THE USE OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS FOR SUSTAINABLE FISH PRODUCTION IN TURKEY

by
R. Celebi
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tarim II Mud.
Kontrol Sibesi, Sanlirfa, Turkey

Abstract

While the marine fish stocks in the seas surrounding Turkey are gradually diminishing, inland water resources offer a major scope for development of freshwater capture and culture fisheries. The potential has been enhanced by the rapid construction of many dams of irrigational and multipurpose character. The GAP project in south-eastern Turkey aims at eventually irrigating 75 000 km² of land. By 1998, irrigated areas in the GAP had already reached 299 554 ha. GAP is a multipurpose river basin project using the water of the Euphrates and Tigris and involves the construction of 22 dams. The Euphrates reservoirs will have a total water surface area of 125 175 ha, and those on the Tigris 73 298 ha. In 1998, capture fisheries harvested 1 842 tonnes, and aquaculture produced 290 tonnes in the GAP region. Regarding fisheries, the existing fish stocks need better protection and rational management, and the local fishermen/farmers should be trained in capture fisheries methods and in aquaculture applicable in a variety of waterbodies of irrigation systems. The existing fishery regulations need to be adapted to the GAP region, which differs climatically from other regions of Turkey. This concerns especially closed seasons for individual fish species. Dam managers responsible for water releases should be made aware of the water requirement for fish spawning periods.

1. Introduction

Turkey is a large peninsula covering over 800 000 m². It is surrounded by four seas, the Mediterranean, the Aegean, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Marmara. From this favourable geographic position its people have had access to marine fishery resources for centuries. However, with the current population of 68 million, a sixfold increase in 75 years, and a similar growth in the neighbouring countries, the marine fish stocks have been put under increasing pressure. Turkey’s marine capture fisheries have declined to about 500 000 tonnes per year.

Turkey, being the largest country in south-western Asia, has considerable agricultural potential. Twenty-eight million ha of agricultural lands, 21.5 million ha of pastures, 83 million heads of livestock all depend on the rainfall and irrigation. In terms of inland water potential, Turkey has 36 rivers with a total length of 178 000 km, over 200 lakes covering 9 000 km², 142 reservoirs with total water surface area of 2 276 km², and 1 000 ponds of a total of 15 500 ha. The two major rivers of Turkey, Euphrates and Tigris, have an annual discharge of 31.6 km³ and 21.3 km³, respectively. All rivers of Turkey have an annual mean water discharge of 133.2 km³. At present, 193 dams serve environmental protection and flood control, and 151 dams serve irrigation. Water potential by storages is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 Water potential by storages in Turkey

2. The southeastern anatolian project (GAP)

In terms of potential, 8.5 million ha of land can be economically irrigated. The current major irrigation project under way is the GAP (Guneydogu Anadolu Projesi), which will eventually result in the irrigation of 75 000 km². GAP is a multi-purpose river basin project using the water of the Euphrates and Tigris and involves the construction of 22 dams. When completed, the GAP will foster investment activities in south-eastern Turkey. The GAP project covers entirely or partially eight provinces. It is more than a mere agricultural project as it includes industry, transportation, tourism, telecommunications, health care, education and rural and urban housing infrastructure projects. It will enhance the region’s living standard and income levels, increase productivity and employment opportunities, minimize emigration from the southeast and contribute to the national export potential (Ozaslan, 1998).

2.1 Agriculture and water potential of GAP

It is estimated that irrigating 1.7 million ha of land will require construction of many dams of which those constructed already have a total water surface area of 129 987 ha (Table 1). The final reservoir water surface area will reach eventually 198 473 ha. There will also be 2 235 km of irrigation canals. Nineteen dams will serve several purposes, such as irrigation and hydropower production (Dursun, 1999). The Euphrates reservoirs will have a total water surface area of 125 175 ha, and those on the Tigris 73 298 ha. The total reservoir surface area will be 198 473 ha. The GAP project will result in an 11 percent increase in agriculture production, and more than double the personal income. It will provide employment for 3.8 million people, and also produce 6.99 billion kWh of hydropower annually (Anon., 1999).

Table 1
Reservoirs in the GAP project area

Of the 7.54 million ha of the GAP land, 43.6 percent is suitable for agriculture, 29.4 percent for pastures, and 19.2 percent for forestry. This represents 11.7 percent of the agricultural area, 10.3 percent of the pastures, and 6.2 percent of the forests of Turkey. By 1998, irrigated areas in GAP already reached 299 554 ha, of which 193 697 ha were irrigated by state and 105 587 ha by farmers. The major crops produced are wheat, beans, soybeans, nuts, sunflowers, sesame and rice. The region’s climate is suitable for double cropping.

Irrigation systems

In the GAP irrigation water is diverted from reservoirs by canals, from which 95 percent of land is irrigated. The remaining 5 percent of land is irrigated using other irrigation methods. The irrigation has already had some side effects, such as salinization of about 20 000 ha of land and rising ground water levels. It is expected that the situation will not get better unless precautions are taken.

Freshwater fish production in the GAP and in Turkey

The GAP represents almost 17 percent of the total inland water resources potential, but the region has a low fish consumption and low fish production. In 1998, capture fisheries harvested 1 842 tonnes, and aquaculture produced 290 tonnes in the GAP region (Table 2). This was equal to 3.3 percent of capture from inland waters of Turkey, and to 1.5 percent of freshwater aquaculture (Celikkale et al., 1999). Carp (Cyprinus carpio) dominated the fish production, with 1 200 tonnes, followed by Capoeta trutta (320 tonnes), and Leuciscus cephalus (78 tonnes).

Table 2
Freshwater fish production (in tonnes) in the GAP project area and in Turkey

The Ataturk reservoir is one of the newest reservoirs constructed. A list of its fish species is given as Table 3. The water quality for Ataturk reservoir is shown in Table 4.

Table 3
List of fish species in Ataturk reservoir (Yuksel et al., 1998)

At present there are eight commercial trout cage-culture farms. These farms buy fingerlings (weight 50 to 100 g) from other farms for ongrowing to marketable size within 5-6 months. The culture season extends from mid-October to mid-May. There are two hatcheries in the GAP region. One of them is located near the Ataturk reservoir and belongs to the State Hydraulic Works (DSI). Another is at the Keban dam and also belongs to DSI. Common carp is the other major cultured fish species. Both hatcheries produce fingerlings for stocking the reservoirs as well as other waterbodies. Table 5 shows the number stocked in the GAP reservoirs and the Tigris River in 1999.

3. Discussion

Using irrigation, Turkey has increased the crop and other agricultural production by about 100 percent. But the agricultural areas, even though irrigated, are still relatively underutilized, as irrigation practices are relatively new to farmers. There is a need for training and education of farmers and managers, especially in the use of irrigation techniques. The training should include subjects such as double cropping, planting and plant protection, fertilization, soil analysis, water husbandry, including the dangers from rising groundwater levels and salinization, integrated pest management, etc.

Table 4
Water quality in Ataturk reservoir (Yuksel et al., 1998)

Regarding fisheries, the existing fish stocks need better protection and rational management, and the local fishermen/farmers should be trained in capture fisheries methods and in aquaculture practices suitable for application in waterbodies of irrigation systems. The existing fishery regulations need to be adapted to the GAP region, which differs climatically from other regions of Turkey. This concerns especially closed seasons for individual fish species. Dam managers responsible for water releases should be made aware of water requirements for fish spawning periods. There is also a need to gradually replace the predominant low-value species by higher value ones in some waterbodies. Better organization of marketing is also required. A cooperative approach to problem solving may be suitable for the integration of capture, processing and marketing of fish.

Aquaculture technologies, such as cage culture, should be more widely applied, as well as testing new fish species for their suitability for the new artificial waterbodies.

Finally, a better administrative support is needed, if the waterbodies serving irrigation in the GAP region are to be fully exploited for their maximum fish production.

Table 5
Fish stocked in 1999 in the GAP reservoirs and the Tigris River (Safak, 2000)

References

Anon., 1999. Dams and Hydroelectric Power Plants in Turkey. Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, Ankara.

Celikkale, M.S., Duzgunes, E. & Okumus, O. 1999. Turkie su urunleri sektoru, potansiyeli, mevcut durumu, sorunlari ve cozum onerileri. Istanbul Ticaret Odasi Yasin No. 1999-2, Istanbul.

Dursun, H. 1999. Turkiye’nim toprak kaynaklari ve kullanimi. Tarimda su kullanimi ve yonetimi sempozyumu. Turk Yuksek Ziraat Muhendisleri Birligi ve Vakfi, Ankara.

Ozaslan, I. 1998. Natural Resources of Turkey. Vol. 1. Istanbul Chamber of Commerce. Publication No. 1998-77, Istanbul.

Safak, N. 2000. Bolgesi’ndeki baraj gollerinde DSI Genel Mudurlugunce Yurutulen ve Planlanan Su Urunleri Calismalari. DSI Genel Mudurlugu, Ankara.

Yuksel, M., Sevik, R. Yapalak, S. & Hartavi, S.M. 1998. Ataturk baraj golu’nun su kalitesi ve bu sulara uyum gosteren balik turlerinin tesbiti. GAP 2. Muhendislik Kongresi, 21-23 Mayis 1998, Sanliurfa.