Determining of best strategy for improvement of sustainable coastal fishery in the Guilan province using AHP technique

Southern shores of the Caspian Sea forms 990 kilometers range، the density and distribution of fishing activities along the coast، is formed due to the natural condition and the ability to catch in each area. The beaches from the last time were highly populated and because of the reserves and appropriate potentials in Caspian Sea، fishing and fishery In addition to agriculture sector from the distant past was one of the major activities in the coastal villages of the Caspian Sea. Already in coastal fishing of the Caspian Sea، there is a pattern of cooperative operation known as PAREH. The Guilan province with highest number of workers in coastal fishery and the lowest five-year average catch and having the most cooperatives under break-even point for economic، is the most challenging province in terms of PAREH cooperatives performance. In recent years، due to uncontrolled harvesting of Caspian Sea resources many fishing cooperatives have difficulties and working in this condition in terms of economic is unjustified. So changing the fisheries management approach in this sea is necessary. This paper attempts to introduce the best strategy for improvement of sustainable coastal fishery status in the Guilan province using AHP technique. In this paper، SWOT and TOWS methods were applied as a basis for the AHP technique. The results showed legal، technical and financial support for supporting cooperatives for multi-purpose utilization of the cooperatives area، on proliferation and breeding of fish and Tourism Development، aquaculture and fish culture in cage، was selected as the best strategy among the whole strategies for improvement of sustainable coastal fishery status in the Guilan province.