In fitting with the spiritual month of Ramadan, the season was launched with a prayer delivered by Imam Yusuf Anlağan of the Karamürsel mosque. Anlağan delivered a blessing to all the fisherman and prayed for a prosperous fishing season that would bring plenty of fish.

The Minister for Agriculture, Mehdi Eker, highlighted the problem of shortages in species last year due to the poor quality of water. “We need to make sure that the sea is used properly and fishing is carried out in the most efficient way to encourage more fish to fill the waters,” Eker said speaking in the opening ceremony on Tuesday.

Eker said 34 fishing management buildings have been completed this year, all fitted with state of the art databases in order to monitor fishing trends. According to Eker these new facilities will ensure a higher quality of fishing in the region.

Despite the positive outlook adopted by Eker for the year ahead, a trail fishing session that took place a day prior to the opening showed bleak results. “The nets that were dropped into the Marmara Sea were pretty much empty, which did not give us hope,” said member of the fishing cooperation Hüseyin Abanoz, adding that the telltale signs show that there is not much hope for fish apart from bluefish and mackerel. Abanoz explained that in recent years fish have not been staying in the Mamara Sea, instead they go to the Black Sea, which as a result now has a much more prosperous supply.

Also speaking at the opening ceremony, Mayor Kadir Tokbaş said the government is working to support the fishing industry as much as possible. This year tax has been lifted from the fuel costs of fishing trawlers and 385 million Turkish Liras will be invested into the fishing industry. “The fishing industry is very valuable and it is imperative that we raise the amount and quality of the fish coming in,” Tokbaş said. Turkishdailynews.