While the abundance of bonito in the Black Sea this season has driven prices down at fish markets, fishermen's representatives have issued a warning regarding the ecosystem. Atıf Malkoç, President of the Samsun Regional Fisheries Cooperatives Union, stated that bonito prices have fallen to as low as 30 TL during this period of abundance and emphasized that the schools in the sea must be caught as soon as possible.
According to Malkoç, the schools of bonito that migrated toward the eastern Black Sea have begun moving back toward the Bosphorus. Noting that bonito feed on whiting, horse mackerel, young bluefish, crabs, and other crustaceans, Malkoç said, "This bonito must be caught from the sea as soon as possible. Because if it is not caught, it will leave nothing else in the sea for the fishermen or anything else."
Stating that individual bonito are being sold for between 30 TL and 50 TL due to the abundance, Malkoç expressed that this situation is a significant opportunity for the public. Malkoç emphasized that the fish should be made available to the public at affordable prices.
"WE ARE LAGGING BEHIND IN FISH CONSUMPTION"
Stating that some unions argue that fishing should be reduced, Malkoç said they do not agree with this view. Expressing that quotas should be applied, Malkoç pointed out that per capita fish consumption in Turkey is low, saying, "We need to get people used to eating fish. We are very far behind in fish consumption globally."
Malkoç recalled that in years past, when fish were abundant, they were preserved by salting. Stating that bonito can also be stored at home, Malkoç said that traditional consumption methods such as salted bonito and dried fish (çiroz) could be re-evaluated.
Arguing that the amount of bonito this season is higher than in previous periods of abundance, Malkoç noted that warm weather has also been a factor. Saying that bonito have been seen along a wide line from Giresun to Hopa in the Eastern Black Sea, Malkoç stated that the schools will return to the west.
"THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY YEAR"
Stating that bonito is not a long-lived fish, Malkoç said that as the sea cools, the fish will grow and their speed will decrease, which will make catching them easier. Expressing that cold storage facilities are full, Malkoç called on citizens to buy and store the affordable bonito.
Describing the current abundance as "a blessing from God," Malkoç said, "This does not happen every year. Our people should buy these and store them at home. Bonito can be eaten at any time."
News Source: 12punto
