| Summary: | In this study, the socio-economic structure of the fishermen operating in Çanakkale were examined. Related data were obtained from regional fishery cooperatives and face-to-face interviews with boat owners that are registered in the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry. For this purpose, 803 fishing vessels smaller than 12 m and licensed in Çanakkale were divided into 3 size groups and a survey was conducted with a total of 242 (30.14%) fishermen selected by "stratified random sampling". Results indicated that 95.04% of the boats were made of wood, 97.11% of the boat owners were male, and all the fishermen were over 25 years old. The majority of fishermen (46.69%), were primary school graduates. In addition, almost 90% of fishermen had social securities. When asked why they chose fishing as an occupation 35.54% stated that it was family profession and 32.23% emphasized that they had no other option while 29.75% expressed their passion for the sea. In addition, 63.63% of the fishermen never had a profession other than fisheries, 61.57% were members of fishing cooperatives and 90% marketed their products through brokers. Although 66.70% of the fishermen stated that they were not satisfied with the level of income, the majority (89.67%) did not want to leave fisheries. The results indicated that, despite small scale fisheries is a challenging occupation with limited income, it is perceived as an crucial and important way of life in Çanakkale region. The results of the study can assist policymakers to develop management strategies regarding the sustainability of small-scale fisheries in the province of Çanakkale.*This research is a part of Erhan Şahin’s MSc Thesis.
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