Fishermen Set Sail with 'Vira Bismillah' as New Season Begins
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With the end of the 4.5-month fishing ban across Turkey, fishermen have returned to the seas. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı announced a record production of 1 million 37 thousand tons in aquaculture.
New Fishing Season Kicks Off in Izmir
With the conclusion of the 4.5-month general fishing ban across Turkey, fishermen have set sail for the 2026-2027 Fisheries Season. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı joined the excitement at the season opening ceremony held at the Güzelbahçe Yalı Fisherman's Shelter in Izmir.
Speaking at the opening, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı evaluated the sector's potential with the following words:
"We have 1,600 large-scale fishing vessels experiencing this excitement in our country. Therefore, I want to state that today we are not just opening a season. On this occasion, we are reaffirming our belief in the future of our fisheries, the sustainability of our seas, and the production power of this country."
Historic Production Record in Aquaculture
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Turkey has reached historic levels in aquaculture production. Emphasizing the sector's vital role in food supply security and export capacity, Minister Yumaklı stated that Turkey has risen to a regional leadership position with its modern fleet and qualified human resources.
Sharing the economic scale and record production volume achieved by the sector, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı said:
"This is also a production area of great importance to our culture. Therefore, while protecting today's labor, we must also secure the production power of the future. Today, Turkey is not alone in aquaculture. We have a Turkey that is a regional leader with its modern fleet, qualified human resources, technology, and export capacity. The numbers speak for themselves. Last year, we broke the record in the history of our Republic with a production of exactly 1 million 37 thousand tons. We have businessmen exporting to nearly 100 countries. The foreign currency we have brought to our country through both cultivation and production is $2.3 billion. There are 250,000 people working in this sector. I thank each of them. As the Ministry, it is of course our duty to stand by them by growing this sweat and labor, paving the way for the sector, and preparing it for tomorrow's world. That's why I want to reiterate that we do not make our decisions with sudden reflexes. We make decisions that calculate the future of the sector, meticulously crafted, with a proactive approach. I want to state that we plan every step as a whole, from production planning to financing, from inspection to export."
Financing and Support Provided to the Sector
Ministry officials pointed to an abundance of bonito this season and emphasized that the principle of 'conservation and utilization balance' is strictly applied to protect the natural balance of the seas.
Providing information on public support and financing opportunities offered to producers, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı stated:
"To ensure the continuation of this abundance, let's state a rule loudly that everyone knows, our motto is the balance of conservation and utilization. With this understanding, we do not manage the sector solely by imposing fishing bans during certain periods. We enable them to produce by providing support under suitable, modern conditions to our aquaculture sector. In the last 24 years, the support provided to this sector has been approximately 70 billion lira. We have also provided 70 billion lira in interest-subsidized financing to 61,000 fishermen. We have supported our fishermen who invest in the sector by increasing the operational credit limit from 15 million lira to 40 million lira. This support will continue to increase. With our 'Century of Turkey' vision, we will collectively bring our aquaculture sector's extremely important potential to where it should be. As an indicator of this vision, the Turkish fisheries sector has now left its mark from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, from the coasts of Africa to Somalia."
Inspection and Legislation for Sustainability
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry data, inspection activities at sea are carried out continuously, with a total of 207,000 inspections conducted last year. It was stated that the controls aim to protect the rights of fishermen who fish in accordance with the rules.
Referring to the report prepared by the Parliamentary Research Commission and new legislative efforts, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı said:
"Last year, we conducted 207,000 inspections. I want to state that our aim in inspections and controls is not to find errors and mistakes and impose penalties. On the contrary, our entire purpose here is to protect the rights of fishermen who do their job correctly. In this regard, a research commission was established in Parliament, as you know. Our Parliamentary Research Commission, which traveled the entire coastline from Artvin to Hatay and met with our fishermen for about a year, prepared a report, which we read in detail. It is now up to us to translate this into legal regulations. All technical work for the Fisheries Law has been completed. This strong legal infrastructure, prepared by considering scientific data and all the needs of the field, will, I believe, be implemented in the coming period with the appreciation of our Parliament."
Full Support for Producers and Goals
Speaking at the opening ceremony, AK Party Secretary General and Izmir Deputy Eyüp Kadir İnan stated that they will work to remove administrative obstacles faced by producers and will always stand by the fishermen.
Wishing the fishermen a fruitful season, AK Party Secretary General and Izmir Deputy Eyüp Kadir İnan addressed the producers with the following words:
"If, while seeking your fortune at sea, you encounter a barrier, a document, a rule that tries to make your job difficult, do not worry, do not be upset. Because I want to emphasize that we, along with our esteemed governor, deputies, provincial chairmen, chamber presidents, and most importantly, our minister, are always and always on the side of those who produce and our producers. Our primary duty is to break down these walls and obstacles and clear your path. Just keep casting your nets, keep sowing seeds, keep producing. Therefore, I sincerely wish that your nets are always full during the days, weeks, and months you spend in pursuit of your fortune at sea, and that these nets overflow. Thus, both your earnings will be abundant and fruitful, and we will collectively enable our citizens, our city, our fellow citizens to eat plenty of fish at affordable prices. May the new fishing season bring abundance to Izmir, the Aegean, and our country."
Symbolic Fish Release into the Sea Ceremony
Izmir Governor Süleyman Elban wished for a fruitful and profitable season during the program, while Turgay Türkyılmaz, General Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, provided information on technical processes. Izmir deputies Mahmut Atilla Kaya, Yaşar Kırkpınar, and Ceyda Bölünmez Çankırı also delivered speeches at the ceremony.
After the speeches were completed, symbolic fry were released into the sea with prayers, accompanied by protocol members and participants. At the end of the program, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı went to the captain's cabin of a fishing vessel and addressed the fishermen setting sail via megaphone, wishing them 'vira bismillah' for the new season.