An Overview of the First National Artificial Reef Project of Turkey

Although artificial reef applications in Turkey started in the 1980s, the acceptance of its use as a tool in fisheries management ended in the 2000s. The first legal regulation on artificial reefs entered into force in 2001, and the National Artificial Reef Program (NARP) was prepared in 2009. The program was aimed to have two main purposes: (1) create new fishing grounds to promote small-scale fisheries and (2) conserve biodiversity in the littoral zone. The first pilot project within the framework of the NARP was completed in February 2013 in Edremit Bay. With the completion of the deployment of the ARs, a 5-year monitoring program was initiated. In this chapter, the historical development of AR studies in Turkey, the NARP, and the evaluation of the first project within the framework of the program are discussed.