THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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September, 2026…
İsa Kaplan, the Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry in Trabzon, announced that the anchovy quota stands at 400,000 tonnes nationwide and 45,000 tonnes in the region, whilst the horse mackerel quota is 40,000 tonnes. Kaplan stated that if 40,000 tonnes of horse mackerel were caught, fishing would automatically cease and emphasised that quotas are vital for sustainability.
Highlighting that quotas are of great importance for sustainable fishing, Kaplan said, “Anchovy nets are set when there is no bonito. In our country, there is a 400,000-tonne quota for anchovies; 45,000 tonnes of that quota belong to us. We cannot exceed that quota. A quota for horse mackerel has also been published in the Official Gazette. There is a quota of 40,000 tonnes across Türkiye.”
“Once 40,000 tonnes have been caught nationwide, horse mackerel fishing automatically ceases. Why are these quotas important? From the perspective of sustainable fishing, we need to ensure that fish remain for future generations in the Black Sea, our region and the Mediterranean. This is a policy of our Ministry; we are monitoring these matters closely. The Black Sea is, in a sense, an inland sea. Our marine flora is somewhat different from that of other seas. The Mediterranean may have greater species diversity, but in terms of yield, we are somewhat more fortunate. However, we cannot surpass the Mediterranean in terms of diversity,” he noted.
“Anchovy is not just a fish; it is a unique entity – a distinct blessing bestowed upon us. In my opinion, there is no flavour in the world that surpasses that of the anchovy. That is why I do not wish to enter into that debate,’ he added…
