Catch composition of set net (fixed stake trap) fisheries in the coastal waters of Saros Bay, North Aegean Sea

Set net (fixed stake trap) fisheries are performed according to traditional methods in the coastal waters of Saros Bay, North Aegean Sea (Turkey). These fisheries systems are the gear constructed for catching fish in shallow waters with sandy-muddy substrates. The fish species caught by four set nets between April and August (set net fishing season) in 2010-2012 were studied. In total, 37 fish species belonging to 22 families were captured from the study areas. Clupeidae (45.65 %), Carangidae (16.51 %) and Sparidae (13.24 %) were determined as dominant families, and the total catch amount of dominant species, Sardina pilchardus (27.18 %), Sardinella aurita (18.47 %) and Trachurus mediterraneus (16.42 %), comprised 62.07 % of the total catch. Species diversity (H' sub(log2)) and evenness (J') index values calculated for all set nets were 0-1.566 and 0-0.999, respectively. This study provides some general information about the status of set net fisheries as well as the diversity and abundance of the species caught by set nets.