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October, 2026…
Whilst this season has seen an abundance of bonito not witnessed for many years, fishermen are hoping this bounty will last until the end of November and are expecting good catches of anchovy, young sea bream and blue whiting for the remainder of the season.
ISTANBUL…
Fishermen, delighted that the fishing season has begun with such a bountiful catch of palamut, are encouraging the public to consume more fish this season.
Metin Akçay, Chairman of the Istanbul Fishery Brokers’ Association (İSKOMDER), told an Anatolian Agency (AA) correspondent that fishing has been taking place for over one and a half months and that they have had a very good season.
Indicating that they have encountered an abundance of bonito during this period, Akçay said, “This season’s bounty will continue. We expect it to last for another month. I’ve been at the fish markets since 1987 and this is the first time we’ve seen such a bountiful catch since then. It happened in 2005, but this year it’s truly abundant. In other words, it’s happening both in the Eastern Black Sea and in the west. Everyone is benefiting from this. The public will also be able to consume plenty of fish. They’ll be able to buy it cheaply and feed it to their families.”
‘We’re also hopeful for the rest of the season’
Metin Akçay stated that a single bonito weighs an average of 800 grams and is sold at the fish markets for between 40 and 60 lira.
Pointing out that bonito is currently the most commonly caught species and that they expect anchovies to be plentiful this year as well, he noted, “Alongside bonito and anchovies, we’re expecting plenty of young sea bass and blue whiting this season. When all the factors, such as conditions, weather and climate, come together, our seas become productive. We’re optimistic about the rest of the season. As I said, following the bonito, we’ll have our young sea bream and blue whiting. Then the anchovies will follow. Fishing will continue on a hopeful note until the fourth month. As bonito is a seasonal fish, it will continue until the end of November. We hope it will last into December as well.”
‘Let our citizens consume more fish’
ISKOMDER Chairman Akçay called on citizens to consume more fish, emphasizing, “The more they consume, the more of this fish will be sold. The prices are also very reasonable.”
Highlighting that fishermen work under difficult conditions, he added, “Citizens must continue to buy fish to ensure fishing activities continue.”
