13.10.2026 10:02
Following the drop in prices due to an abundance of bonito, a striking call made by the Istanbul Province Seafood Hunters and Producers Association emerged. The Association stated that offering too much bonito to the market caused economic losses for fishermen and called for a pause in fishing. In the call made during a period when consumers could buy fish more cheaply, the drop in prices was cited as the reason.
The drop in prices due to the bonito abundance experienced this season led to a notable call from fishermen. In the call revealed to have been made by the Istanbul Province Seafood Hunters Producers Association, it was stated that fishermen were experiencing economic losses and a temporary pause in bonito fishing was requested. The announcement, which cited falling fish prices as the reason, also drew attention for consumers' access to affordable fish.
BONITO ABUNDANCE LOWERED PRICES
The Istanbul Province Seafood Hunters Producers Association published an announcement to its members, stating that this season an unprecedented bonito abundance has been experienced in the seas in recent years. The Association argued that due to intensive fishing, the amount of bonito offered to the market increased, which caused prices to fall and fishermen to experience economic losses.
CALL TO FISHERMEN NOT TO FISH
In the statement published by the Association and requesting a pause in fishing until Monday, October 12, 2026 at 08:00, the following statements were included: "In this fishing season, with God's blessing, an unprecedented bonito abundance has been experienced in our seas in recent years. However, due to intensive fishing, the increase in the amount of bonito supplied to the market causes fish prices to fall and our fishermen to experience economic losses.
Our fishermen are fishing more in order to compensate for their losses in the face of falling prices; the increasing catch amount, however, drives our sector into an economically unsustainable vicious cycle by lowering prices even further.
In order to prevent the abundance of our seas from turning into economic loss, to restore market balance, and to ensure that our fishermen receive the reward for their hard work;
We request that our entire sector comply with our demand to temporarily pause bonito fishing from 00:00 tonight until Monday, October 12, 2026 at 08:00.
We believe that implementing this temporary measure is important for reducing our fishermen's economic losses and rebalancing the market.
Our aim is not to stop fishing, but to ensure that our fishermen receive the reward for their labor by protecting the abundance of our seas. Respectfully announced to the public."
LOW PRICES FOR CONSUMERS, LOSS FOR FISHERMEN
In the announcement, the bonito abundance lowering prices was shown as one of the main reasons for fishermen's economic losses. While the decline in fish prices offers consumers the opportunity to shop at more affordable prices, the association management stated that the increased supply negatively affected fishermen's incomes.