Fish Market Kicks Off Season with Historic Bonito Record
· Milliyet Ekonomi
Following the end of the fishing ban on April 15, fishermen who set sail to the Black Sea returned with a record supply of bonito. On the first day, 59,866 kilograms of fish reached the Istanbul Fish Market.
Abundant Start to the Fishing Season
Following the lifting of the fishing ban, which began on April 15, fishermen have made a strong start to the new season. After a break of approximately five months, boats heading to the Black Sea have returned with a high volume of bonito. Fishermen who went out to sea across Zonguldak landed and presented approximately 50 tons of bonito on the first day. The freshly caught bonito were quickly transported to cities along the Black Sea coast and to metropolitan markets, taking their place on the stalls.
Record Bonito Arrival at Istanbul Market
The volume of products reaching major consumption centers on the first day of the season surpassed previous seasons. According to Istanbul Fish Market data, a total of 59,866 kilograms of bonito were brought to the facility on the first day. This figure becomes significant when examining past data; indeed, only 4,739 kilograms of bonito entered on the first day of 2024, and 6,523 kilograms at the opening of the 2022 season. This high supply has become the first concrete indicator that consumers will be offered abundant products throughout the season.
Data Exceeding Expectations at Gürpınar Market
Hamdi Arpa, General Manager of İSYÖN A.Ş., which operates the Gürpınar Fish Market, stated that the abundance of bonito was also observed in the traditional driftnet fishing in mid-August and described the process as follows:
"We are having a season even more abundant than 2022 and 2024, when bonito were plentiful. In 2022, 58,600 kilograms of fish arrived at the market between August 15-31. In the same period in 2024, the amount of fish arriving at the market was 37,228 kilograms. But this year, the amount of fish arriving at the market in a 15-day period was 155,053 kilos, nearly tripling the most abundant seasons."
Prices on Stalls and Anchovy Expectations
In the retail market, 400-gram bonito are selling for 125-130 TL, while half-kilogram ones are around 150 TL. Hamdi Arpa, General Manager of İSYÖN A.Ş., noted that they predict the fish will reach one kilogram within 15-20 days and that prices will remain in the 100-150 TL range. Selim Erdal, a representative from Kadıköy Özmen Balıkçılık, also stated that interest in the stalls is high, adding that anchovies opened at 400 TL per kilogram, but they expect the price to drop to the 250-300 TL level as supply increases.
Safe Fish Criteria for Consumers
During this period of product abundance, maximum attention must be paid to cold chain rules to ensure consumers can access quality and healthy food. Retail sector representatives advise paying attention to bright and clear eyes, vibrant gills, and a mild sea odor when buying fresh fish. Furthermore, it is emphasized that choosing products that have undergone heavy metal and microbiological analyses, comply with legal fishing sizes, and have traceability via QR codes is essential for food safety.