Black Sea fishermen await anchovy season despite bonito abundance

While the intensity in bonito fishing during the 2026 season in the Black Sea creates abundance at the stalls, fishermen complain about not achieving the earnings they want due to high costs.

While the intensity in bonito fishing this season in the Black Sea was reflected in the stalls as abundance, citizens found the opportunity to consume bonito at affordable prices. Crew Captain Bülent Yılmaz, working on a fishing boat in Ereğli, stated that they have difficulty making a profit due to rising expenses despite the increased amount of fishing. Stating that the bonitos weigh about 1 kilo each and there are 10 fish in a crate, Yılmaz said, "The money for 2 of these goes to the styrofoam box, and the money for 2 goes to diesel and fuel. The equivalent of 2-3 fish remains for us. The price of a crate is 400 liras. Citizens are now full of bonito. We cannot keep up with styrofoam boxes and ice. Even when fish is this abundant, it is not easy to make money."

The abundance of bonito experienced in the Black Sea in the 2026 fishing season was also reflected in the evaluations of sector representatives. While statements made across Turkey indicated that this season is one of the most fertile periods of recent years, some sector representatives stated that they have not encountered such abundance since 1987. Fishermen who have been intensely hunting bonito for days are waiting for the bonito season to end and the anchovy season to start.