With only a few days left until the end of the hunting season that started on September 1st, fishermen in the Black Sea region are wrapping up a season of plentiful fish catches. The fishing season is coming to a close.
The variety of fish caught in abundance by the fishermen who started the season with bonito has diversified the dining tables. While agreeing that the hamsi catch might not have been as bountiful as bonito, they continue to catch plenty of escolar and horse mackerel.
Ünal Karadeniz, the President of the Thursday Fishermen’s Cooperative, stated that they had left behind a good season not only for fishermen but also for fish sellers and citizens. Karadeniz, pointing out the abundance in bonito catches, said, “Perhaps we can say that we had the best bonito catch in the last 10 years. We managed to offer our citizens plenty of bonito this season.”
Highlighting that despite the lack of hamsi, the overall season went well, Karadeniz emphasized that fishermen particularly avoided catching small anchovies this season. Karadeniz pointed out that in the upcoming period, especially small fishermen will focus on catching turbot, saying, “The turbot being caught now is of very good quality. It pleases us. Turbots that were being sold at 1300 liras per kilogram in the middle of the season are now down to 600-700 liras due to a bountiful catch.”
Özay Çakır, who sells fish in the Perşembe district, expressed that they were able to make the sales they desired due to the abundance of fish varieties. Çakır noted that for the first time in the past 7-8 years, there was this much mobilization at the stands and emphasized that fishermen had successfully wrapped up the season with satisfaction.
Furkan Arslantürk also mentioned that they had left behind a season where everyone was satisfied with the abundance of all fish varieties. Erdal Çamaş added that the season had exceeded expectations, and they even sent fish to expatriates living outside the city.