The 31-2023 fishing season, which was opened with a ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at Istanbul Poyrazköy Fishing Shelter on the night of August 2023, 2024, ended today (April 15). Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı stated that the 2023-2024 fishing season was fruitful in terms of catching many species, especially anchovy.
Yumaklı made evaluations about the fishing season, which started on September 1, 2023 and ended on Monday, April 15, 2024.
Emphasizing that the hunting ban in the seas, which will start on April 15, will include fishing vessels (purse seines and trawlers) engaged in industrial hunting, Yumaklı stated that small-scale fishermen engaged in coastal fishing are exempt from this ban and can continue fishing.
"In addition, fishermen who want to continue their economic activities during this period, which will cover 4,5 months, will be able to fish with purse seine and trawl methods in international waters other than territorial waters, provided that they obtain permission from the Ministry and comply with the determined rules." Using the statement, Minister Yumaklı made the following evaluation:
“The 2023-2024 fishing season was fruitful in terms of catching many species, especially anchovy. Hunting products, which took their place on our people's tables, were also extensively exported and provided foreign currency inflow to our country.
"During the time when the hunting ban is in place, there is an opportunity to easily meet the fish needs of the public throughout the summer season with the fish caught and bred by small-scale fishermen."
“A TOTAL OF 171 THOUSAND 219 INSPECTIONS WERE CARRIED OUT LAST YEAR”
Yumaklı has been established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in order to ensure sustainable fishing and to protect the rights of fishermen who hunt legally, in seas, inland waters, landing points, transportation routes, fishing vessels, fish markets, fish meal-oil factories and retail outlets. /7 pointed out that inspections were carried out.
Underlining that a total of 171 thousand 219 inspections were carried out last year in this context, Yumaklı said that 593 tons of fishery products obtained through illegal hunting were confiscated, an administrative fine of 6 million 527 thousand 74 liras was imposed on 12 thousand 121 people and workplaces, and 78 ships that did not fish in accordance with the rules were seized. He shared the information that its ownership was transferred to the public.
NEW RULES WILL BE APPLIED IN THE NEW SEASON
Minister Yumaklı reminded that the communiqués that determine the rules regarding commercial and amateur aquaculture hunting, which remain in force for 4 years, will expire as of August 31, 2024 and said:
"For the next season, the balance of protection and use will be determined by taking into account the report to be received from the GNAT Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Commission, the reports to be prepared by the 'Scientific and Technical Advisory Board' composed of scientists specialized in aquaculture, together with the opinions of all stakeholders, taking into account climate change and sectoral developments." New rules based on sustainability will be implemented.
"In order to maintain the aquatic richness of our country in a sustainable manner, taking into account scientific, environmental, economic and social factors, it is important for the future of fish and fishermen to comply with the prohibitions imposed during the breeding and growth period of fish."