Mediterranean fishermen set out to sea saying ‘Vira Bismillah’.

With the lifting of the fishing ban tonight in Mersin, a coastal city of Turkey with a 321-kilometer coastline along the Mediterranean, 441 fishermen from 7 different harbors have started to set sail into the sea with their fishing boats after a 5-month hiatus.

Fishing provides significant income in Mersin, which is notable for its 321 kilometers of Mediterranean coastline. While the fishing season in the Aegean and the Black Sea closed on April 15 and reopened on September 1, the new season in the Mediterranean began on the night of September 15. All preparations were completed for the 441 boats in the 7 fishing shelters located in Mersin. A program was organized at Erdemli Fishing Harbor for the season opening. In the program, Governor Ali Hamza Pehlivan, Erdemli Mayor Mustafa Kara, and other protocol members served fish sandwiches. After the recitation of the Quran and a prayer, Governor Pehlivan sent the fishermen off into the open sea with a radio message saying ‘Vira Bismillah’. In addition to the protocol, the families of the fishermen including their children, spouses, and mothers also saw them off.

441 boats set sail from 7 harbors

Highlighting that Turkey ranks fifth in the world in fish production, Governor Ali Hamza Pehlivan stated, “Our province ranks fifth nationwide with approximately 40,000 tons of fish production, including 30,000 tons from aquaculture and about 10,000 tons from fishing. Today, a total of 441 of our boats from 7 fishing harbors will set sail, marking the start of the fishing season.”

Governor Pehlivan also mentioned that during the closed days of the season in 2024, teams conducted 3,000 inspections, and only 12 fishermen faced penalties, noting that this figure is quite low. Expressing gratitude for the sensitivity shown by fishermen during the fishing ban period, Pehlivan said, “We must act sensitively because the fish populations in our seas and freshwater are not infinite. If we fish according to the rules, future generations can also consume this important food source for human health in a healthy way, just as we do today.”

Families saw off the fishermen

Rabia Taş, who came to see off her grandson and son, said, “We will open the 2024-2025 fishing season. May God grant us good and abundant fortune. Today, we came to see off my son and his fisherman friends with my grandson.”

Sultan Aydın, who mentioned that they have been engaged in fishing as a family, stated, “We are fishermen by birth. My father was a fisherman, and my siblings and spouse are also fishermen. We love the sea. As women, we help them in every way. Today, we came to see them off. We wish for a beautiful, plentiful, and prosperous season. We are excited and hopeful after 5 months.”