Commercially Important Marine Macroinvertebrates of the Turkish Seas

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Dağlı E., Ateş A. S., Doğan A., Bakır A. K., Özgen Çoban Ö., Acar S., ...Daha Fazla

MARFRESH — Journal of Marine & Freshwater Sciences , cilt.1, sa.1, ss.14-22, 2026 (Hakemli Dergi)

Özet

This study identifies the economically important benthic invertebrate species occurring in the Turkish seas, evaluating 

their taxonomic distribution, utilization patterns, economic significance, conservation status, and the contribution of 

non-indigenous species based on an extensive literature review. A total of 93 economically valuable macro invertebrate 

species were documented along the Turkish coasts, comprising 40 Mollusca, 33 Crustacea, 6 Cnidaria, 5 Echinoderma￾ta, 5 Porifera, and 4 Polychaeta species. Geographically, the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea exhibited the high￾est species richness followed by the Sea of Marmara, whereas the Black Sea harboured comparatively fewer species. 

The primary utilization of these organisms is for human consumption, alongside secondary applications as live bait, 

aquaculture inputs, aquarium trade specimens, jewellery and ornamental materials, cosmetics, biotechnology products, 

and bioremediation agents. Mollusca and Crustacea represent the foundational groups for the Turkish fisheries sector 

regarding production volume and export value, whereas sea cucumbers, natural sponges, the red indigenous species 

-including Rapana venosa, Magallana gigas, Pinctada radiata, Sepioteuthis lessoniana, and Portunus segnis- have 

established themselves are economically viable resources in Turkish waters. Conversely, certain economically signif￾icant species, such as Corallium rubrum, Lithophaga lithophaga, Paracentrotus lividus, and commercially valuable 

marine sponge species, are protected under domestic and international conservation frameworks. Collectively, these 

findings underscore the substantial economic potential of Türkiye’s macro invertebrate resources while emphasizing 

the critical need for sustainable management, continuous monitoring, and effective conservation strategies to ensure 

their long-term utilization