© Published by Ege University Faculty of Fisheries, Izmir, Turkey Su Ürünleri Dergisi (2012) http://www.egejfas.org Ege J Fish Aqua Sci 29(1): 21-29 (2012) DOI: 10.12714/egejfas.2012.29.1.04 RESEARCH ARTICLE ARAŞTIRMA MAKALESİ Decisions of stakeholders for the proposed artificial reef deployment: Analytic hierarchy process approach Yerleştirilmesi amaçlanan yapay resifler için paydaşların kararları: Analitik hiyerarşi süreci yaklaşımı Sezgin Tunca 1 * • Bülent Miran 2 • Vahdet Ünal 3 1 Muğla University, Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Fishery and Fish Processing Technology, 48000, Kötekli, Muğla, Turkey 2 Ege University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics, 35100, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey 3 Ege University, Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Fishery and Fish Processing Technology, 35100, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey *Corresponding author: sezgin.tunca@gmail.com Özet: Bugüne kadar Türkiye’de yapay resif alanlarının etkin kullanımı ve paylaşımıyla ilgili ticari balıkçılar, amatör balıkçılar ve yöre sakinlerini ele alan farklı paydaş gruplarının kararları değerlendirilmemiştir. Bu çalışmada, söz konusu denizel alanla ilgili mevcut durum, yapay resif ve deniz rezervi senaryonlarını içeren deneysel senaryolarla paydaşların kararlarını analiz etmek üzere çoklu karar verme sürecinde yaygın olarak kullanılan bir teknik (Analitik Hiyerarşi Süreci) kullanılmıştır. Sonuç olarak, yapay resif uygulaması ticari ve amatör balıkçılar tarafından desteklenmiştir. Ancak amaçlanan yapay resif yapılarının gelecek kullanım hakları ile ilgili görüşler araştırma grupları arasında farklılık göstermiştir. Amaçlanan yapay resiflerin farklı paydaş grupları arasında tahsis edilmesi üç grup tarafından da % 50’nin üzerinde kabul görmüştür. Gelecek çalışmalar için model olacak bu çalışmada yapay resiflerin önemi, potansiyel kullanıcıların yüksek destekleme eğilimiyle ekonomik, biyolojik ve sosyal faydaları ele alınarak ortaya koyulmuştur. Anahtar kelimeler: Yapay resifler, Paydaşlar, Analitik Hiyerarşi Süreci, Karar verme. Abstract: Decisions of different stakeholders which includes commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen and local residents through efficient use and share of artificial reefs sites were not been assessed up to present in Turkey. With the commonly used technique for multi-cirteria decision making process (Analytic Hierarchy Process) was used to analyze stakeholder decision through experimental scenarios which includes current status, artificial reef deployment and marine reserve related to marine area in question. In result, artificial deployment act was supported by commercial and recreational fishermen; however, opinions through future use rights of purposed artificial reef structures were diversified among study groups. Allocation of proposed AR sites among different stakeholders were agreed by three focus groups with acceptance at rates over 50%. Importance of artificial reefs were presented by accounting economic, biologic, social benefits and management gaps with high tendecy of support by potantial direct users in this study, which is also thought to be a model for future studies. Keywords: Artificial reefs, Stakeholders, Analytic Hierarchy Process, Decision making. INTRODUCTION Artificial reefs (ARs) were introduced as good example of fish enhancement tool in marine area. Beyond fish enhancement, ARs creates services for scuba divers and recreational fishermen that explain its great importance in terms of economic and social aspects. (Asafu-Adjaye and Tapsuwan, 2008; Ditton et al., 2002; Hiett and Milon, 2002; Milon, 1988; Morgana et al., 2008; Oh et al., 2008; Pendleton, 2004, Sutton and Bushnell, 2007). With a wide range of AR deployment acts, use rights of ARs sites were not assesed deeply by adding assessing stakeholders’ opinions through socioeconomic researches in Turkey. Socioeconomics researches conducted in other countries, especially in United States, showed great economic contribution of ARs (Whitmarsh et al., 2008; Milon et al., 2000; Johns et al., 2001). However, freedom of use in AR sites were thought to create conflicts among different stakeholders such as commercial fishermen (CF), recreational fishermen (RF), recreational divers (RD), local residents (LR). Therefore, seperate use styles or specific purposes on ARs, without transparency, control and management in use may result in conflicts among stakeholders. General attitudes and opinions of individuals under certain conditions which can be related to developing a new policy, establishing a new commercial facilty or simply buying a house is naturally been assessed through different alternatives. Individual decisions can be considered to depended on background that includes occupation, education level and hobbies. Generally, with an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) Method, as we are all fundamentally decision makers (Saaty, 2008), to be able create coherent management plans and environmentally sustainable AR areas, it is possible to analyse stakeholders’ attitudes towards use of AR sites.