Brief overview of fisheries management in the Black Sea: Türkiye and EU member states

Nazlı Demirel, M. İdil Öz, Onur Gönülal

ORCID IDs: N.D. 0000-0003-4542-9276; M.İ.Ö. 0000-0001-9235-7530; O.G. 0000-0002-5559-3953

Institute of Marine Sciences and Management, Istanbul University, 34134, Fatih, Istanbul, TÜRKIYE
Vocational School of Marine Technologies, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, 17000, Merkez, Çanakkale, TÜRKIYE
Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, Istanbul University, 34134, Fatih, Istanbul, TÜRKIYE

Abstract

The Black Sea is divided into six Exclusive Economic Zones for each of the bordering countries. This study offers a brief evaluation of fisheries management in the Black Sea, focusing on the divergent approaches of Türkiye and EU member states, Bulgaria and Romania. It highlights the common challenges of managing shared fishery resources in a region characterized by varied regulatory frameworks and policies. EU’s Common Fisheries Policy claims a unified approach for member states where Türkiye follows an independent path, reflective of its unique geopolitical stance. The need for cross-border cooperation and knowledge exchange are underscored to effectively manage the semi-enclosed and transboundary nature of the Black Sea. In addition, the role of the EU funds in supporting sustainable fisheries practices and the constitution of regional cooperation are also briefly assessed. The high number of ongoing initiatives prioritizing sustainable utilization of the Black Sea is determined to be the demonstrations of the collective effort of the countries toward sustainable marine resource management. The study concludes that the effectiveness of any initiatives depends on the extent of collaboration among all Black Sea countries and a cooperative, science-based approach is essential for the long-term sustainability of the marine ecosystems and fisheries in the Black Sea.

Keywords: Fisheries policy, sustainability, regional cooperation, Romania, Bulgaria, Türkiye

References

Akoğlu, E. (2023) Ecological indicators reveal historical regime shifts in the Black Sea ecosystem. PeerJ 11: e15649.

Bakan, G., Büyükgüngör, H. (2000) The Black Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin 41(1-6): 24-43.

BSC (2019) State of the Environment of the Black Sea (2009-2014/5), (ed., Krutov, A.), Publications of the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (BSC), Istanbul, Türkiye, 811 pp.

Cooper, M. P. (1999) The common fisheries policy of the European Union – A lesson in how not to make policy. Politics 19 (2): 61–70.

Düzgüneş, E., Erdoğan, N. (2008) Fisheries management in the Black Sea countries. Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 8: 181-192.

EC (2021) European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027. Available at: https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/news/european-maritime-fisheries-and-aquaculture-fund-2021-2027-eu85-million-programme-bulgaria-2022-11-24_en (accessed 15 Aug 2023).

EC (2022) Romania will receive €232 million from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027. Available at: https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/news/romania-will-receive-eu232-million-european-maritime-fisheries-and-aquaculture-fund-2021-2027-2022-12-01_en) (accessed 15 Nov 2023).

EC (2023) The common fisheries policy today and tomorrow: a Fisheries and Oceans Pact towards sustainable, science-based, innovative and inclusive fisheries management. COM/2023/103 final. Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:52023DC0103 (accessed 10 Oct 2023).

EMFAF (2021) European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), Flagship projects promoting a sustainable blue economy through regional maritime cooperation in the Atlantic, the Black Sea and the Western Mediterranean. EMFAF-2021-PIA-FLAGSHIP, Brussels, 2021.

EU (2017) Fact Sheets on the European Union. Available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/fiches_techniques/2013/050301/04A_FT(2013)050301_EN.pdf (accessed 12 Aug 2023).

FAO (2022) The State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries 2022. General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean. Rome, doi: 10.4060/cc3370en.

FAO-GFCM (2023) General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean Available at: https://www.fao.org/gfcm/data/capture-production/ar/ (accessed 22 May 2023).

Flanders Marine Institute (2023) MarineRegions.org. Available at: www.marineregions.org. (accessed 14 Aug 2023).

Özdamar, E. (1995) A comparative study on constructional characteristics and engine power of Turkish fishing vessel in the Black Sea. Turkish Journal of Marine Sciences 1(2): 109˗120.

Özkan, A., Kırval, L. (2023) Continuity of maritime disputes in Turkish foreign policy in retrospect. Uluslararası İlişkiler 20(78): 119-137.

Pot, F., Blomeyer, R., Geveci, S., Günaydın, H. (2011) Review of Twinning in Turkey. In: Review of Twinning in Turkey Final Report. In the context of the framework contract on Evaluation and Evaluation-Related Services no. BUDGN°06/PO/01/003/101911. ECORYS Nederland BV, 23 May 2011.

Raykov, V.S., Düzgüneş, E. (2017) Fisheries management in the Black Sea – pros and cons. Frontiers in Marine Science 4(227): 1-4.

Ünal, V., Göncüoğlu, H. (2012) Fisheries Management in Turkey. In: The State of the Turkish Fisheries, (eds., Tokaç, A., Gücü, A.C., Öztürk, B.), Turkish Marine Research Foundation, Publication Number: 35, pp. 263-288.