A Vision for Nature-Culture Coexistence
The Aegean marine and coastal ecosystems are vital for both biodiversity and small-scale fisheries in Türkiye. Small-scale fisheries, which are integral to the region’s cultural and economic fabric, have a lower environmental impact – when practiced sustainably – than industrial and large-scale fisheries. Unfortunately, despite facing similar threats, these two themes are often studied and addressed in isolation. To bridge this gap, we conducted a two-year marine spatial prioritisation study using a seascape approach that integrates biodiversity conservation with sustainable small-scale fisheries, through a participatory process that mobilised all relevant actors.
A Marine Spatial Prioritization
Our aim was to identify priority areas along the Aegean seascapes of Türkiye where future conservation investments should be directed. To achieve this, we didn’t just focus on the significance of these areas for biodiversity or small-scale fisheries, nor solely on the density of threats they face in both domains. We also considered the level of conservation investments previously allocated. Our overall aim was to pinpoint areas that:
• are important for both biodiversity and sustainable small-scale fisheries,
• are more threatened compared to others, and
• have received little or no conservation investment to date.
This approach allowed us to identify areas with a more urgent need for conservation attention.
Participatory Data Gathering
Through a participatory approach to data gathering, we gained a comprehensive understanding of the local and regional dynamics. The project brought together two key datasets: (i) Biodiversity data and (ii) Small-scale Fisheries (SSFs) data. Examples of the data gathered include distribution data of important biodiversity elements (e.g., marine mammals, sharks and rays, seagrass meadows, coralligenous assemblages), habitat diversity, fishing gear selectivity, level of marine pollution, catch per unit effort (CPUE), and the proportion of women fishers, among others.
Multi-Criteria Decision Mechanism
We spatialized and analysed both marine and terrestrial data using a multi-criteria decision-making method that weighted multiple factors to identify priority areas for biodiversity and small-scale fisheries. This included developing a cost layer to assess the feasibility of conservation actions. National and international data sources, along with expert input, were used to ensure quality. A 1×1 km grid allowed for detailed, comparable analysis. Biodiversity optimization was then performed using advanced software to generate objective, actionable results.
Priority Areas of High Importance
In the last step of the analysis, we brought together the biodiversity optimization outcomes with the cost layer of small-scale fisheries, which allowed us to restrict our results to the SSFs’ fishing grounds and consequently produce the Final Solution Set.
This “Final Solution Set” comprises areas that correspond to the sites that reach optimum biodiversity results and where sustaining small-scale fishing activities has the lowest cost. These priority areas are concentrated in three regions—Saros Bay, Ayvalık, and Ildır Bay—with Saros Bay standing out due to its larger coverage (i.e., number of grid cells).
Our overall aim was not only to produce results but to generate actionable outcomes for a wide range of stakeholders, from decision-makers to practitioners, civil society and donors. For Yolda Initiative, it served as a call to action—prompting us to take responsibility where the need was most urgent.
From Participatory Science to Collaborative Action:
The Saros Bay Conservation and Restoration Programme
In response, building on these scientific findings, we launched an inclusive, long-term Conservation and Restoration Programme for the Saros Bay Special Environmental Protected Area and surrounding seascapes, co-developed with small-scale fishers and all relevant actors in the region, aiming to strengthen Saros Bay’s socio ecological resilience through locally anchored, collaborative action
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