Turkey: Technical assistance for the implementation of stock assessments in fisheries

Project background

The Overall Objective of the project was to contribute to Turkey's gradual alignment with EU legislation in the areas of fisheries policy and to promote the desired ecosystem approach and sustainability objectives of the Turkish fisheries industry, while providing the basis for a sustainable fisheries governance strategy in line with the general objectives of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

Overall Objective

The project objective was to enhance institutional capacity of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MoFAL) and increase stakeholder awareness in the field of fisheries stock assessment and ecosystem monitoring.

• Result 1: Strengthened administrative capacity of MoFAL regarding fisheries stock assessment, ecosystem monitoring & management and establishment of a multi-representative advisory body
• Result 2: Improved data collection, data validation, data assessment methodology. Implemented trainings and increased stakeholder awareness and involvement of stakeholders in fisheries stock assessment: 1. Basic training:  Data collection in fisheries, fisheries statistics, ecosystem approach to fisheries management, fisheries management (including social and economic aspects of fisheries), fisheries resources evaluation, fish stocks dynamics. 2. Advanced data collection training: Data Collection I (fisheries dependent data collection) and II (fisheries independent data collection), field training; research surveys at sea. 3. Data assessment, validation & modelling training: Ecological models, data recovery and validation methodology, stock assessment (also applied at sea training for certified trainers), training on data collection and processing software.
• Result 3: Improved stakeholder awareness in the fields of fisheries stock assessment and ecosystem monitoring.

Activities and/or Results

• Strengthening administrative capacity of MoFAL regarding fisheries stock assessment, ecosystem monitoring and management and establishment of a multi representative advisory body
• Production of a gap analysis & needs assessment report
• Production of a strategy paper on ecosystem approach, integrated resource management, fisheries governance infrastructure, stakeholders, indicators, EU rules and regulations in the fisheries sector, support and incentives on CF
• Development of a draft operational plan for the management of major fish stocks in Turkish waters
• Drafting the legislation proposal on the establishment of a multi-representative national fisheries advisory body
• Organisation of a study visit for the potential national fisheries advisory body members
• Improvement of data collection, data validation, data assessment system:
  -  Development of fisheries data collection and processing software
  -  Organization of three workshops on multispecies integrated ecological hypothetical model
  -  Production of preliminary multispecies integrated ecological hypothetical model
• Implementation of trainings (content see above)