Fishermen in Adana said “Vira Bismillah” with the opening of the new fishing season.

Fishermen in the Karataş district of Adana set sail after the fishing ban was lifted, saying “Vira Bismillah.”

An opening ceremony for the 2024 Fisheries Season was held at the Karataş Fishermen’s Harbor, one of the three sea access points in Adana. Adana Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Mehmet Nuri Kökçüoğlu stated that the city has significant values and potential in aquatic products. Kökçüoğlu said, “Adana has a 160-kilometer coastline, the Seyhan and Ceyhan rivers, and the dam lakes, ponds, and five lagoons on these rivers, making it seriously potential in aquatic products. In 2023, we produced 8,600 tons of aquatic products, consisting of 6,000 tons from fishing and 2,500 tons from aquaculture. We process these at seven processing and packaging facilities and export them, contributing to the country’s economy.” Kökçüoğlu pointed out that the production of aquatic products will further increase with the full operation of the Aquaculture-Based Specialized Organized Industrial Zone to be built in the Karataş district.

Melih Er, the Head of the Fishing and Control Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s General Directorate of Fisheries and Aquatic Products, stated that in 2023, aquatic product production exceeded 1 million tons, of which 450,000 tons came from fishing. He noted, “We did not allow indiscriminate fishing. We ensured sustainability by protecting stocks and maintaining the balance of conservation control while conducting fishing in a regulated manner. In the future, we will continue our fishing by ensuring sustainability and protecting stocks.” Er also mentioned that they have always supported fishermen with subsidized loans, incentives, and support, stating, “As a ministry, we have provided 45 billion lira in direct support to fishermen over the last 22 years. These supports will continue.”

Karataş District Governor Necati Aktan also stated that the main goal of aquatic product policies is to ensure that citizens have access to abundant and affordable fish, as well as to ensure the sustainability of aquatic products in seas, lakes, dams, and rivers.

After the ceremony, prayers were held for a fruitful new fishing season, accompanied by the recitation of the Quran. Later in the evening, fishermen from the harbor began to seek their livelihood in the Mediterranean.