The fishing season began with an abundance of Atlantic bonito. Metin Akçay, president of the Istanbul Fish Market Commission Agents Association, said fishermen were having a very good season after more than 1.5 months of fishing.
Akçay said he had worked at fish markets since 1987 and had encountered an abundance of Atlantic bonito on this scale for the first time. He noted that a similar period occurred in 2005, but the abundance was greater this year.
Akçay said Atlantic bonito fishing continued from the eastern Black Sea to the western regions, adding that the abundance was benefiting both fishermen and consumers. He said they expected the abundance of bonito to continue for approximately another month.
Bonito prices vary by region
Akçay said an Atlantic bonito weighed an average of 800 grams and sold at fish markets for between 40 and 60 lira. He said higher consumer demand for fish would increase sales and described current prices as reasonable.
Erdoğan Kartal, president of the Istanbul Regional Union of Fisheries Cooperatives, said the season was being defined by Atlantic bonito, but demand had not reached the expected level despite reasonable prices.
Kartal said wholesale Atlantic bonito prices in the eastern Black Sea were being discussed at 25 to 30 lira, while wholesale sales in Istanbul were taking place at 50 lira per fish. He said the retail price of bonito weighing close to 1 kilogram on average ranged from 100 to 125 lira, with prices lower in the Black Sea region.
Expectations for anchovies and bluefish
Akçay said anchovies were also expected to be abundant this year. Predicting a productive season for young bluefish and large bluefish, Akçay said they expected fishing to continue hopefully through the fourth month.
Akçay said Atlantic bonito fishing was expected to continue until late November due to seasonal conditions and expressed hope that the period would extend into December.
Kartal said there was no shortage of other fish species, but anchovies and other species had been overshadowed by the intensity of bonito fishing. He said fish variety would increase as the weather turned colder and that anchovies would become fattier and tastier after mid-November.
Pointing to rising fishing costs, Kartal said the sector needed greater predictability, a change to the fish market system and stronger support for fishing from cooperatives.
