site.btaTurkiye Welcomes Start of New Fishing Season in September

September is the most eagerly anticipated month for Turkiye’s fishing industry. The new season begins at the start of the month, contributing significantly to the national economy and playing an important role in exports.

Surrounded by four seas, Turkiye has long relied on fishing as a vital sector. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK), in 2004 the country’s marine catch totalled 290,068 tonnes, while seafood exports that year exceeded USD 1.7 billion, reaching around 100 countries, 40 of them EU member states.

Each year, a seasonal ban on fishing is imposed between April 15 and September 1 to help restore marine stocks and ensure sustainable reproduction of species. The lifting of the ban on September 1 therefore marks not only the end of the ban, but also the launch of a new fishing season that boosts both consumer demand and the maritime economy.

The 2025 season was officially opened on Monday morning in Trabzon, the capital of Turkiye’s Black Sea coast and home to the country’s leading seafood cooperative. Large crowds gathered at the port to see off the fishermen on their first voyage of the season.

Similar ceremonies took place in Sinop, another major Black Sea hub, where the leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party, Ozgur Ozel, joined other officials in bidding farewell to the fishing crews. In Istanbul and other coastal cities, send-off events were also held to mark the start of the season.

Speaking to reporters, Turgay Turkyilmaz, Director General of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, noted that 2024 saw the largest catch of Atlantic bonito in 15 years. However, he warned that this season is expected to bring a decline in Atlantic bonito stocks. “We anticipate an abundance of European anchovy and Mediterranean horse mackerel, especially in the Sea of Marmara,” he added, stressing that climate change has become a decisive factor in marine ecosystems, with shifting temperatures altering traditional fish migration routes.

Fishing is a source of livelihood and food security for millions of families in Turkiye. Officially registered professional fishing vessels number around 19,000, though the actual figure is believed to be higher. Statistics put the average monthly wage of a professional fisherman at around TRY 40,700 (EUR 846).

Fresh fish remains a staple on Turkish tables throughout the fishing season. In 2024, consumers bought seafood in large quantities, as it was comparatively cheaper than many other food products. In 2025, however, prices are expected to rise due to higher operating costs, including fuel, according to Istanbul fish markets’ data.