The Guardians Of Seas

Prepared to draw attention to the threats facing the seas, the documentary film witnesses the struggle of the fishermen in Mordoğan, İzmir. The documentary about the establishment process of Mordoğan Fisherman’s Cooperative, the daily lives of small-scale fishermen, their relations with the sea, their struggles and the exemplary joint management model they have implemented, also highlights the importance of small-scale fishermen in terms of sustainable fishing. Fish stocks in our seas are rapidly depleting, marine ecosystems are rapidly becoming polluted and destroyed. This extinction is not just an environmental problem; at the same time, it is of great socio-economic importance as it is a source of livelihood for the families who continue the traditional fishing craft with 13 thousand small-scale boats in Turkey. Although small-scale fishermen make up about 90 percent of the fishing fleet in Turkey, they only benefit from 10 percent of the total catch. Small-scale fishermen, who are the natural protectors of our seas, directly experience climate-related problems, observe the change in our seas every day, and they are most affected by this change. The documentary “guardians of the seas” aims to draw attention to the challenges small-scale fishermen face and the role they play in the sustainability of fisheries.