The investigation of the catch efficiency of the trammel nets lost in Yumurtalik bay in Adana-İskenderun Gulf over time

In this study that was performed in Yumurtalık Bay in Iskenderun Gulf the determination of the amount of various dead aquatic organisms and its change over time caused by lost monoflament set nets were aimed. In this study, 7 trammel nets commonly used for commercial fishery in Iskenderun were utilized. Two of them were used for lost fishing gear and five of them were used for commercial fishing to control the catch efficiency and compare the data. Lost nets were observed 23 times in the period of 96 days. In the same days equal amount of commercial fishing was performed. In the present study, 31 species and 1576 individuals belong to 19 families were catched with the commercial and the experimental nets. Catched 31 species include 19 fish, 7 crustaceans, 3 chondrostei, 1 gastropodous and 1 reptile. It was determined that the fish were catched more regular than crustacean according to the average values of total amount of crustacean and fish catched with the commercial and lost nets. On the other hand, the amount of catched crustacean individuals were more than fish. The average length of crustacean and fish species catched with both nets were determined. The difference between the average lengths of fish and crustacean species catched most with commercial and lost nets were compared statistically and found insignificant (p>0,05). The average amounts of crustacean and fish catched with commercial and lost nets according to days were compared statistically. The difference between the average fish amounts catched with commercial nets and lost nets according to days were found insignificant (p>0,05). Also, the difference between the average crustacean amounts catched with commercial nets and lost nets according to days were found insignificant (p>0,05). Key words: Iskenderun Gulf, Yumurtalık Bay, lost fishing gears, ghost fishing, monoflament set ne