RELOCATION OF THE FISH FARMS IN GULLUK BAY

Yalcin Arisoy, Guzel Yucel-Gier, Idil Pazi
Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology, Dokuz Eylul University, Turkey

Abstract

Although many valuable initiatives have been carried out on the planning, development, conservation and management of coastal areas for the last decade, there are still significant stresses on the wetlands in Turkey. Gulluk Bay, which is one of the seven largest gulfs and bays on the west coast of Turkey and contributes about 70% of countries’ aquaculture production, has attracted special attention recently since rapid and uncontrolled urban development activities, as well as mariculture, have created considerable threats and problems on its valuable resources. According to the general rules of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), before executing any action, all required monitoring and analysis procedures must be implemented to identify and resolve potential conflicts of interest. In order to achieve this goal, suitable indicators of the human-induced stresses on the marine environment should be determined. This proposed paper presents a GIS-aided procedure for sea/land use mapping, at the Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology, in Izmir, Turkey. The study aimed to collect and integrate the data regarding coastal land use pattern of coastal zones, including Gulluk Bay, and to quantify parameters which will then be linked to the indicators related to the management goals. For instance, by using the trophic index (TRIX), a model to monitor the water quality status of Gulluk bay over a period of time to detect changes in the water's ecosystem was developed and examined. The spatial analysis of available data on coastal areas in Turkey is not yet sufficient to adequately support rational planning and managerial decision-making. However, by the end of the year 2009, fish farms in Gulluk bay were relocated to new places, although it is not clear to what extent this was effective on the decision of the Ministry of the Environment and Forestry.