The 5th Lakerda Festival has started in Sinop.

The fifth edition of the Traditional Lakerda Festival, organized to contribute to gastronomy tourism in Sinop, began with intense participation at the Sabahattin Ali Cultural Center.

The opening program was attended by Sinop Governor Mustafa Özarslan and his wife Reva Beray Özarslan, Provincial Police Chief Sibel Kılıçarslan, Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Hakan Başaklıgil, Mayor Metin Gürbüz, CHP Provincial Chairman Av. Aykut Cem Yalçınkaya, Sinop Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Salim Akbaş, Sinop Culture and Tourism Association President Saim Gürbüz, institutional directors, NGO representatives, and many citizens.

In his opening speech, Sinop Culture and Tourism Association President Saim Gürbüz emphasized the importance of support for this festival aimed at promoting Sinop’s cultural values and increasing tourism and commercial potential, stating, “We are very happy with the progress of this festival, which we organized to promote all of Sinop’s values through the value of Sinop itself and to increase tourism and commercial values. Therefore, I would like to first thank our Ministry of Culture and Tourism for their support, our mayor, and Sinop Municipality for being with us from day one, for organizing the entire event together, and for the North Anatolia Development Agency (KUZKA) believing in this festival in every aspect. I would also like to thank our main sponsor, Vira Hotel. These supports are very important for us in the struggle we have undertaken. Thank you all once again.”

Salim Akbaş, President of the Sinop Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated in his speech that they aim for Sinop to become a broader brand in fishing, saying, “I saw the sign ‘Capital of Lakerda’ in the square. I hope that in a few years we will write ‘Capital of Fish.’ I would like to thank all the valuable participants, everyone organizing quality events, and all the friends who will carry this event to the national and international arena, and I wish you a wonderful festival over the four days. I send you all my love and respect.”

Sinop Mayor Metin Gürbüz said that a deep-rooted cultural value like lakerda will be transferred from the past to the future with this festival, stating, “Sinop is a port city, a fishing and maritime city, but it is also a historical city. In tourism, if you do not have a story, you cannot get a share. We have a deep-rooted story like lakerda. This city has many memories passed down from generation to generation, and lakerda is one of those memories. Thanks to this festival, lakerda will be a value transferred from the past to the future. This year, fishing has been fruitful; lakerda has reached the necessary maturity and oil content. Therefore, many of our citizens have made lakerda and brought this flavor to the tables.”

Sinop Governor Mustafa Özarslan also emphasized in his speech that last year’s festival positively contributed to lakerda sales, saying, “Now we have a saying: ‘Did the stone we threw hit the bird we startled?’ I wondered how much satisfaction the Lakerda Festival last year created in the field, in a somewhat humorous manner, whether it turned into money or not, and I researched it. We have a brother named Muhammet Yıldırım; he uses the Sinop Lakerda brand. I told him, ‘Sorry, this name actually belongs to us, but we know the owner.’ He kindly told me, ‘Mr. Governor, the festival went really well last year. Both our online and face-to-face sales were very successful, I cannot keep up. This revenue seems to continue to grow.’ I confirmed this statement with a few others. In summary, I congratulate everyone who has contributed to the festival that has reached this point under the leadership of the Sinop Culture and Tourism Association, with the contributions of our municipality, the financial support of the North Anatolia Development Agency, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the help of our sponsors. Thank you, and may you continue to exist.”

After the opening speeches, protocol members and guests visited the prepared art exhibitions. After the exhibition tour, refreshments were offered to the guests. The festival, which will last for four days, continued with events such as a waltz performance, booth visits, discussions, and a piano concert.