Crowds Surge in Black Sea Region as Bonito Prices Drop
Thanks to the abundance in the region, one-kilogram bonitos dropped down to 90 TL, and citizens flocked to the stalls to stock up for the winter.
With the abundance of bonito across the Black Sea, a major drop in fish prices has been recorded. Sold at 150 TL for 300 grams at the start of the season, bonito is now finding buyers at 90 TL for a one-kilogram size.
Abundance of Bonito Lowers Prices
The abundance of bonito continuing throughout the season in the Black Sea was directly reflected in prices, with figures retreating significantly.
While 300-gram bonitos found buyers at 150 TL in the early days of the season, today the price of one-kilogram bonitos has dropped down to 90 TL each.
Citizens Flocked to Stock Up
Along with the drop in prices, citizens showed intense interest in fish markets both for daily consumption and winter freezer preparations.
Amid the activity at the stalls, some individuals were seen purchasing fifty bonitos at once to stock up.
Sellers Explain the Crowds and Preparation Issues
Fishmonger Onurcan Köse stated that bonito is practically free at its current price and is selling out rapidly.
Köse expressed that they occasionally face difficulties during the cleaning stage because customers do not know the differences between slices and fillets.
Current Prices of Other Fish Species
Alongside bonito, the prices of other seafood products at the stalls have also become clear and been offered to buyers.
Whiting is sold at 200 TL, red mullet and horse mackerel at 150 TL, bluefish (çinakop) and salmon at 250 TL, and sea bass and sea bream at 450 TL.
Citizens' Views on Prices
While some find fish prices very reasonable compared to other meat products, others argue they should be even cheaper in the Black Sea.
Sellers, on the other hand, emphasized that current prices will not drop any further and that a kilogram of fish remains cheaper than fuel.