Abstract:

This study aims to identify the differences between the opinions/thoughts of the fishermen who have different socio-demographic and socio-economic (age, education, income level, income sources) backgrounds in four fishing grounds: Marmara Lake, Demirköprü Dam Lake (Manisa), Egirdir Lake and Beysehir Lake (Isparta) on the following issues: a) Suggestions about overfishing b) The most important development they have witnessed in the last ten years c) The most negative development they have witnessed in the last ten years. For this purpose, the survey data obtained from 59 fishermen in 2018 were evaluated using non-linear canonical correlation analysis. According to the findings of the research: a) Fishermen who are literate and primary school graduate, generate an annual income of 25,000-50,000TRY from fishery, earn their living by fishery and fishery+agriculture+non-agricultural activities think that there is no overfishing in the lake/dam lake they fish. However, those with a higher educational level, earning their living by fishery+agricultural activity are of the opinion that there is overfishing in the fishing grounds. None of the fishermen favor the suggestion about a quota sharing or closing the lake/dam lake to fisheries against overfishing. b) The fishermen between ages 30-45 who have an annual fishing income less than 25,000TRY and earn their living by fishery+agriculture+non-agricultural activity think that the most important development in fishery in the last ten years has been the increase in the length and amount of the product, while those who are older but have a lower level of income and education are of the opinion that the most important development in the last ten years has been the improvements in legal regulations. c) According to fishermen who are secondary/primary school, high school, vocational high school, or university graduates and earn their living by fishery+agricultural activity, the most negative aspect they have witnessed in the last ten years has been the decrease in the length and amount of the products, while those with an annual income less than 25,000TRY, who earn their living by fishery+agriculture+non-agricultural activities state that the most negative development in the last ten years has been the environmental problems. These findings are thought to guide the fisheries management plans and decisions regarding the fishing grounds.

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