Bio-diversity

The overfishing has not only depleted the fish population in the Mediterranean Sea but also caused malnutrition of the monk seals, which in turn affected their reproductive success. Trawls were the first to go and then followed by the larger purse seine fishing boats. As a reaction to the depletion of fish stocks and monk seal disappearance from the Mediterranean, The Levant Nature Conservation Society started a project by taking initial support from UNDP/BTC Small Investments Fund, aiming to demonstrate a model of living in which the monk seals and fishermen can co-exist. The main idea of the project is to ensure the continuity of the artisanal fishery in Meydan village via helping the small fishermen -friend to the sea and to its creatures- to keep their traditional fishing methods and to make their fish harvest valuable. The support of the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) goes to the Society cooperating with Meydan Village Aquaculture Cooperative packaging the fresh fish in a healthy and caring manner and developing of direct fishermen-consumer marketing. Will the small fishermen be an example for the big fishermen Will we, as the consumers, manage to make the right choices All is possible with us!

Turkey