Advanced Underwater Sciences

Investigation of Consumer Behavior in terms of Seafood Consumption: Mersin Province Example

Barbaros Hayrettin SİVRİ — 2024-03-31

Seafood products are valuable nutrients in healthy nutrition in terms of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids. This study was conducted by face-to-face survey method between April-May 2017 on 1214 people in Akdeniz, Mezitli, Toroslar, and Yenişehir districts of Mersin province to determine consumer behaviors related to aquaculture products, taking into account gender, age, income, employment and education status and the number of people living at home. Data were analyzed by a series od chi-squared tests using SPSS 20 statistical package. Results of the present study revealed that 47% of people living in Mersin preferred red meat, 37.9% fowl meat, and 13.7% fish meat. Most consumed fish species by the survey participants were anchovy (24.7%), sea bream (23.3%), sea bass (20.4%), red mullet (11.2%), pilchard (7.4%), trout (4.9%), smelt (1.9%), mullet (1.7%) and other species (4.4%). Fish was consumed fresh by 94.3 % of the surveyors and that 45.5 % of the consumption was throughout the year and 44.3 % in winter. Most people preferred fried fish (49.7%), and the consumption frequency of 33.2% of surveyors was once a month. According to sexes, 27.3% of the women and 22.3 % of males consumed anchovy most. The highest percentage of people consuming fish (15.4%) was above the age of forty-five. 33.4% of the educational groups consumed fish once a month, fish consumption were once a week (30.5%) in public workers and once a month (31%) in private sectors. Fish preference of income groups were as follows; 1000-1500 TL anchovy (41.7%), 2000-2500 TL anchovy + sea bream (24.3%) and over 3000 TL sea bass (32.2%). The consumption rate of seemed to be lower than expectation in Mersin City keeping its aquatic product potential in mind. Hence it was concluded that aquatic product consumption habits should be given to children and youth and introductive and encouraging steps should be taken for its sustainability.

Determination of the Density of Mats Formed by the Non-native Seagrass Halophila Stipulacea in Mersin Bay (Akkum)

Deniz AYAS — 2024-03-31

Halophila stipulacea is a seagrass species that was one of the first species to enter the Mediterranean Sea with the Lepsian migration, forming local beds as far away as the Caribbean. This species has a wide geographical distribution and its distribution is known to be influenced by many anthropogenic factors. The aim of this study was to determine the mat density of H. stipulacea in Akkum coast of Mersin Bay. The quadrat method was used for sampling. Biometric measurements were made on 100 samples randomly selected from six 1 m² stations in the sampling area. The average number of shoots was determined to be (488 shoots m^-2). The average leaf length of the samples was 42.33±7.17 mm, leaf width was 5.82±0.92 mm, and the length between two nodes was 5.96±1.97 mm. Based on the field observations, it was found that the distribution of mats was denser up to a depth of 8 m, and this density decreased with depth.

Parasitic Isopod Anilocra physodes (Linnaeus, 1758) from Mersin Bay (Turkey) with a New Host Record

Deniz Ayas — 2024-03-31

Anilocra physodes (Linnaeus, 1758) (Isopoda, Cymothoidae) is reported for the first time on Nemipterus randalli Russell, 1986) (Pisces; Nemipteridae) from the northeastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. The present study aims to report a new host species for A. physodes in the Turkish Mediterranean waters. Also, the host species for A. physodes and the host preferences with it, according to fish family distributions, are detailed in this study.

A New Locality Record of Fangtooth Moray Enchelycore Anatina (Lowe, 1839) in Mersin Bay, Türkiye

Deniz AYAS — 2024-03-31

A single specimen of fangtooth moray eel Enchelycore anatina (Lowe, 1839) was observed during scuba diving in Mersin Bay (Akkum-Erdemli, Turkey) at a depth of 10 m in May 2024. This study provides an additional record of this species from Turkish waters and a new locality record from Mersin Bay (northeastern Mediterranean coast, Turkey). It indicates a successful adaptation of the moray eel specimen to the new locality.