New Fishing Season Kicks Off in Samsun, Black Sea
· Tarım Pusulası
The 2026-2027 fishing season in Samsun officially commenced with a ceremony at the Canik Fishermen's Shelter, as boats embarked on their first voyages into the Black Sea.
New Fishing Season Begins in the Black Sea
The 2026-2027 Black Sea Fishing Season Opening Event was held in Samsun at the Canik Fishermen's Shelter, with significant participation from protocol members and fishing families. Following the official ceremony, fishing boats set sail into the Black Sea waters for their first voyage of the new season. Speaking at the event, Samsun Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, Kemal Yılmaz, stated that the province holds a strategic position in Turkey's aquatic products sector due to its strong fleet, production capacity, processing facilities, and high export potential.
Samsun's Robust Fishing Fleet
According to data from the Samsun Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, the province has 5 fishermen's shelters and 2 dry docks in the districts of Terme, Canik, 19 Mayıs, Alaçam, and Yakakent. Of the 641 registered licensed fishing vessels in the province, 498 operate in the seas and 141 in inland waters. The fleet includes 197 vessels measuring 12 meters and above, and the sector employs 4,335 licensed professional fishermen and 4,550 citizens with amateur fishing licenses.
Record Figures in Aquatic Product Production
Explaining the province's production strength, Kemal Yılmaz stated that according to the records of the Samsun Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, a total of 73,357 tons of aquatic products were produced in 2025. Of this amount, 58,956 tons were obtained through fishing and 14,401 tons through aquaculture. While fishing accounted for 80.4% and aquaculture for 19.6% of the production, a significant portion of species, primarily anchovy, along with bonito, whiting, horse mackerel, red mullet, and sprat, were processed into value-added products.
$122 Million in Exports to Global Markets
In 2025, 18,789 tons of fish, fishmeal, and fish oil were exported from Samsun, generating $122 million in foreign currency revenue. The products were sent to global markets including EU countries, Japan, Russia, South Korea, the USA, and China. Touching upon the multifaceted nature of the sector, Samsun Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Kemal Yılmaz made the following assessment:
"Fisheries is a major sector that contributes significantly to Samsun's economy through its production, processing industry, transportation, exports, and employment."
Call for Sustainability and Support Message
Emphasizing the need to conserve resources, Samsun Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Kemal Yılmaz drew attention to the fishing season rules:
"Today, as much as we think about how much fish we will catch from the sea, we must also consider how much fish we will leave in our seas tomorrow. Leaving juvenile fish in the sea is actually leaving our future in the sea. Sustainable fishing is our collective responsibility, from our fishermen to consumers, from our operators to sector representatives."
Stating that Ministry support continues for small-scale fishermen and aquaculturists, Kemal Yılmaz addressed the fishermen with the following words:
"If we protect the sea, we protect our fishermen; if we protect our fishermen, we protect our future."
Samsun Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Kemal Yılmaz shared his season's wishes:
"Have a good season, good luck!"