Sea snot and its impacts on the fisheries in the Sea of Marmara and its adjacent waters

Taner Yıldız, Onur Gönülal

ORCID IDs: T.Y. 0000-0003-3140-5118; O.G. 0000-0002-5559-3953

Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, Istanbul University, Balabanağa Mah, Ordu St. No 8, 34134 Fatih, Istanbul, TURKEY
Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV), P.O.Box 10, Beykoz, Istanbul, TURKEY

Abstract

This study aims to reveal how the fishing sector was affected by the sea snot seen in the Sea of Marmara in 2021. For this purpose, an online survey was conducted in the Sea of Marmara and the surrounding provinces. In total 211 commercial or recreational fishers participated in the questionnaire and answered the questions between 30 May and 22 June 2021. All components of the fishing industry were affected by the sea snot at varying levels and suffered monetary loss. However, it is important for fishers to keep their catch records by official means on a regular basis, so that they can fully recover their loss. In the coming years, it is necessary to include the fishing sector in the monitoring of sea snot.

Keywords: Sea snot, fisheries, Sea of Marmara, mucilage

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