The 8-month hunting ban in Lake Eğirdir has been lifted, leading to an abundance of crayfish

With the lifting of the fishing ban in Lake Eğirdir, one of Turkey’s important crayfish (freshwater lobster) production basins, crayfish hunting has begun. In Lake Eğirdir, crayfish hunting started with the lifting of the fishing ban. Covering 20% of Turkey’s 490-ton crayfish production, fishermen set out to the lake for crayfish hunting with the lifted fishing ban in Lake Eğirdir.
The 8-month crayfish fishing ban in Lake Eğirdir, aimed at strengthening crayfish stocks and ensuring a more abundant and profitable fishing season, ended on July 1st. In the morning hours, fishermen who are members of the Eğirdir Central Fisheries Cooperative bring the crates they brought with them on their boats to the cooperative center. Crayfish over 10.5 centimeters are taken here, placed back in crates, and sent to factories for export.
Ayhan Küçükköse, the President of the Eğirdir Central Fisheries Cooperative, stated that this year there is an abundance of crayfish. He mentioned that the crayfish season for 2024 has started as of July 1st. There are 450 boats in Lake Eğirdir, and nearly 1000 families make a living from crayfish.
“It is bought at 135 TL per kilogram”. Küçükköse said, “One of our hunters catches crayfish weighing approximately 40-60 kilograms. We pay 135 TL per kilogram.” In recent years, due to climate change, Lake Eğirdir has receded by about 4 meters, and excessive vegetation has occurred on the lake.
Crayfish caught from Lake Eğirdir are exported to Northern European countries, as stated by Ayhan Küçükköse, the President of the Eğirdir Central Fisheries Cooperative.
Ayşen Binatlı, who comes from one of the rooted families in Eğirdir and has been fishing since the age of 8, mentioned that she has been fishing with her father since she was 8 years old and now she is fishing with her husband. İbrahim Sayı, Vice President of the S.S. Eğirdir Central Fisheries Cooperative, who has been engaged in fishing in Eğirdir for 35 years and earns a living from Lake Eğirdir, expressed his wishes for a fruitful season for all hunters.