Bonito brings smiles to Black Sea fishermen

After the fishing ban was lifted in Trabzon, Ordu, and Giresun, fishermen set sail with a "Bismillah" and have had a bountiful month, pulling in large quantities of bonito with their nets. Fishermen, who expect even more hunting as October begins and sea water temperatures start to drop, have also begun the countdown for anchovies these days. Ahmet Mutlu, President of the Eastern Black Sea Fisheries Cooperatives Regional Union, said that bonito fishing was the primary focus during the first month of the season, which began on September 1.

Pointing out that bonito fishing continues with the same intensity, Mutlu stated that consumer expectations regarding price have also been met.

Mutlu noted that there are no problems with bonito fishing, adding, "A certain cooling is observed in the weather. I estimate that it has started to drop below 24 degrees now. Hopefully, if it cools down even earlier, we think there will be some certainty regarding anchovies."

Recep Denizer, a commission agent at the Trabzon Wholesale Fish Market, stated that they have left the first month of the new fishing season behind and continued as follows:

"In the assessment of the month, this is the best fishing, the best bonito catch of the last 20 years. We estimate that the bonito has now moved to the Georgian side. We expect it to complete its migration and return within 2-3 days. Currently, all our boats are at the Hopa border. We estimate that it will be abundant again, even more so."

Stating that the sea water temperature has started to drop, Denizer said, "After the sea water temperature drops every day, the scattered bonito will gather and become more abundant."

Denizer said, "I hope the anchovy season goes this way too. The fishing community will be happy and satisfied. Our citizens will also eat affordable, cheap fish. This is our wish."

"THANK GOD, SO FAR, BONITO AND FISHING ARE VERY GOOD"

Serdar Korkmaz, who has been fishing in Trabzon for 47 years, also conveyed that the first signals that bonito fishing would be abundant were evident in July.

Stating that the first bonito began to be seen in July, Korkmaz said, "When it is seen in July, it means that bonito will be abundant. Thank God, so far, bonito and fishing are very good. Citizens are generally eating bonito all the time. We are satisfied, and the buyers are satisfied."

Noting that consumer expectations regarding price have also been met, Korkmaz said, "The bonito hunt will continue a little longer now, that's the outlook. I hope it continues."

FISHERMEN IN ORDU ARE ALSO HOPEFUL FOR THE COMING MONTHS

Fishermen in Ordu are also enjoying the happiness of a bountiful past month. Tarık Arslantürk, who fishes in the Perşembe district, said that the first month of the fishing season went very well.

Expressing that bonito fishing in particular was good, Arslantürk stated that in addition to bonito, horse mackerel and whiting were also caught in large quantities. Arslantürk noted that they are also hopeful for the second and third months of the fishing season.

Mentioning that the bonito is growing larger in the sea now, Arslantürk said, "We are offering medium-sized bonito for 80 liras and large bonito for 100 liras each." Erdal Çamaş stated that the season started very well and that there was fish for sale at the stalls almost every day.

Expressing that for the first 15 days, the fish most offered for sale at the stalls was bonito, Çamaş added that they expect the fishing season to continue well after this.

GİRESUN FISHERMEN ALSO SMILE THANKS TO BONITO

Hamdi Arslan, President of the Giresun Piraziz Fisheries Cooperative, stated that a very good fishing period was experienced within the month. Stating that good bonito fishing was carried out in all regions from the west to the east of the Black Sea throughout the month, Arslan noted that fishing is now concentrated in the eastern regions.

Arslan stated that this density occurred as the fish migrated to the east, and continued his words as follows:

"We expect the fish to move to the western regions starting from the end of October. There is very intense fishing, all boats are hunting bonito, we don't know how much will migrate to the west. Fishing may continue even in late November or even December, but if the fish migrates along the coasts of other countries, the fishing season will be short; however, if it stays along our country's coasts, we expect fishing to continue."

Underlining that it is too early to make an assessment for anchovies, Arslan evaluated, "If there were anchovies in the Black Sea right now, the boats would already be catching them. We won't be able to see Black Sea anchovies anytime soon; we might see them at the end of October."

Hamdi Arslan said that 1 kilogram of bonito is currently sold for an average of 100 liras at the stalls.

News Source: AA