25.01.2026 14:12
There is a remarkable fishing activity taking place in the Sea of Marmara. The bluefin tuna, which was commonly seen in historical photographs but has not been spotted in the Sea of Marmara for many years, has returned to Marmara after approximately 40 years. Due to its rarity, the price of bluefin tuna, which reached up to 8,000 lira in previous years, has decreased to 3,500 lira this season with the increase in catches.
In 2026, the year began with a remarkable fishing activity in the Sea of Marmara. After many years, there was a surge of bonito off the coasts of Istanbul and Tekirdağ.
Recently, a dense fishing activity described as a bonito surge has been observed off the coasts of Istanbul and Tekirdağ. It is reported that a high quantity of bonitos, which are considered a larger size of mackerel and weigh over 3 kilograms each, have been caught, while fishermen express that they have not encountered such large and dense schools of bonitos for many years, stating that such a movement has not been seen at this scale.
"THERE HASN'T BEEN SUCH A SURGE IN 30-40 YEARS" According to the information obtained, there hasn't been such a bonito surge for 30-40 years, while these images are more commonly found in historical photographs of Istanbul. It is estimated that over 500 tons of bonito have been caught since the beginning of the year, and fishermen have generated approximately 250 million lira in revenue during this period. In addition to bonito fishing, the resurgence of species such as tuna, mackerel, and sardines in the Sea of Marmara is considered a positive indicator for the aquatic biodiversity in the region. It is evaluated that fishing policies based on the balance of protection and use, along with effective control mechanisms and production planning, contribute to both the conservation of biodiversity and the increase of the sector's economic strength.
PRICE IS 3,500 LIRA Serdar Can, a board member of the Istanbul Fishery Commission (İSKOMDER), stated that there is a surplus of bonito and that such a surplus has not been seen for many years. Can noted that over 500 tons of bonito have been caught since January 1, saying, "There was no surplus of bonito on the tables before. Previously, the pair was around 8,000 lira, but as of January 1, including today, the pair has dropped to 3,500 lira."
Can mentioned that bonito is generally used for making lakerda, but due to the surplus this year, it is now consumed more on tables, explaining that the fish coming from the Black Sea as mackerel has transitioned to Marmara and then towards the Dardanelles during this period. He pointed out that according to data, mackerel was abundant last year, stating, "This year, horse mackerel is abundant. There has never been such a thing with bonito; this year, there is really a surplus of bonito."
"THERE HAS BEEN AN ENORMOUS SURGE OF BONITO" Captain Doğan Ege, who has been in the fishing business since 1976 and has been continuing this work for 25 years, stated that there has been a bonito surge for the last month. Ege noted that bonito is generally found in deeper waters and is caught in specific areas, saying, "This year it happened around Silivri, Güzelce, Tekirdağ, Marmara Island, and the Kapıdağ Peninsula. There are certain key areas where it gives a catch. It gives a catch at certain times. It lasts for ten days of the year or not, but maybe you can catch it for one day in ten days. But this year, there has been an enormous surge of bonito."
Ege stated that this year's abundance is due to the effects of canal waters, using the following expressions: "According to our experiences, this fish came from the Black Sea. We were expecting it earlier, we were expecting it in November. It gave a catch for two days, but it didn't happen for three days, but with the explosion of canal waters and the increase in flow, this fish completely released itself from the strait to Marmara. Right now, it is giving a very good catch, but as of today, it has come to the point of ending."
Doğan Ege noted that the most caught fish until the end of the season will be anchovy, horse mackerel, and sardines, stating that bonito will also rise to the top ranks in this year's data.