Abundance and Price Drops at Istanbul Fish Stalls for the New Season

With the opening of the fishing season in the seas on September 1, 2026, a noticeable abundance began to be experienced at fish stalls in Istanbul. Record sales figures were reached in the first week of the season at the Gürpınar Seafood Market.

Record Sales at Gürpınar Market

At the Gürpınar Seafood Market, operated by İSYÖN, an affiliate of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, 1,850 tons of fish were offered for sale in the first week of the season. This amount reached approximately twice the level of the same period last year.

Bonito and Anchovy Stand Out

Bonito and anchovy species stood out by far in the sales at the Gürpınar Seafood Market. While 904 tons of bonito, constituting 48 percent of the total fish amount, were sold, the share of anchovy was 552 tons, accounting for 29 percent of the fish offered for sale.

Bonito Prices Decline

Bonito, one of the striking products of the season, attracted intense consumer interest due to the abundance. Bonito prices in neighborhood markets and fish halls in Istanbul range between 100 and 250 liras depending on their size.

At the Üsküdar Fishermen's Bazaar, some tradesmen sold 4 bonitos for 500 liras, while the price of a single bonito in supermarkets dropped down to 60-70 liras. Fishermen draw attention to this abundance in the first days of the season.

Discounts in Other Fish Species

The increase in the supply of bonito positively reflected on the price tags of other fish species as well. Norwegian salmon, which was previously 850 liras per kilogram, dropped down to 550 liras, seabream to 300 liras, and seabass to 600 liras.

Future Expectations

Fishermen and industry experts state that with air temperatures dropping in the coming days, the amount of catch in the seas could increase even further. If this increase in the catch amount continues, prices are expected to drop further.