01.09.2026 09:21
With the end of the 4.5-month fishing ban in Istanbul, fishermen began the new season by saying "Vira Bismillah." As the first nets of boats that set out to sea at midnight from Sarıyer Kireçburnu yielded horse mackerel, fishermen expect an abundance of bonito and young bluefish this season. Istanbul Deputy Governor Mustafa Kaya expressed his wish that the increase in catch quantity would be positively reflected in fish prices.
Fishermen returned to the sea as of September 1. Boats that completed their preparations in Istanbul left the ports at 00:00, and horse mackerel stood out in the first catch of the season. Fishermen expect the amount of catch to increase as the sea water temperature drops.
4.5-MONTH FISHING BAN ENDED
In Istanbul, the fisheries season began after the 4.5-month fishing ban. A program was held on the Sarıyer Kireçburnu coast for the season's opening. The program was attended by Istanbul Deputy Governor Mustafa Kaya, Istanbul Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Suat Parıldar, AK Party Istanbul Deputy Adem Yıldırım, fishermen, and citizens. Fishermen, who prepared their boats, nets, and equipment, set out to sea saying "Vira Bismillah" as the clock struck 00:00.
"THIS COUNTRY ALSO NEEDS CHEAP FISH"
Istanbul Deputy Governor Mustafa Kaya wished the fishermen an accident-free and bountiful season, saying:
"May your voyages be bountiful and plentiful; may your nets be full, God willing. We await the fish coming from you. The more fish you catch, the cheaper we will hopefully eat those fish at our tables. This country also needs cheap fish. Both healthy and natural."
Kaya concluded his speech with the words, "I wish our fishing season to be auspicious and fortunate. Vira Bismillah, good luck! May God open your way and fortune."
HORSE MACKEREL CAME FROM THE FIRST NETS
Ata Akbulut, one of the fishermen who set out to sea in the first hours of the new season, stated that their first catch was horse mackerel. Akbulut said, "We had some horse mackerel in our share. It's a nice and pleasant fish, we like it. We are not bonito fishing right now, we started the season with horse mackerel." Stating that the sea water temperature is slightly higher than normal conditions, Akbulut said that with a temperature drop of 2-3 degrees, fish will gather in schools, and this could increase the amount of catch.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR BONITO
One of the most important expectations of fishermen for the new season is an abundance of bonito. Ata Akbulut stated that anchovies were abundant last year, but they expect a different picture this season, saying, "So this year, bonito will be more abundant compared to anchovies and last year." Halil İbrahim Akbulut also said it was too early to make a definitive assessment in the first hours of the season. Akbulut said, "Right now, there are both horse mackerel and bonito in the sea. The impressions we got from the longliner friends who went out to sea earlier indicate that bonito is very abundant this year. Hopefully, that will be the case."
ABUNDANCE EXPECTED IN BLUEFISH ALSO
Fisherman Ünal Karadeniz stated that they caught horse mackerel in the first catch and said, "We started the season with horse mackerel. They say bluefish and bonito will be abundant this year. Hopefully, if bluefish is abundant, it will be better for us." Istanbul Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Suat Parıldar also noted that the city has over 14,000 fishermen, 48 fisheries cooperatives, and 57 fishing shelters, emphasizing the importance of sustainable fishing.