Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Euroaliment, Galati, Romanya, 23 - 24 Ekim 2025, ss.164, (Özet Bildiri)
The
sustainability of the striped venus clam (Chamelea
gallina) fishery, which has been ongoing for many years (since the 1980s)
on the Turkish Black Sea coast, has become a growing concern due to declining
catch rates despite regulatory closures. This study evaluates whether a
two-year fishery closure is sufficient to ensure stock recovery by comparing
catch per unit effort (CPUE) and fishing efficiency data from Sakarya and Şile
stations between 2017 and 2021.
In
the Sakarya region, which reopened after a two-year closure, despite improved
selectivity through vibrating screens, the average CPUE value decreased from 3065.4
kg/h in the first year (2018-2019) to 2446.4 kg/h in the second year
(2019-2020). In contrast, the Şile region, which remained closed for two years,
showed a low CPUE value (768.6 kg/h) when reopened in the 2020-2021 season, and
it was observed that the stocks failed to recover during the two years of
closure. Increasing fishing activity to meet daily quotas is another sign of
declining productivity (p<0,05). These findings suggest that the current
two-year closure is insufficient for population recovery, particularly in areas
under intense fishing pressure like Şile.
Sustainable
management of the C. gallina fishery
requires revising closure durations, strengthening enforcement of daily catch
quotas, and improving gear selectivity to prevent further depletion of the
stocks. Such actions are essential not only for the ecological sustainability
of the species but also for maintaining the economic viability of the fishery,
as the Black Sea stocks of striped venus clam constitute an important resource
for Türkiye’s fisheries sector and play a key role in supplying the European
Union seafood market.