Fishermen are hopeful about the new fishing season on September 1st

Fishermen are hopeful for anchovy and bonito in the new season. Fisherman Ünal Özden said, "We're preparing as if a holiday is coming. In other words, it's the beginning of our work, our livelihood. Here, God willing, we will say 'Vira Bismillah' on the night of August 31st." Istanbul University (IU) Faculty of Aquatic Sciences Vice Dean Prof. Dr. Saadet Karakulak emphasized the need to be careful about overfishing, saying, "Fishing quotas are very important in fishing. Fishermen must be able to catch at a reasonable rate, and fish that can sustain their own species must remain in the sea and reproduce."

The fishing ban, which began on April 15th, ends on September 1st. Fishermen have had their boat engines checked and their nets repaired before the season. They anticipate anchovy and bonito abundance this year. Fisherman Ünal Özden said, "We're trying to get our preparations ready by the first of the month. We're expecting a lot of anchovies this year. Hopefully, bonito will also be available in our Black Sea region. We're preparing as if a holiday is coming. In other words, it's the beginning of our work, our livelihood. Here, God willing, we'll be saying 'Vira Bismillah' on the night of August 31st. We wish the entire fishing community abundant earnings this season."

'WE WILL SAY "VIRA BISMILLAH" AND SET OUT TO SEA'

Fisherman Ömer Kolcu, who is continuing his preparations for the season, said, "It's our final preparations. Our crews are arriving, and we'll put our nets on the boat. After our crews arrive, we'll all complete the necessary preparations together, say 'Vira Bismillah' (God's Blessing) and set sail." Kolcu also expressed his expectations for the season, saying, "This is September 1st, the bonito season. The bonito signs are caught with a fishing line, which tells us the beginning. It's the right time, but this year, those signs are visible in the east, not in the west. There will be anchovies, bluefish, and bluefish; hopefully, they'll be plentiful. The bonito seem a bit finicky, but you never know. In previous years, we waited until September 20th, but it never happened. After September 20th, it was all bonito." Kolcu, who also noted that weaving nets is not easy, said, "Our ancestors learned this from the Greeks. We learned it from our ancestors, and we continue. God willing, it will happen to all fishermen on September 1st. We will all act together and go out to sea."

"WHATEVER GOD GIVES US, WE WILL KEEP IT"

Fisherman Cüneyt Menekşe, who is continuing his preparations, said, "We're sewing the cork collars on the nets, making preparations, and trying to get the nets ready. Repairs are being made again. Hopefully, we'll be out in the sea in a week. We'll start with anchovies. There are anchovies visible now, and bonito seem to be scarce, but of course, the weather is blowing so it's not yet clear. We'll be out in the sea and see. I wish everyone the best. I hope the season goes well. For example, we didn't go out last year, but we will go out this year. God willing, we'll catch whatever we can."

'THERE IS A DECREASE IN FISH STOCK'

Prof. Dr. Saadet Karakulak, Vice Dean of Istanbul University's Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, wished fishermen a successful new fishing season and warned against overfishing. Karakulak said, "I hope we have a bountiful and productive fishing season. Of course, for a good fishing season, fish must have a successful breeding season. This depends on suitable weather and sea conditions. If there are plenty of fish in the upcoming fishing season, this indicates successful breeding. As is the case globally, our country's fish stocks have been declining in recent years. We are experiencing issues like overfishing by fishermen, marine pollution, and mucilage. These are negatively impacting fisheries and fish stocks. The recent fishing regulations and the implementation of fishing quotas show that fish are relatively resilient."

Karakulak, emphasizing the importance of quotas in fishing, said, "Fishing quotas are crucial. Fishermen must be able to catch at a reasonable rate, and they must also ensure that fish that can sustain their own species remain in the sea and reproduce. In this context, we were implementing fishing quotas for certain fish species, such as tuna, swordfish, tulina, and turbot, through international agreements and international commissions. However, because anchovy is the most important fishing resource for our country, anchovy fishing quotas were implemented last year, and fishermen are operating in strict accordance with this rule. Compliance with fishing regulations will undoubtedly have a positive impact on our seas. There must be no illegal or unregulated fishing; rules must be followed."

'CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS FISH MIGRATION ROUTES'

Karakulak also touched on the effects of climate change on fish, saying, "Fish tolerate a certain temperature. If the water temperature rises, they abandon that area and migrate. We generally see fish migrating from south to north. Many Mediterranean species are migrating towards the Black Sea. Similarly, we see fish arriving in the world's oceans that are not found in that region, and hunting is taking place. Fish are now tending to shift towards more livable temperatures."

'THE SEASON STARTS IN FULL EFFICIENCY ON SEPTEMBER 15'

Commenting on the fishing season, Karakulak said, "Migratory fish are very important for our region. Horse mackerel, such as bonito, bluefish, and anchovies, are migratory. They come to the Black Sea region to spawn. After spawning in the Black Sea, they leave the region and move towards the Aegean Sea. Our fishing activity is also intense during this time, starting in September. If we shift our fishing seasons slightly due to water temperatures or the impact of climate change, those fish may have left our region, and fishermen may face hardship. Over time, we can see that the fishing season, which originally started on September 1st, normally begins at full capacity on September 15th. There may be minor shifts, but a one-month shift is a bit much."

DHA

Reporter: News Center