Advanced Underwater Sciences

The Presence of Pontobdella Muricata (Hirudinea: Piscicolidae), on the New Host Gymnura Altavela (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey

Deniz Ergüden, Necdet Uygur, Deniz Ayas — Sat, 16 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Two specimens of Pontobdella muricata were observed on the dorsal surface of a female spiny butterfly ray, Gymnura altavela (Linnaeus, 1758), that was recorded in 2018 in the Akcay coast (Iskenderun Bay), Turkey. The spiny butterfly ray, G. altavela, was observed to be the new host for P. muricata in the eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Besides, the present study is given comprehensive documents of the previous records of constitutes of different host records for P. muricata in different geographical areas.

The Occurrence of Four Syngnathid Species (Osteichthyes: Syngnathiformes) in Mersin Bay (North-Eastern Mediterranean)

Deniz Ergüden, Deniz AYAS — Sat, 16 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In this study, we report the occurrence of four rare syngnathids; Hippocampus fuscus Rüppell, 1838, Hippocampus guttulatus Cuvier, 1829, Syngnathus acus Linnaeus, 1758 and Syngnathus typhle Linnaeus, 1758 from Mersin Bay (Northeastern Mediterranean Sea coast of Turkey). To date, there is little information about the changes in numbers and habitat status of syngnathid species on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, and these two sea horse species are currently considered as Near Threatened and Not Evaluated. Also, pipefish species are evaluated as Least Concern for the Mediterranean Regional Red List. Because insufficient information is available to assess their extinction risk, this study is significant for seahorse and pipefish populations in the Mediterranean and determining and evaluating their conservation status. Besides, the present study will be useful in the field of fisheries scientists and make an important contribution to fisheries managers.

A rare occurrence of Gymnothorax unicolor (Delaroche, 1809) in the South Eastern Mediterranean, Türkiye

Deniz Ergüden, Necdet Uyğur, Deniz Ayas — Sat, 16 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In the present study, one specimen of Gymnothorax unicolor (Delaroche, 1809) was reported from the Southeastern Mediterranean waters with visual record during an underwater Scuba survey conducted on October 28, 2018, in the Keldağ/Yayladağı. This brown moray specimen was observed at 12 m in depth at night. This species, which was observed during night feeding in its natural environment, was reported for the first time during underwater observation from Iskenderun Bay. This report also constitutes a rare record of brown moray eel for this region.

Investigation of Violations in the Black Sea During the 2008-2012 Fishing Season

Yekta Tanış — Sat, 16 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The infringements for the fisheries catching ban were investigated by using acquired data after controls performed by the Turkish Coast Guard Command in seafood catching activities between the Kocaeli-Kefken and Artvin-Hopa borders from 2008 to 2012. In parallel with the gradual increase of world population, both food needs and interest to supply of the need by sea because of limited terrestrial production increases in the same parallel. From this aspect, the protection and improvement of existing catching areas have great importance for the sustainability of fisheries sources in our country. In the present study it has been aimed to contribute to solution offers and fisheries chapter as a part of the European Union accession project via analyses of the infringements for catching ban made by fisheries within the process, based upon the Communique (no: 2/1) that regulates commercial fisheries catching from 2008 to 2012. It has been seen that the number and types of infringements of different catching boats in the different parts of the Black Sea Region are different from each other, and cross-domain differences have been observed. Within the four-year catching season, it has been taken against a total of 234 trawlers, 116 of the punishments from the Middle Black Sea, and being taken criminal actions against 80 seine boats and 175 from the Eastern Black Sea have been an indicator of local variability in catching activities.