Ministry Renews Quotas and Fishing Rules for Fisheries

September 18, 2026 · bolgeninsesigazetesi.com

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has imposed quotas on horse mackerel to protect aquatic resources and set the opening date for the anchovy and horse mackerel fishing season in the Black Sea as September 15.

New Fishing Season for Horse Mackerel and Anchovy

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has implemented comprehensive regulations for commercial and amateur fishing activities to protect aquatic resources and ensure the sustainability of fisheries. In line with the new decisions, it has been decided to apply official quotas to horse mackerel fishing as part of production planning. While restrictions have been placed on the use of horse mackerel in the fishmeal and oil industry, the start date for anchovy and horse mackerel fishing with purse seine and midwater trawl in the Black Sea has been set as September 15. Furthermore, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the minimum size limit for horse mackerel, previously 13 centimeters, has been reduced to 12 centimeters. Anchovy fishing with midwater trawl between the Bulgarian border and Zonguldak Baba Burnu has been restricted to the hours between 3:00 PM and 9:00 AM.

Rules for Sprat and Sole

In the new fishing legislation, species-specific limitations have been expanded, and critical timelines for sprat, sole, and sea urchin fishing have been announced. According to the Ministry's regulation, obtaining a special permit has become mandatory for sprat fishing between April 15 and May 15, and this fishing activity has been limited to the hours between 5:00 AM and 8:00 PM. For sole fishing, the closed season has been updated to February 1 to March 14, and it has been decided that the mesh size of the nets used should be 72 millimeters. To protect the marine ecosystem, a time ban has been imposed on sea urchin fishing between May 1 and October 31.

Protection Areas and Zone Regulations

With the decisions published by the Ministry, the status of certain areas has been redefined to protect marine ecosystems and sensitive aquatic product stocks. The Üç Adalar area, located in the Kemer district of Antalya, has been declared an aquatic product protection zone and placed under protection. While fishing with midwater trawl is permitted outside of 12 nautical miles in some areas, the coordinates of prohibited zones have been updated. Steps have been taken to expand the fishing grounds for small-scale coastal fishermen, and lists of prohibitions and permissions for the fishing of certain species have been redefined.

Permits and Prohibitions in Amateur Fishing

The regulation that came into effect has directly changed not only commercial activities but also the rules for amateur fishing in marine and inland waters. A permit requirement has been introduced for citizens engaging in amateur fishing from vessels in the seas, and it has been announced that individuals who have reached the age of 15 can obtain an amateur fishing license. Bluefin tuna fishing has been made subject to permission, while amateur fishing by going onto floating islands to protect sensitive balances in inland waters has been completely banned. New safety restrictions have been imposed on amateur fishing activities in the traffic separation schemes of the Istanbul and Çanakkale straits to ensure navigational safety.

Sustainable Aquatic Products and Inspections

Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry emphasized that the primary goal of all these regulations is to maintain the natural balance in the marine ecosystem and to pass on fish stocks to future generations. Special rules determined for amateur fishing tourism in the Istanbul Strait have also come into effect. It has been announced that sector stakeholders and amateur anglers must strictly adhere to fishing dates, time limits, minimum size limits, and mandatory permit requirements.

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