Tunca, Sezgin University of Alicante - Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, Spain , Miran, Bülent Ege University - Faculty of Agriculture - Department of Agricultural Economics, Turkey , Ünal, Vahdet Ege University - Faculty of Fisheries - Department of Fishery and Fish Processing Technology, Turkey

Benefits of artificial reefs in Altınoluk (Northern Aegean), Turkey: Assessment of potential users’ opinions via fuzzy pair wise comparison approach

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Artificial Reefs (ARs) are used in many coastal countries, mainly for fisheries management purposes. The aim of this study is to assess user’s benefits from artificial reefs. Fuzzy Pair-Wise Comparison (FC) Method was used to introduce users’ opinions on main potential benefits of ARs in Altınoluk (Edremit Bay, North Aegean Coast of Turkey). Three benefits of artificial reefs including social, biological and economic were represented to commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen and local residents. Then, the weights of the benefits were calculated by pair-wise comparisons in the FC Method. Survey data was obtained by face-to-face interviews using questionnaire forms with potential users including commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen and local residents. According to the results gathered from the FC Method, commercial fishermen ranked economic benefits of artificial reefs as highest whereas recreational fishermen and local residents were agreed on biological benefits. In conclusion, ARs deployments without measuring perception of users may not meet the objectives. Studies aiming to measure the perception of AR related groups guide decision makers during the process of planning.

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Artificial reefs , social and biological benefits , economic benefits , fuzzy pair , wise comparison , tobit regression analysis

Ege Journal Of Fisheries an‎d Aquatic Sciences

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