Abstract:

When the commercial sea fisheries landings are evaluated on species basis according to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUÝK) data of the year 1990, it has not observed a significant decrease except for slight fluctuations in landing amounts of short-lived fish populations such as anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus), sprats (Sprattus sprattus), sardines (Sardina pilchardus), Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda), and horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus). However, it has observed considerable decline in landing amounts of long-lived benthopelagic fish species as grey mullet (Mugil cephalus), sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), turbot (Psetta maxima), red mullet (Mullus barbatus), whiting (Merlangius merlangus euxinus), and hake (Merluccius merluccius). These results indicate that these species in second group were overfished and stocks have been destroyed. The concept of `precautionary approach` in fisheries management is more conservator management approach in the event of information on fish stocks is uncertain, unreliable, and insufficient. Worldwide, this mentality has been adopted by many international organizations related to fish stock management in regional seas and there is still application area. Also, implementation of precautionary approach to fisheries management in management of commercial fish stocks in Turkey seas will be able to contribute in terms of protection of over-exploited and long-lived fish stocks, and obtaining maximum sustainable yield (MSY) from these stocks.

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