Unsustainable harvest of water frogs in southern Turkey for the European market

Abstract

Frogs have been harvested from the wild for the last 40 years in Turkey. We analysed the population dynamics of Anatolian water frogs (Pelophylax spp.) in the Seyhan and Ceyhan Deltas during 2013–2015. We marked a total of 13,811 individuals during 3 years, estimated population sizes, simulated the dynamics of a harvested population over 50 years, and collated frog harvest and export statistics from the region and for Turkey as a whole. Our capture estimates indicated a population reduction of c. 20% per year, and our population modelling showed that, if overharvesting continues at current rates, the harvested populations will decline rapidly. Simulations with a model of harvested population dynamics resulted in a risk of extinction of > 90% within 50 years, with extinction likely in c. 2032. Our interviews with harvesters revealed their economic dependence on the frog harvest. However, our results also showed that reducing harvest rates would not only ensure the viability of these frog populations but would also provide a source of income that is sustainable in the long term. Our study provides insights into the position of Turkey in the ‘extinction domino’ line, in which harvest pressure shifts among countries as frog populations are depleted and harvest bans are effected. We recommend that harvesting of wild frogs should be banned during the mating season, hunting and exporting of frogs < 30 g should be banned, and harvesters should be trained on species knowledge and awareness of regulations.

Weak population‐genetic structure of a widely distributed nematode parasite of frogs in the western Palearctic

“…bedriagae , P. kurtmuelleri , P. ridibundus , and P. shqipericus ), have been introduced outward their natural ranges (e.g., to Belgium, France, Italy, and Switzerland), where they became invasive (Domeneghetti et al, 2013; Dubey et al, 2014; Dufresnes et al, 2017; Holsbeek et al, 2008, 2010). Recently, Çiçek et al (2021) have indicated that Turkey is an important country for the water frog trade. For more than 40 years, live animals have been exported from Turkey to European countries, mainly to France, Italy, Switzerland, and Albania, less to Greece, Spain, and Lebanon (Çiçek et al, 2021).…”

“…Recently, Çiçek et al (2021) have indicated that Turkey is an important country for the water frog trade. For more than 40 years, live animals have been exported from Turkey to European countries, mainly to France, Italy, Switzerland, and Albania, less to Greece, Spain, and Lebanon (Çiçek et al, 2021). During the export, the live animals can carry their parasites and, after successful introduction, can spread them to non‐native areas.…”

Numerous uncertainties in the multifaceted global trade in frogs’ legs with the EU as the major consumer

“…2,3). In recent decades there have been four major source regions exporting edible frogs or body parts (wild and/or farmed) into the EU: (1) East Asia, i.e., China and Taiwan (Warkentin et al 2009;Altherr et al 2011;Shreshta 2019) (Niekisch 1986;le Serrec 1988;Warkentin et al 2009), and (4) eastern Europe i.e., Turkey and Albania (Warkentin et al 2009;Şereflişan and Alkaya 2016;Çiçek et al 2021).…”

“…Likewise, it is necessary to create an accurate and up-to-date database of the role the major consuming countries take in terms of numbers of wild caught/farmed animals, supplying countries, harvest locations, farms involved (cf. with data records of the Law Enforcement Management Information System, LEMIS), mortality figures, etc., with a focus on the European Union (EU) (Veith et al 2000;Potočnik 2012;Çiçek et al 2021) and Switzerland (see Dubey et al 2014;Dufresnes et al 2018). For example, TRACES is an online platform of the EU established to certify imports of animals and their products according to sanitary standards (https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/traces_en, see Suppl.…”

“…It is worrying to note that there are very few studies reviewing current trade in terms of sustainability and the little information that is published, implies very strongly that current harvest /trade is unsustainable. For example, populations of Pelophylax caralitanus are still locally widespread in Turkey, but the species is considered endangered(Ǒz et al 2009), not only because of habitat loss, but also because of local overexploitation for trade with the EU(Erismis 2018;Çiçek et al 2021). Further, overharvest of P. shqipericus has been noted in the species' Red List assessment (IUCN SSC Numerous examples of overexploited species assessed in the IUCN Red List assessments are detailed (see Table3, Suppl.…”