Investigation of Factors Effective in Illegal Fishing, the South Eastern Part of the Caspian Sea, Golestan Province

The bony fishes of the Caspian Sea are the species whose reserves are decreasing due to Pollution, habitat destruction, exploitation and illegal fishing. Regarding the extent of illegal fishing in Golestan province and lack of sufficient studies in this regard, this study examines the changes in illegal fishing and identifies the factors involved in its occurrence. Using descriptive-analytical method, designing a questionnaire and questionnaire in person, the factors affecting the incidence of illegal fishing in the southern part of the Caspian Sea, Golestan province, were identified and ranked in two regions of Turkmen and Gomishan. Required information was collected by completing 50 questionnaires and questions related to social, economic and hunting causes during a one-year period (1395) was answered. The results showed a significant difference in illegal fishing between Bandar-Torkman and Gomishan (p ˂0.05, t- test= 3/3). Also, there was a significant difference between the winter and the rest of the seasons in the illegal fishing survey (p ˂0.05, ANOVA= 2/15). Analysis of illegal catch data by using linear regression model showed that there was a significant correlation between the probability of illegal catching of all trapped bones (in kilograms) and independent variables, including information from fish, establishment of trapping in sea, total number of traps, The main motive for hunting and the distance of the sea. This study showed that the rate of catches and reserves of bony species in the Caspian Sea has decreased, which has been accompanied by an increase in illegal fishing activities.