Ministries Agree: 22 Anchorage Areas Opened to Fishermen
· AA Tarım & Ekonomi
As a result of joint work by the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 22 anchorage areas connected to 16 ports have been made available for fishermen's use during the 2026-2027 fishing season.
Anchorage Areas Opened for Fishing
A new era has begun at sea with an official letter sent by the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs to port authorities. Following evaluations, previously closed ship anchorage areas have been opened for fisheries for the 2026-2027 fishing season, starting September 1. Fishing activities have been permitted in 22 anchorage areas connected to 16 ports in the Black Sea, Marmara, Aegean, and Mediterranean Seas, considering navigation, life, property, and environmental safety, as well as ship traffic density.
Navigation Safety and Radio Obligation
The published directive stated that vessels engaged in fishing must fully comply with maritime and navigation safety rules. It has been made mandatory for fishing vessels to keep very high-frequency marine radios operational at all times and to continuously monitor traffic channels. Furthermore, the traceability of identity and location information will be ensured for ships equipped with Automatic Identification System devices. Maneuvering areas of anchored ships will be kept clear, unsafe approaches to these vessels will be avoided, and nets will not be laid in a manner that could contact chains or propellers.
Marine Cleanliness and Equipment Rules
It was requested that all nets used after fishing activities be completely removed from the sea and no equipment be left in the water. While discarding waste such as buoys, floats, ropes, and net fragments into the sea is prohibited, it has been decided that the buoys to be used must be clearly visible both day and night. Fishing will be immediately suspended in cases of deteriorating meteorological conditions, increased ship traffic, or when safety risks arise. Vessels will fully comply with the audible and visual warnings from ships in the area.
Eight-Month Study Between Ministries
İlhan Üze, Head of the Fisheries and Control Department at the General Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture Products of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, recalled the amendment made to the Port Regulations in November 2024 by the two ministries and made the following assessment:
"Due to the width and vast coverage of port anchorage areas, we frequently received requests from our fishermen that these areas narrowed their fishing grounds and that these areas should be opened for fishing."
Üze stated that they have been conducting joint work with the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs for approximately 8 months.
Fishermen's Fishing Grounds Are Expanding
Touching upon the expanded scope of the work, Head of Fisheries and Control Department İlhan Üze described the ongoing process as follows:
"Our work related to other anchorage areas, considering factors such as ship movements, depth, distance, and conflicts with fisheries restrictions, is also continuing. We plan to open them for our fishermen's use as we reach agreements."
Summarizing the effects of the regulation on the fisheries sector, İlhan Üze concluded his remarks as follows:
"The announcement of these anchorage areas and their readiness for the season was made possible through the joint work of the two general directorates. In terms of fishing activities, we have coastal restrictions under the Fisheries Law, which are regulations beneficial to our fishermen. Apart from these, there are areas restricted to fishermen for navigation safety and other safety requirements, such as certain security zones and port anchorage areas. In areas with many facilities and intensive port activities, there is a shrinkage in fishing grounds. This regulation means that fishermen are regaining their fishing grounds."