Start with the meetings. Find the leaders and idealists in the community. Build a good relationship with locals, mainly with fishers, based on trust, sincerity and knowledge.

 

 

 

 

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Fishery Facts

(Below are the applicable categories of fisheries, environment, species, gear type and livelihood role.)

 

Fishery characteristics:

• Marine capture fishery (e.g. nearshore/coastal/reef-based/deep sea)
• Commercial fishery
• Multi-species

The environment where fishing takes place: 

• Coastal – Nearshore

Main species targeted:

• Marine  – demersal finfish (e.g. cod/ flatfish/ grouper)
• Molluscs (including bivalves & cephalopods – e.g. octopus/ clams)
• Crustaceans (e.g. shrimp/ prawn/ lobster)

Gear types/ methods used:

• Gillnet
• Longline
• Line

Role of the fishery in local livelihoods:

• Main source of employment
• Secondary/ supplemental source of employment
• Full-time
• Seasonal