Turkey Territorial Sea

To ensure conservation and economic use of fish and aquatic plant resources on the basis of internationally recognized principles of responsible fisheries; to ensure reproduction capacity of fish and aquatic plant resources and productivity of bodies of water; and to avoid undesirable changes in the ecosystem of bodies of water.

Species of Concern: Multiple

Restrictions

Most commercial and recreational fishing requires a permit or certificate, and fishing gear, prohibitions, and locations will be specified in the document. Fishing vessels not licensed by the Ministry to conduct fishing activities may not possess or use commercial fishing gear or related equipment. During closed seasons, no fishing gear may be present onboard, except under authorized transit permits. Vessels over 12 meters must select a primary fishing gear annually by September 1. Only one gear change allowed between January 1 and August 1.
1. In places where all kinds of trawling are prohibited, entry and exit from fishing shelters located within the prohibited area to fishing shelters permitted by the Ministry are free. The use of fishing shelters in areas within the distance prohibition is not subject to any permit. During periods and in areas where trawling is prohibited, bottom trawl nets may be transported if stored properly onboard. Trawl doors may not be hung. If stored, the ends (matafora) where doors are suspended must face inside the vessel. During prohibited periods, it is forbidden to keep unsealed trawl nets and doors in ports, shelters, mooring, and dry dock areas. Fishing vessels equipped with trawl gear are required to have surface radar or positioning systems such as GPS.
2. It is prohibited to use any net with mesh smaller than the codend size, or to keep any cover or additional net over the codend.
3. It is prohibited to use monofilament (single-strand fishing line) nets in the codend of bottom trawl nets. It is also prohibited to keep bottom trawl nets with mesh sizes smaller than the minimum or to tow bottom trawls with more than one vessel. Bottom trawling is prohibited in waters deeper than 1000 meters.
4. The use of purse seine nets with a depth greater than 164 meters (90 fathoms) is prohibited. However, this prohibition does not apply to purse seine nets used for catching tuna species [bluefin tuna, bullet tuna, little tunny, albacore (longfin tuna)]. Fishing vessels using purse seine nets are required to obtain a “Net Measurement Certificate” from the provincial or district directorates of the Ministry, valid for one fishing season, indicating the depth of their nets.
5. Fishing with alamana (voli) nets is prohibited between April 15 and May 15. The use of alamana nets with a net depth of more than 30 metres or 17 fathoms and a mesh size of less than 16 mm in fishing is prohibited.
6. It is prohibited to harvest aquatic products by using encircling nets to enclose a specific area, then diving into the nets and manually drawing them toward a narrow zone near the shore (a method known as “elleme” or “eleme”).
7. Purse seine fishing vessels that will engage in light fishing are required to apply to one of the provincial/district directorates where they will operate and obtain the “Fishing Permit”. Fishing vessels engaged in fishing with light may use only one vessel as the light vessel; service boats belonging to purse seine vessels may also be used as light vessels. It is mandatory to have personnel on light vessels, and a minimum distance of 200 meters must be maintained between the light vessels of two separate teams. Vessels that do not have a permit for light fishing are prohibited from illuminating the sea surface with lighting exceeding 100 watts to support fishing vessels using purse seine nets; the use of lighting with power up to 100 watts in fisheries does not require permission. In areas where light fishing is permitted, the total lighting power used, including the main vessel, auxiliary, and transport vessels, must not exceed 8000 watts. Light sources used to illuminate the ship's deck must be fixed in a way that they cannot move. In light fishing, illumination may only be done on the water surface. Lighting is prohibited in waters shallower than 30 meters and within 300 meters of fish farm cages. On fishing vessels under 12 meters, a light source smaller than 50 watts or a single LPG-powered lamp called a “lüks” may be used as a light source. The use of white light as a light source in fisheries is prohibited. The technical specifications of the light sources to be used, as well as the procedures and principles regarding their use and control, shall be determined by the Ministry.
8. It is prohibited to fish for aquatic products using shore-based towed nets such as beach seine (ığrıp), trawl nets (trata), tarlakoz, manyat, and similar nets, as well as to possess such nets or the equipment used to deploy them on fishing vessels.
9. It is prohibited to use gillnets with a net depth greater than 30 meters or 17 fathoms, and a mesh size smaller than 16 mm in the fishing of aquatic products. It is prohibited to possess or use more than 6000 meters of rigged gillnets on a single fishing vessel. Gillnets deployed in the sea must be marked with a flag (buoy) during the day and with a lighted buoy at night. Fishing vessels that will use monofilament and multimonofilament gillnets must obtain a fishing “Permit Certificate” from the provincial/district directorate that issued the vessel license certificate. It is prohibited to possess or use monofilament and multimonofilament gillnets longer than 500 meters on fishing vessels.
10. The use of drift nets in the fishing of aquatic products is prohibited, as is their presence on vessels, in fishing shelters, or in boatyards and maintenance areas.
11. Longlines deployed in the sea must be marked with daytime flags (buoys) and nighttime lighted buoys. In longline fishing, it is prohibited to use hooks with a mouth opening (gap) smaller than 7.2 mm. In targeting swordfish and albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga), it is mandatory to use circular (round) hooks with a mouth opening (gap) of 2.8 cm or larger. If these hooks are offset (bent), the offset angle must not exceed 10 degrees. Longline fishing for turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) is prohibited.
12. It is prohibited to hunt, collect, keep on ships, land, transport and sell the listed species, and required to report bycatch of these species: Monk seal (monachus monachus); Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus); Gorgonian (Spinimuricea klavereni); Oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus); Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus); Smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena); Short-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus); Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta); Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas); Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea); African softshell turtle (Trionyx triunguis); Cushion coral (Cladocora caespitosa); Diyarbakır loach (Paraschistura chrysicristinae); White gorgonian (Eunicella singularis); Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias); School shark (Galeorhinus galeus); Bramble shark (Echinorhinus brucus); Black Sea salmon (Salmo labrax); Neptune grass (Posidonia oceanica); Dwarf eelgrass (Nanozostera noltei); Porbeagle (Lanma nasus); Thornback ray (Raja clavata); Angular roughshark (Oxynotus centrina); Bigeye thresher shark (Alopias superciliosus); Angelshark (Squatina squatina); Precious coral (Corallium rubrum); Sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus); Mesopotamian barbel (Luciobarbus subquincunciatus); Devil fish (Mobula mobular); Bull ray (Aetomylaeus bovinus); Lusitanian cownose ray (Rhinoptera marginata); European spider crab (Maja squinado); Beluga sturgeon (Huso huso); Colonial soft coral (Paramuricea clavata); Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus); Common thresher (Alopias vulpinus); Shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus); Common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos); Red garra (Garra rufa); Tun snail (Tonna galea); Green ormer (Haliotis tuberculata); Sawback angelshark (Squatina aculeata); Silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis); Spiny buttlefly ray (Gymmura altavela); Blackchin guitarfish (Glaucostegus cemiculus); Mediterranean Sea red sea star (Echinaster sepositus); Hidden angelshark (Squatina occulta); Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias); Longnose spurdog (Squalus blainville); Blue shark (Prionace glauca); Greater sturgeon (Acipenser spp); Sea snail (Cerithium vulgatum); Saddle oyster (Lamellardae); Fan mussel (Pinna nobilis); Yellow sea whip (Eunicella cavolini); Gold coral (Savalia savaglia); Anatolian minnow (Pseudophoxinus spp); Dolphins and whales (Cetacea). Recreational fishing the following species is prohibited: Monk seal (monachus monachus); Trout (Salmo kottelati); Diyarbakır loach (Paraschistura chrysicristinae); White gorgonian (Eunicella singularis); Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias); Schoolshark (Galeorhinus galeus); Bramble shark (Echinorhinus brucus); Black Sea salmon (Salmo labrax); Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta); Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas); Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea); African softshell turtle (Trionyx triunguis); Porbeagle (Lanma nasus); Thornback ray (Raja clavata); Silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis); Spiny buttlefly ray (Gymnura altavela); Blackchin guitarfish (Glaucostegus cemiculus); Mediterranean Sea red sea star (Echinaster sepositus); Hidden angelshark (Squatina occulta); Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias); Longnose spurdog (Squalus blainville); Blue shark (Prionace glauca); Greater sturgeon (Acipenser spp); Sea snail (Cerithium vulgatum); Saddle oyster (Lamellardae); Fan mussel (Pinna nobilis); Yellow sea whip (Eunicella cavolini); Gold coral (Savalia savaglia); Bath sponge (Spongia officinalis); Elephant ear sponge (Spongia agaricina); Honey cone sponge (Hippospongia communis); Cushion coral (Cladocora caespitosa); Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus); Gorgonian (Spinimuricea klavereni); Oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus); Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus); Smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena); Short-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus); Neptune grass (Posidonia oceanica); Dwarf eelgrass (Nanozostera noltei); Tun snail (Tonna galea); Green ormer (Haliotis tuberculata); Sawback angelshark (Squatina aculeata); Angular roughshark (Oxynotus centrina); Bigeye thresher shark (Alopias superciliosus); Angelshark (Squatina squatina); Precious coral (Corallium rubrum); Sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus); Mesopotamian barbel (Luciobarbus subquincunciatus); Devil fish (Mobula mobular); Bull ray (Aetomylaeus bovinus); Lusitanian cownose ray (Rhinoptera marginata); European spider crab (Maja squinado); Beluga sturgeon (Huso huso); Colonial soft coral (Paramuricea clavata); Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus); Common thresher (Alopias vulpinus); Shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus); Common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos); Anatolian minnow (Pseudophoxinus spp); Red garra (Garra rufa); European eel (Anguilla anguilla); Dolphins and whales (Cetacea).
13. Landing and selling of ocean sunfish (Mola Mola) is prohibited.
14. By-catch is prohibited in underwater fishing.
15. Bonito and large bonito fishing is prohibited by any method, including fixed barrier (stake) nets, between April 1 and August 31. However, between August 15 and August 31, fishing for bonito with trolling lines is permitted.
16. Fishing vessels that will catch turbot with gillnets must obtain a “Fishing Permit” from the provincial/district directorate that issued the vessel license. Between April 15 and June 15, it is prohibited to fish for turbot using any fishing means, and turbot nets may not be left in the sea. The mesh size of nets to be used in turbot fishing must not be smaller than 400 mm. It is prohibited to catch turbot using longlines and trammel nets. Turbot caught before the start of the fishing ban, for which stock registration has been made with the provincial/district directorate, must be marketed within 7 days from the start of the ban.
17. Sole and flounder fishing with any fishing means is prohibited between January 1st and February 15th. The mesh size of the nets to be used in sole and flounder fishing cannot be smaller than 80 mm.
18. It is prohibited to rent fishing vessels with a license issued by the Ministry to engage in any activity targeting bluefin tuna within the fishing quotas of other countries, and to rent vessels flagged by other countries to engage in any activity targeting bluefin tuna within the fishing quota of our country. The use of airplanes, helicopters, or any unmanned aerial vehicles is prohibited in bluefin tuna fishing.
19. The fishing of greater amberjack and yellowtail amberjack is prohibited between April 15 and May 15.
20. The fishing of dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) by any fishing means is prohibited between January 1 and August 14.
21. Between February 15 to March 15 and October 1 to November 30, it is prohibited to fish for, possess on board, transfer to another vessel, transport, or land swordfish and longfin tuna. Vessels that will fish for swordfish and longfin tuna must obtain a fishing Permit Certificate from the provincial/district directorate that issued the vessel's license by December 31 of the previous year, and must land the products only at landing points designated by the Ministry. During swordfish and longfin tuna fishing activities, bottom trawl nets, trawl doors and winches, as well as demersal fish species, cannot be present on board the fishing vessels. The use of drift-nets is prohibited in swordfish and longfin tuna fishing.
22. Dusky grouper (Epinephelus spp.) fishing with any type of fishing gear is prohibited in all our territorial waters between June 1 and August 31. It is prohibited to fish dusky grouper using pots, fyke nets (pinter), and similar devices, or by diving with a spear gun or underwater firearm.
23. Scallops and oysters may not be fished by any gear between April 15 – August 31.
24. Striped venus clams (Chamelea gallina), banded wedge shell (Ruditapes decussatus), scallop (Pecten jacobaeus or Aequipecten opercularis), European flat mussel (Ostrea edulis), and sand clams (Tellina tenuis or Tellina donacina) fishing is prohibited in all territorial waters between April 15 and August 31. The mesh size of sieves used in striped venus clams harvesting must not be smaller than 24 mm, and for banded wedge shell harvesting, not smaller than 30 mm. Harvesting sand clams is only allowed by diving and collecting by hand; if collected using hand dredges or rakes, the product must be sieved at the processing facility and any individuals smaller than the legal limit must be returned to the waters they were harvested from. It is prohibited to harvest bivalve mollusks in production areas closed to harvesting due to unsuitable results from monitoring and routine program analyses.
25. In the unrestricted areas of the Bosphorus Strait and in other territorial waters, fishing for black mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and hairy mussels (Modiolus barbatus) is prohibited between April 15 and June 30.
26. Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) hunting is prohibited between May 1 and September 30. However, during this prohibited period, blue crab fishing with fish weirs (dalyans) can be done in fisheries on the dates determined by the provincial directorates, with the permission obtained from the provincial directorates.
27. Octopus hunting is prohibited between 15 April and 31 October. It is prohibited to harvest octopus using the diving method with artificial air sources such as scuba tanks, hookahs, or similar systems.
28. Those harvesting non-fish aquatic products by diving must hold a professional diving license. Diving gear such as compressors, hookah systems, or scuba tanks may not be found on vessels without a valid diving permit.
29. The collection, harvesting, and trade of seaweeds of the genus Caulerpa are prohibited year-round. The harvest of Gracilaria spp seaweeds is prohibited between April 1 – July 15.
30. In areas where sponge harvesting is permitted, it may only be carried out using the diving method. Fishing vessels engaged in sponge harvesting must obtain the Fishing “Permit Certificate” from the provincial/district directorate that issued the vessel’s license. Vessels with a valid permit must not possess any aquatic products other than sponge, and may not carry spearguns or underwater firearms during their activities.
31. It is prohibited to fish with or possess on vessels or at fishing sites any explosive, lethal, narcotic, paralyzing, intoxicating, corrosive chemical substances, such as carbide, quicklime, rotenone, or to use electric current or electroshock equipment, including generators and other devices that facilitate such methods.
32. The manufacture, sale, possession near fishing areas, and use of tırıvırı (umbrella nets) and parachute nets is strictly prohibited.
33. Fishing is prohibited within 100 meters of the boundaries of aquaculture facilities.
34. Within a 500-meter radius from the estuaries of rivers, fishing is prohibited.
35. It is prohibited to collect any kind of juvenile fish in coastal areas such as lagoons, downstream areas and similar areas where marine fish enter to reproduce and feed.
36. It is mandatory to have positioning devices such as surface radar or GPS on trawlers.
37. No fishing within 100 meters of port breakwaters.
38. Boats under 12 meters cannot have winches, cranes, or other heavy fishing gear unless authorized for shrimp, snail, or mussel fishing.
39. It is prohibited to sell, transport alive, or release to other sources any kind of aquatic products caught through amateur fishing.
40. It is prohibited to sell, transport alive, or release to other sources any kind of aquatic products caught through amateur fishing.
41. The use of electric current, electroshock, gas cylinders and air pressure methods, arrows, bows, Mauser rifles, shotguns and all kinds of similar weapons, pitchforks, sledgehammers and similar tools in amateur hunting is prohibited.
42. Any use of light for fishing purposes is prohibited in amateur fishing and diving. However, for the safety of life and property, light used for illumination inside the ship and on the shore, provided that it does not exceed 50 watts, is not considered within this scope.
43. During the period between April 1 and November 15, fishing is prohibited within swimming areas surrounded by buoys and not exceeding 200 meters from the shore.
44. Diving and fishing is prohibited in ports, fishing shelters, shelters and slipways.
45. Fishing for fish is prohibited in the Maritime Military Forbidden Zones.
46. b) Recreational fishing for aquatic products using any net, trap, or substances such as explosives, lethal, stunning, narcotic, anesthetic, stimulant agents, carbide, quicklime, fish poison, and similar items not specifically authorized by this Communiqué is prohibited. These substances are also prohibited aboard vessels and at fishing grounds. Additional prohibited fishing gear and methods include slapping/striking, drop line, longline (parakete), fyke net (pinter), and traps such as baskets.
47. From April 1 to November 15, fishing for aquatic products is prohibited within designated swimming areas surrounded by buoys that are within 200 meters from the shoreline.
48. Except for species whose fishing is completely prohibited, the use of all types of natural bait, processed natural bait, and artificial lures is permitted in recreational sea fishing.

Allowed

In commercial fishing activities, fishing gear must be marked in accordance with procedures and principles determined by the Ministry and registered in the Fisheries Information System (SUBİS).
1. The fishing of puffer fish species (Lagocephalus sceleratus, Lagocephalus spadiceus, Lagocephalus suezensis, Lagocephalus guentheri, Lagocephalus lagocephalus, Sphoeroides pachygaster, Tylerius spinosissimus, Torquigener flavimaculosus) is subject to a permit and the procedures and principles regarding its hunting are determined by the Ministry.
2. Bycatch up to 5% of the total catch by weight is allowed. In shrimp caught with a sea rig , bycatch up to 15% by weight is allowed. If the bycatch is a single individual, these limits are not taken into account. It is mandatory to declare the type and quantity of bycatch in the e-logbook and/or the “Transport/Origin Document”. If the target species is not caught during the hunting activity and only non-target species are caught, these species are not considered as non-target hunting and are considered as illegal hunting.
3. Of the species below the minimum catchable lengths and weights, an exemption of 15% by weight is granted for anchovy, sardine and horse mackerel, and 5% by weight for other aquatic products for small sizes and for bluefin tuna between 8-30 kg or 75-115 cm, at most 5%. The determination of the exemptions is made based on the number of products for bluefin tuna and the amount of controlled products for other species.
4. Sardine fishing with gillnets is permitted throughout the season.
5. It is prohibited to keep bluefin tuna and bluefin tuna products (except internal organs and eggs) on ships, to carry them in cages pulled by ships, to sell, transport and keep them in tuna farming (livestock) facilities without an Electronic Tuna Catch Document (eBCD).
6. In areas and during times where fishing with purse seine nets and other fishing gears is permitted, the fishing of bullet tuna, striped bonito, and little tunny with these fishing gears is allowed. During the period when purse seine fishing is prohibited in our territorial waters, purse seine fishing of bullet tuna, striped tuna, and little tunny is permitted throughout the period, except for a distance of 6 miles from the shore. For fishing vessels that will fish these species between April 15 and September 15, it is mandatory to obtain the fishing “Permit Certificate” and to take it out from the landing points determined by the Ministry. In the period in which the permit is granted, if any species other than the species permitted by this article and longfin tuna (albacore) are fished, the fishing permit certificate will be cancelled.
8. Fishing vessels that will harvest shrimp using manyat or algarna (bottom dredge) must obtain the Fishing “Permit Certificate” specified in Annex-2 from the provincial/district directorate that issued their license. Shrimp fishing is only allowed between 05:00 and 20:00. Algarna gear may have a maximum mouth height of 50 cm, must be single-bagged, with minimum mesh size of 32 mm in the shoulder and bag sections, and the bag length must not exceed 6 fathoms (11 meters). A fishing vessel may not use more than two algarnas, and the total beam length must not exceed 10 meters. Use of steel wire in algarna gear is prohibited. Ropes used must not be thicker than 16 mm in diameter. The minimum mesh size in the bag of manyat nets must not be less than 32 mm. Fishing non-target species is prohibited.
9. Where allowed, fishing vessels that will harvest white clam (Chamelea gallina) and cockles (Cardium spp) must obtain the Fishing “Permit Certificate” from the provincial/district directorate where their license was issued. The permitted gear (algarna and dredge) used must have a mouth width not exceeding 80 cm, mouth depth not exceeding 20 cm, and bag length not exceeding 200 cm. For hydraulic dredges, mouth width shall not exceed 350 cm and overall length shall not exceed 300 cm. The spacing between the metal rods in dredges and sieves must not be less than 8.5 mm. Harvesting with any gear is prohibited in waters shallower than 5 meters. It is prohibited to possess or use more than one algarna or dredge per vessel.
10. Fishing vessels intending to harvest sea snail must obtain the Fishing Permit Certificate from the provincial/district directorate that issued the vessel license. Fishing is permitted only between 05:00 and 20:00. Outside of the restricted areas, fishing for veined rapa whelk is permitted by diving. During algarna fishing, catching species other than whelks is prohibited. Spearguns are prohibited on vessels engaged in sea snail fishing. Fishing with algarna (bottom dredge) is prohibited between April 15 – August 31. The algarna used in fishing must not exceed the following: maximum mouth width of 4 meters; maximum mouth height of 40 cm; maximum bag length of 1.5 meters; minimum mesh size of the bag of 72 mm. Fishing with algarna is prohibited within 500 meters of the shoreline. Fishing vessels are not allowed to possess or use more than one algarna.
11. Fishing sea cucumber (Holothuria tubulosa) is prohibited between April 15 – October 31. Sea cucumber fishing may only be conducted using the diving method. Fishing vessels must obtain the Fishing “Permit Certificate” from Balıkesir or İzmir provincial/district directorates. Vessels granted permission must not possess any seafood other than sea cucumber during harvesting activities. Spearguns and underwater firearms are prohibited on vessels authorized for sea cucumber fishing. Sea cucumber fishing is prohibited between sunset and sunrise.
12. For black sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) fishing, the “Transport/Origin Certificate” and the Fishing Permit Certificate must be obtained from the provincial/district directorates. Vessels granted a permit must not possess any aquatic products other than sea urchins during fishing activities. Sea urchin fishing shall be carried out only by diving methods. It is prohibited to possess underwater firearms and spearguns on vessels authorized for sea urchin fishing. Sea urchin fishing is prohibited between sunset and sunrise.
13. Mediterranean Spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas) and European lobster (Homarus gammarus) in all territorial waters except for the period between April 15 and September 1. However, the time ban does not apply to the fishing of the Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus). Fishing vessels using gillnets to harvest lobster must obtain the Fishing “Permit Certificate” from the provincial/district directorate that issued the vessel’s license.
14. Slip lobster (Scyllarides latus) hunting is permitted in all our territorial waters between April 15 and June 15.
15. Individuals must hold a personal fishing license to collect mamun shrimp, sulines, and madya clams from shore as bait. It is prohibited to collect organisms from areas other than those designated.
16. The following species may be collected with a bait fish net and used as live bait for recreational fishing: European sprat (Sprattus Sprattus); Blenny (Blennius spp); Common bleak (Alburnus Alburnus); Mackerel (Trachurus spp); Picarel (Maena smaris); Big-scale sand smelt (Atherina boyeri); Gobiid fish (Proterorhinus marmoratus); Twait shad (Alosa fallax nilotica); Round sardinella (Sardinella aurita); European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus); Mossul bleak (Chalcalburnus mossulensis/Alburnus mossulensis). An amateur fisherman may keep a maximum of 30 bait fish in a live bait bucket or a bait bucket. Food fish can be caught during the period when the target species is free to catch. The maximum length of feed fish is 12 cm, and sizes larger than this are considered to be catchable fish.
17. Fishing competitions to be held in our seas and inland waters are subject to the permission of the Ministry. Permission requests must be submitted to the Ministry through the provincial/district directorates. In this context, fishing is prohibited for anyone other than the competitors during the competition in the permitted areas.
18. A recreational angler is allowed: (a) A maximum of 4 fishing rods, provided that the number of hooks in each fishing rod does not exceed 6; and (b) One handline (çapari) with no more than 15 hooks.
19. Unless a closed season is specified, recreational fishing in the seas is not subject to a closed season. There is no daily time restriction for fishing.
20. Recreational fishing at sea may be conducted using any type of fishing line, cast net (serpme), bait net (yemlik uzatma ağı), and speargun. The cast net (serpme) used must not exceed 3 meters in height when folded and must have a mesh size no smaller than 28 mm. Fishing with a speargun is prohibited from sunset to sunrise. During speargun fishing, the use of any light source, artificial air supply (except snorkel), tank, hookah, any breathing apparatus, and backup air sources is prohibited. Persons fishing underwater with a speargun or harpoon must use a buoy to indicate their location.