Bonito Brightens Ankara Fish Market Stalls
· Dünya Gazetesi
With the start of the fishing season, Ankara's Ulus Market is experiencing a bonanza of bonito on its stalls, with vendors noting that prices remain at the same level as last year.
Bonito Abundance at Ulus Market
With the opening of the fishing season, activity on fish stalls has reached its peak. In the capital city of Ankara, which does not have a coastline, there is a high volume of customers, especially at the historic Ulus Market and other fish selling points. Şaban Akbaş, a fish vendor with 38 years of experience in the sector, shared his professional background with the following words:
We are involved with fish, we have lived among fish, we have grown up among fish.
Evaluating the fishing yield and the situation in the seas, fish vendor Şaban Akbaş drew attention to the abundance of bonito:
The fish season was good last year too, and there were many small fish. This year, there are more large fish. The Black Sea Bonito season has begun. Now there are many bonitos; last year there were many anchovies.
Prices Remain Stable on Stalls
Stating that the products are being sold at last year's prices in the new fishing season, Ulus Market fish vendor Şaban Akbaş detailed the current market situation with the following words:
There are no price increases this season. A bonito costs 100 Lira, and one weighs about half a kilogram. Anchovies are 100 Lira per kilogram, horse mackerel is 100 Lira per kilogram. Whiting is 100 Lira per kilogram, red mullet is 100 Lira per kilogram. So, the current prices are like this and continue. Fish are cheap and fresh this year. The season started well. Currently, the highest demand is for bonito; people love bonito the most.
This allows fresh aquatic products to reach consumer tables at affordable prices.
Ankara's Advantage in Fish Distribution
Fish vendor Şaban Akbaş, stating that the capital is a distribution center for seafood, explained the city's logistical strength:
Since there is no sea, the freshest fish come here. Why do they come to Ankara? All the seas in Turkey's regions ship directly to Ankara, and distribution starts from here. The freshest fish are in Ankara. I would say it's cheap, fresh, and high quality here. These are what matter.
Fish vendor Benli, emphasizing the importance of logistical speed for product freshness, highlighted the strength of the distribution network with the following statements:
Istanbul is six hours away, Samsun is six hours away. Everything is in Ankara within six hours. Turkey's freshest fish are in Ankara.