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On Sept. 1, Istanbul’s fishermen marked the end of the summer fishing ban with the traditional call of “Vira bismillah”, setting out to sea and returning with the first catches of the new season. The four-and-a-half-month ban, which began on June 15 to protect marine stocks, has now been lifted, filling stalls across the city with fresh fish once again.
Early signs suggest that this year will be a strong season for anchovy, horse mackerel and bluefish, while bonito, a seasonal favorite, is arriving in very low numbers.
At Karakoy Fish Market, vendor Mehmet Karlıdag noted that the season opened well, but bonito was nearly absent: “Normally by mid-August, gypsy bonito would appear, but this year they’re nowhere to be seen. Instead, there’s plenty of anchovy, horse mackerel, whiting, and even red mullet. We expect more bluefish and sarikanat (a smaller variety of bluefish) in the coming weeks.”
Karlidag added that the scarcity of bonito could actually benefit smaller fish stocks: “It’s nature’s rule—the big fish eat the small fish. One bonito can consume 2-3 kilos of anchovies. With fewer bonito, smaller fish can flourish, and that means more abundance for consumers.”
The return of large boats to the seas is already easing prices. Just two days before the ban ended, anchovies and horse mackerel were selling for ₺400–₺500 ($9.72-$12.15) per kilo. Today, prices have already dropped by half, and fishermen expect them to fall further—possibly down to ₺150, ₺100, or even ₺50 per kilo in the coming weeks.
At present, Istanbul stalls are offering anchovy and horse mackerel for around ₺200–₺250 per kilo, while bonito, where available, is selling at ₺300–₺350 per fish. Other species, such as sardine, red mullet, and whiting, are also available, with vendors noting that two kilos of fish can easily feed a family of six.
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