Fishing starts across Turkey to mark end of seasonal ban

TRABZON – Anadolu Agency

Fishermen across Turkey sailed out to sea on Sept. 1 to mark the end of the fishing ban, which saw the mass arrival of fish to local markets. AA Photo / Hakan Burak Altınöz

Fishermen across Turkey sailed out to sea on Sept. 1 to mark the end of the seasonal fishing ban, reintroducing the mass arrival of fish to local markets.

Fishermen returned with large amounts of bonito fish after more than 100 boats sailed into the Black Sea in the province of Trabzon at midnight to mark the end of the fishing ban. Bonitos, which range between 12 to 16 centimeters, were sold at local markets at for around 3 to 7 Turkish Liras each.

Ahmet Mutlu, the head of the Eastern Black Sea Fishery Cooperation Unity, said the amount of bonitos caught this year was higher than last year. “We have made a good start this year with the fish that we caught. The bonitos will not be as scarce this year,” Mutlu said.

However, fishermen in Istanbul and Kocaeli were not as successful on their first day of fishing, due to windy weather, several fishermen have said.

Fishermen from the Balıkesir province who sailed into the northern parts of the Aegean Sea caught large amounts of anchovies. One of these fishermen Ali Tavşan said he caught 10 tons-worth of anchovies in one day and that he expected this year to be a good in terms of fishing. He also said he expected fish prices to be lower this year.