Industrialization killing fishing

Industrialization killing fishing business

Fishermen working in the Gulf of Iskenderun have said industrialization and a lack of concern for the environment are choking the fishing sector in the region.

Enver Sekerlisoy, Iskenderun Fishery Products Cooperative co-president, said even though industrial investments have contributed to the development of the region, environmental pollution has had a detrimental effect on the fishing industry.

Until 1968 the region was promoted as one of the important centers of tourism, he said, but instead of working on the tourism potential, a turn was made to develop the area into an industrial zone.

"The region was supposed to be declared a tourism center but wasn't. Instead, industrialization took off and the potential of tourism was ignored," Sekerlisoy said while speaking with the Anatolia news agency.

The Gulf of Iskenderun is an important center in the transfer of oil and energy resources.

This has led to an increase in sea temperatures and subsequently affected the fishing industry, he said.

Semir Oguz, who has worked as a fisherman in the gulf for 16 years, said the numbers of most types of fish have in the area have dropped.

"Unless there is a ban on fishing for at least two years, fish will become an endangered species in this area," he said.

Area fishermen also cited pollution stemming from fishing farms as another reason for the drop.

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