This indicator is a measure of the size and capacity of the fishing fleet, which is believed to exert pressure on marine fish populations and their environment. In our country, as in the whole world, the production of fishery products from hunting is limited. For this reason, the basic approach to hunting accepted by scientists is to maintain production while conserving stocks. The fishing fleet has grown and evolved in terms of strength, numbers, technology, and fishing gear through the 2000s. According to TURKSTAT, the number of active sea fishing vessels was 13,381 in 2000, increased to 18,396 by 2005, but decreased to 14,243 by 2020.

In order to protect fishery resources and ensure the sustainability of our fisheries, further growth of the fleet has been limited by not issuing new vessel licenses since 2002.

Taking into account the balance between fish stocks and the fishing fleet in Turkey, support payments have been granted since 2012 to fishermen who wish to exclude their vessels from fishing, depending on the size of the vessels, in exchange for the cancelation of their licenses.

 In this regard, a total of 1,264 fishing vessels (with a length of 10 meters or more) were withdrawn from the fleet between 2012 and 2018. This policy has reduced the total number of vessels^[117].

GRAPH 151- NUMBER OF SEA FISHING VESSELS BY YEAR

Source: TURKSTAT, 2021

TABLE 32- NUMBER OF BOATS WITDRAWN BY YEAR

Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture, 2019