Fishermen in Sinop ceremoniously said ‘Vira Bismillah’.

Fishermen in Sinop set sail with the phrase “Vira Bismillah” as the fishing ban came to an end.

The fishing ban that started on April 15 in Turkey has ended. Following the lifting of the ban, a ceremony for the 2024-2025 fishing season was held in Sinop. The ceremony took place at the Sinop Pier, attended by Sinop Governor Dr. Mustafa Özarslan, protocol members, fishermen, and their relatives. A slide show and folk dance performances were presented during the ceremony.

In his speech at the ceremony, Sinop Governor Dr. Mustafa Özarslan emphasized the indispensable role of fishing in Sinop’s historical, cultural, and economic structure. Özarslan stated, “We know how much our brothers and sisters, who earn their livelihood from the sea, contribute to the economy. A 4.5-month longing ends today. In our Sinop, which is surrounded by seas like our Turkey, fishing is an inseparable part of Sinop’s history, culture, and economy. Along with our 5,720 workers who make a living from professional fishing, we also have companies engaged in 27 types of aquaculture, not just fishing. The Turkish salmon, especially from Sinop, is the pearl of Turkey. Our government is making great efforts under the leadership of our President to sustain the development in the fishing sector. Sinop will continue to lead as one of Turkey’s most important fishing and aquaculture centers, benefiting from the blessings that the fertile waters of the Black Sea offer us,” he said.

Fatih Önlem, the Sinop Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, shared the importance of Sinop in the fishing sector and the positive results of conservation efforts with the participants:

“Our province holds a significant place in the fishing fleet of the Black Sea with 420 fishing vessels (7-9% of the Black Sea). Along with the 5,538 licensed fishermen working on these vessels, there are about 15,000 people making a living from the sector. In addition, many fishing vessels registered to other provinces engaged in fishing activities in the Black Sea operate in the waters off our province. Another feature of our province is that a large portion of its waters is closed to trawling. Moreover, having many coves has made our shores breeding and spawning grounds for fish. As a result of strict protection and careful inspections carried out by the Coast Guard’s 72nd Boat Command on land with safety and gendarmerie forces, and the sensitivity of our fishermen not to engage in illegal fishing, there has been a noticeable increase in the size and weight of demersal fish, and species populations have increased. Even species that had disappeared from the Black Sea, such as the swallow fish, have started to be seen again. This situation is promising for the future of our fishing.”

The ceremony concluded with protocol members and fishermen setting sail.