Demonstration in Mersin - Bozyazi, the ecological and socio-economic importance of the Small Coastal Protection Areas (TUR-00-01)
Project Details & Results
Bozyazi Coastal Protection Area lies along the Cilician coast, which is one of the two WWF's marine ecosystem
Hotspots in Turkey. The site supports globally threatened fauna species (Monachus monachus, Caretta caretta, Chelenia mydas) and flora species (Posidonia oceanica).
The project is in line with the WWF's objective of "the creation of a large fish refuge area along the coast of the Cilician basin, extending and improving the existing protection status."
Accordingly the site together with other 4 areas has been declared a 1st degree Natural SIT by the Ministry of Culture and a Coastal Protected Area by the Ministry of Agriculture, closing the coast to the troll fishery. These 5 Protected Sites have been also declared "gift to the earth" in the context of the WWF's campaign.
The project's one of the main objectives is to demonstrate to the local communities that the conservation status has given time and space for main fish stock to repopulate the area, with major benefits for the local fishermen.
The demonstration to the local communities and local governors the benefits of the coastal protected areas, will encourage the extension of the status to other coasts.
Recently, Monk Seal Conservation efforts in the region yielded establishment of five protected coastal sites encompassing the main habitat, and the creation of a no-trawling area, including a no-fish-zone. This work aims to carry out monitoring surveys on various elements of the ecosystem and evaluate the consequences of the protection measures. The major task of the project is to show to everyone, from ministers to the local fishermen, that the protection measures established for the sake of the Monk Seal will also help recovery of a depleted ecosystem. When the health of the ecosystem is restored and sustained, this will be beneficial not only for the monk seal but also for all components of the ecosystem whose livelihood depends on it.
Notable Community Participation
Project aims to unify and guide local people, so that they adopt, guard and benefit the conservation measures, which are in fact enforced for the
protection of the monk seal.
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
Recently, Monk Seal Conservation efforts in the region yielded the establishment of five protected coastal sites encompassing the main habitat, and the creation of a no-trawling area, including a no-fish-zone. The major task of the project is to ensure that everyone, from ministers to the local fishermen, apprehend that the protection measures established for the sake of the Monk Seal will also help recovery of a depleted ecosystem. Rehabilitaion of the depleted ecosystem will not only be beneficial for the well-being of the monk seal but for those whose livelihoods depend on it. Perserving and sustaining this ecossytem is a neccessity if this small coastal community is to flouish.
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
The project aims to demonstrate to decision makers the role and the necessity of the No-Take areas as a fisheries management tool. The target is to facilitate the adoption of the concept of protected areas, which are, to a great extent, externally imposed by the international conventions.
Project Results
This project is selected as on of the best projects in the BPR report of 2002.
With the project, for the first time along the Turkish Mediterranean coast, "a no-fishing zone" with the protection status is protected by the local people and fishermen participation as well as the enforcement of the relevant law and legislation.
The project raised the level of awareness of the local people that they are the beneficiaries of the project outputs and conservation of the coastal and marine resources. However there has been occasional conflicts raising between the local people and the project staff due to sensitive issues in the project concept such as no-fishing zones during the course of the project.
Project activities are still ongoing and are very much supported by the Erdemli Marine Sciences Institute especially regarding awareness raising activities and scientific research.
Project Photo Gallery
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