CURRENT SITUATION OF RECREATIONAL FISHERIES IN KEBAN DAM LAKE (ELAZIĞ-TÜRKİYE)

Between July and November 2023, a total of 184 face-to-face surveys were conducted three times a month in the fishing cooperatives of An, Aydnck, emigezek, Keban, Kemaliye, Pertek, Uzunova, and Yurtba, located around Keban Dam Lake.The ages of amateur fishermen ranged from 25 to 72, with an average age of 48.211.Most participants were aged between 55-60.Of the surveyed anglers, 52.5% held an amateur fishing license, while 47.5% did not.University graduates made up the largest educational group (57.9%), followed by high school graduates (24.6%).A statistically significant relationship was found between education level and possession of a fishing license (p<0.05).In terms of experience, 44.2% of participants had been fishing for 25-30 years, and 12.3% had 15-20 years of experience.Regarding regulatory oversight, 76.0% reported being inspected by institutions during fishing activities, while 24.0% had never been inspected.The Gendarmerie was the most common inspecting authority (56.8%), followed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (14.8%).Among those inspected, 95.4% stated they had never been penalized.These findings highlight the significant recreational and tourism potential of recreational fisheries in Turkey's inland waters.To support sustainable fishing practices, further research and policy development in recreational fisheries are recommended.