Fishing season has begun! Fish are abundant at the stalls

With the fishing ban in the Mediterranean lifted on September 15, there is an abundance of fish at the markets. Mersin Fishermen's Association President Adnan Polat stated that the variety of fish on display has begun to increase, adding, "September, October, and November are months of abundance and prosperity for fish, and they are the months when prices are most affordable."

With the lifting of the fishing ban on September 1 in the Marmara, Black Sea, and Aegean regions, the abundance of fish at market stalls has increased, and prices have begun to fall.

Following the lifting of the fishing ban in the Mediterranean on September 15, the variety of fish at stalls in Mersin has also begun to increase. Fishermen recommend the months of September, October, and November for consuming the freshest fish at the most affordable prices, and invite citizens to take advantage of this opportunity.

"ABUNDANCE AND PROSPERITY WILL INCREASE"

Mersin Fishermen's Association President Adnan Polat stated that while the fishing ban in the Mediterranean ended on September 15, they experienced a delay due to cold and stormy weather for 4-5 days. Expressing that fishermen have set sail now that the weather has settled, Polat said, "We are expecting a very bountiful season. Our fish variety has started to arrive. We anticipate that this abundance and prosperity will increase as the weather remains favorable. September, October, and November are months of abundance and prosperity for fish, and they are the months when prices are most affordable. Currently, we are seeing significant drops in our prices. Our red mullet prices; red mullet, the fish of the Mediterranean, starts at 100 liras, and there are red mullets up to 150-200 TL. During the summer season, we were selling this for 400-500 liras. There is a decrease in our sardine prices; sardines that we sold for 100-120 liras are now ranging between 60-70 TL. Our anchovy prices vary between 80-100 TL. Bonito is going for 100 TL. The Mediterranean also has large local bonito; each weighs 2-3 kilos, and we are selling them for 100-150 liras each. We have fish prices suitable for every budget and every pocket. We invite our public to eat fish."

"HIGH DEMAND FOR RED MULLET AND SMELT"

Stating that there is quite a high demand from citizens for red mullet and smelt, Polat said, "Red mullet is a delicious fish. It is also rich in Omega-3. Smelt is a boneless fish; it is a fish with white meat that is boneless and delicious, appealing to everyone from children to the elderly. If you fry smelt in oil, it also doesn't produce an odor. There is also demand for bonito, anchovy, and sardine," he said.

"CHEAP FISH WILL CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER 2 MONTHS"

Fishmonger İsmail Polat stated that there is an abundance of anchovies in the Mediterranean, the Marmara Sea, and the Black Sea. Explaining that this abundance has driven prices down in Mersin, Polat said, "When there is an abundance there, our fish prices here automatically drop. We used to send our red mullet, smelt, horse mackerel, sole, and sea bream to Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, and other provinces. Due to the abundance of bonito and anchovies there, we are not sending these fish to other provinces and are trying to offer them to the public here. Cheap fish will continue for about another 2 months. When the abundance of anchovies and bonito in the Black Sea and Istanbul ends, that is when prices will start to rise."

Describing September, October, and November as the fish season, Polat stated, "Our people can eat affordable fish until the end of November. After November, as the weather starts to get colder, prices automatically rise."