01.09.2025 16:27
The leader of the CHP, Özgür Özel, attended the opening of the fishing season in Sinop. Addressing the issues faced by fishermen, Özel stated, "No one is against ASELSAN or ROKETSAN developing a national defense industry. Of course, there will be tests for these as well. But you are saying that you will conduct missile tests while fishermen cannot go out to sea. The fish are scared by those tests and leave their nests."
CHP General Chairman Özgür Özel attended the opening program of the fishing season in Sinop last night.
Speaking at the program held at the City Port, Özel stated that there are deep problems in the fishing sector in Turkey.
Özel noted that these problems are felt throughout Turkey, but are felt more deeply in Sinop, a fishing city, and stated that they are not against the development of the national defense industry, but due to the test firings conducted in Sinop, fishermen have been unable to fish in this area for a long time.
"YOU SAY DON'T GO FISHING ON ONE OF THE TWO DAYS WE WILL TEST"
Claiming that the fish are also scared and leaving their nests due to the sounds of missiles, Özel said:
"No one is against ASELSAN or ROKETSAN developing the national defense industry. Of course, there will be tests for these. But a city like Sinop, which has socioeconomically regressed the most in the last 8 years, needs tourism and to attract tourists. There is nothing else that can be done besides fishing, and you say you will conduct missile tests for 182 days of the year, which is one of every two days, don't go fishing.
"THE FISH ARE SCARED"
Rockets and missiles are passing over the heads of tourists. On the days they don't go out, there is additional damage, and the fish are scared by those sounds and tests, leaving their nests and not nesting. The efficiency of fishing is decreasing. There will definitely be much more appropriate locations far from residential areas where ASELSAN and ROKETSAN can conduct these tests without harming anyone. Our friends have previously expressed this demand, and we want to reiterate it once again from here."
Özel also recalled that a commission was established under the roof of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey to identify the problems of the fishing sector and propose solutions, stating that this commission has identified the problems in this field through their work and shared the proposed solutions with the public.
After the folk dance performance and the prayers, Özel and the accompanying delegation set sail with the fishermen saying "Vira Bismillah."