Seafood production in Turkey posted a 33.1 percent increase last year on an annual basis, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT) said in June.
The fishery production reached 836,524 tons in 2019, according to TURKSTAT figures.
“The total fishery production constitutes the fishes caught by 44.8 percent, other sea products by 6.8 percent, inland water products by 3.8 percent and aquaculture products by 44.6 percent,” it noted.
“Marine production increased by 52 percent and inland water production increased by 4.8 percent compared to the previous year.”
Among sea fishes, anchovy is at the top with 262,544 tons captured, followed by sprat with 38,078 tons and pilchard with 19,119 tons.
Experts blame pollution, climate change and irresponsible fishing for the decreasing number of fish in the last decades.
Fishermen are hoping to get a bumper catch of anchovy, horse mackerel and baby bonito fish varieties three weeks ahead of the new season.
The price of a baby bonito caught by a handline ranged between 7.5 and 10 Turkish Liras (1.02 and 1.36 dollars) at the fish markets in the eastern Black Sea province of Trabzon yesterday.
At Istanbul’s wholesale fish market hall, one kilogram of seabass was being sold for 28 liras (3.83 dollars), and one kilogram of imported salmon was marketed for 45 liras (6.16 dollars).