11.11.2026 00:50
The amount of bonito landed in Istanbul between September 1 and November 10 increased from 75 tons in the same period last year to 8,250 tons this year. Istanbul Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Suat Parıldar said, 'There is abundance and plenty in our seas,' and noted that the increase was reflected on tables. In the new season, 3,340 inspections were carried out and administrative fines of 997,000 lira were imposed.
In Istanbul, a remarkable increase occurred in bonito fishing during the 2026-2027 fishing season. While 75 tons of bonito were landed from landing points in our province between September 1 and November 10 last year, this year the amount reached 8,250 tons in the same period.
Istanbul has a total of 2,050 registered fishing vessels, of which 1,842 are 12 meters and below, 130 are between 12 and 30 meters, and 78 are 30 meters and above. With its 661-kilometer coastline and the Istanbul Strait, through which migratory fish pass twice a year, Istanbul is among Turkey's provinces of strategic importance in fisheries and aquaculture.
According to TÜİK's 2025 data, of approximately 378,000 tons of sea fish and products caught across Turkey, 24,800 tons were obtained from fishing grounds within the borders of Istanbul province. Thus, Istanbul accounted for approximately 6.5 percent of the country's seafood catch.
Within the scope of Fisheries Law No. 1380, the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry continues inspections at sea, at landing points, on transport routes, at processing facilities, and at sales locations on a 24/7 basis.
Since September 1, when the new fishing season began, 3,340 inspections have been carried out. Due to violations of the legislation, 15 administrative actions were applied and an administrative fine of 997,000 TL was imposed.
8,250 TONS OF BONITO LANDED THIS YEAR
In an assessment to an AA reporter during inspections off Beykoz, Istanbul Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Suat Parıldar stated that Istanbul is a valuable and important province in terms of fishing and fisheries, and said that it has a 661-kilometer coastline in both the Black Sea and the Marmara.
Pointing out that approximately 15 percent of Turkey's fishing fleet is in Istanbul, Parıldar said, “Together with nearly 14,250 fishermen holding commercial fishing certificates, and together with nearly 2,050 licensed vessels, we have a strong fleet.”
Pointing out that the seas have been very generous this year, Parıldar assessed, “Especially last year, between September 1 and November 10, there was a harvest of approximately 75 tons of bonito. This year, between September 1 and November 10, 8,250 tons of bonito were caught. Thanks be to God, the generosity and abundance of our seas this year have flowed to consumers' tables along with our other agricultural and livestock products.”
Emphasizing the importance of protecting the ecosystem, ensuring sustainability, and enabling marine aquatic creatures to continue their life cycles, Parıldar stated that inspection activities are carried out 24/7 by assigned fisheries engineers and technical staff.
FINE EXCEEDING 12.6 MILLION LIRA
Suat Parıldar noted that they have carried out more than 12,500 fisheries inspections from January 1 to today, and said, “In these inspection activities, we also applied penal actions exceeding 12.6 million for 188 cases in which we detected noncompliance.”
Stating that Istanbul is on the migration route of fish that migrate twice a year through the Istanbul Strait, Parıldar made the statement, “This is a great blessing for both our fishermen and our seas. In order to preserve this blessing as well, we are making intensive efforts together with our fishermen and consumers.”
Mentioning that they perform an important task for removing ghost nets from both our seas and inland waters, Parıldar said, “From 2015 to today, we have scanned an area exceeding 6.2 million square meters in the sea, in our lakes, and in our inland waters. From this area exceeding 6.2 million, we also removed nearly 1.3 million square meters of ghost nets from these environments.”
14.5 MILLION LIRA SUPPORT FOR FISHERMEN
Suat Parıldar, noting that more than 25 million TL in support payments was made in total to fishermen affected by mucilage last year within the process of registering and supporting fishing, used the statement, “This year, we transferred approximately 14.5 million TL in support payments to the accounts of more than 1,400 fishermen so that they can effectively continue their activities.”
Stating that they would also carry out an inspection activity today, Parıldar spoke as follows: “There is abundance and plenty in our seas. Our fishermen are also bringing these abundant and plentiful products, especially the bonito that has increased during this period, to our tables. At the same time, the bluefish season has now begun. In a little while, together with our team, we will check on site the fishing gear, whether the size limit in fishing is being complied with, and whether the seasonal bans are being complied with.”
Recalling that an effective amendment was made to Fisheries Law No. 1380 in 2020, Parıldar made the statement, “From that day to today, we also confiscated 271 vessels that we determined had been carrying out fishing activities in violation of Law No. 1380 and transferred their ownership to the public. Because sustainability is very important to us, protecting the ecosystem of aquatic creatures is very important, and giving them the opportunity to reproduce at least once a year is also very important. In this respect, we are carrying out intensive work. Together with our colleagues, we will continue these inspection activities 24/7, day and night.”