Professor Osman Samsun, a faculty member in the Department of Fisheries at Sinop University’s Faculty of Fisheries, said they expect bonito catches to rise significantly once the fishing season begins Sept. 1, while warning that catching undersized fish should be carefully considered in terms of the future of fish stocks.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Samsun recalled that, ahead of the fishing season, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry this year for the first time allowed small-scale fishermen to catch fish using nets between Aug. 15 and 31, in addition to traditional methods such as handlines and feather rigs.
He said the impact of the decision was immediately visible, with fish stalls quickly filling up with bonito.
Samsun noted that bonito are currently being caught in large numbers, but said the small size of the fish had raised concerns among scientists. “If they had waited another month, the fish that now weigh 200 to 250 grams would have reached 400 to 450 grams,” he said.
Both scientists and fishermen generally expect bonito catches to increase substantially after the season officially opens Sept. 1, Samsun said.
