Turkey’s seasonal fishing ban to end on Sept 1

ISTANBUL

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Turkey’s seasonal fishing season will kick off on Sept. 1 after a five-month ban, as fishermen hope for a fruitful season and a dramatic drop in fish prices in the new season.

Speaking to state-run Anadolu Agency on Aug. 30, sector representatives said they were hopeful about the new season and expected at least 50 percent drop in fish prices.

As the opening of the new season coincided with the Eid al-Adha holiday this year, Istanbul Region Aquaculture Cooperatives Association (İSTBİRLİK) head Erdoğan Kartal said many fishermen may set out to the sea as late as Sept. 5.

Despite their anticipation for the coming season, Kartal said fishermen are expecting a lower presence of fish in certain areas.

“According to our research, it seems that there will be problems in anchovies in both the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea this year. We expect a drop in the fertility of anchovies. This situation may change due to weather conditions but it seems that both seas will be problematic,” he added.

Kartal noted that they expect Atlantic bonito to continue to dominate the new season, as was the case in 2016.

“We expect horse mackerel, which was lacking last year, to be very fruitful this year. Moreover, mackerel have come to the Marmara for the first time in 40 years. We think there will be fertility in that species,” he said, noting that light fishing had damaged mackerel and caused its recent disappearance.

On prices, Kartal said he believes that fish prices will drop at least 50 percent.

“Right now, horse-mackerel is sold for 30 Turkish liras. But it will be sold maximum 15 liras. The drop in food prices could even hit 60 percent in horse-mackerel and 70 percent in haddock,” he said.

Meanwhile, Istanbul Aquaculture Market Commissioners Association (İSKOMDER) head İrfan Mazlum said the forecast showed a fruitful new season and he does not expect any problems in horse mackerel, Atlantic bonito, small bluefish or blue fish.

On anchovies, Mazlum said there were not many in the Marmara Sea at present and it could take until November to get anchovies in the Black Sea.

He noted that there has an increase in fish prices due to weather conditions but predicted that prices would “definitely drop” in the new season.

“It is wrong to use the current prices as a base, but there will definitely be a 60 percent drop in fish prices as the season begins,” Mazlum said.