President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended to the opening ceremony of the new fishing season which had been organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. President Erdoğan sailed with the fishermen and left a fingerling to the sea.
Speaking at the opening ceremony held in Sarıyer Kireçburnu Fisherman's Lodge, President Erdoğan expressed his wishes for hunting season to be fruitful. Erdoğan stated that "I wish you have fishing nets full of fish during all the days, weeks and months that you will be in pursuit of your fortune. So, the fishermen will earn more and the public will get fish for affordable prices. Turkey recently produces 300-400 thousand tons of fish from the sea per year. Our famous anchovy is nearly one third of this figure. We also should not forget that, around a decade ago, the anchovy production on its own had been around 250-300 thousand tons per year. Although the aquaculture production has been on the rise, we are aware that it can't replace the catch fisheries. The decrease in total fish production causes increases in market prices and decreases in fish consumption per capita.".
While expressing his wishes for an increase in fish consumption per capita, President Erdoğan also made the following statement: "We should make fish more desirable for the public by keeping our seas clean by doing responsible fisheries and by developing the post-landing preservation and distribution channels. Especially, we must absolutely respect the seasonal fishing ban during their reproduction season. Involving in fisheries activity during the ban is not only stealing from the fishermen but also stealing our whole nation's future. No law or no preventive and precautionary measure is as effective as the self-control mechanism that you could build among yourselves. As the Presidency, with our ministers and all the related institutions, we are determined to do whatever is necessary on this matter. We hope that our fisheries sector will rise and be strengthened in the future. Are we ready to do this? So, I wish you a fertile fishing season once more and I wish you good luck."
We should consume more fish
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli stated in his speech that they came here to share the excitement and the joy of fishermen for the opening of the new fishing season. Bekir Pakdemirli emphasized that the natural resources are a legacy that we should pass on to the future generations and he underlined that there should be a balance in protection and consumption for providing sustainability in fisheries. He also iterated that to reach this goal, the strict inspections on the seas, inland waters, landing points, market places, transportation routes, cold storage depots and processing facilities will continue.
Minister Pakdemirli mentioned the importance of the nutritional value of fish in terms of meeting the needs of world population for animal protein. He also said that the fish consumption per capita is around 6-7 kilos per year and that we should consume more fish.
Minister Pakdemirli stated that the fisheries sector had been taken under various government support programs for the first time in 2003 under Justice and Development Party era. He also noted that these programs have caused significant developments not only in the sector but also in import and export.
He also expressed his willingness to listen to the problems and the suggestions of the fishermen to be able to help.
Following the opening speeches, the new fisheries season was opened by the prayers of the Mufti of Istanbul, Hasan Kamil Yılmaz.
President Erdoğan left fingerlings that have been farmed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Erdoğan and his entourage sailed in the fishermen's boat "Halil Reis 4". After spending some time in the navigating bridge, he distributed fish to the public, on his return.
He also talked with people who were there to show their admiration and love for him.
During the organization, Coast Guard and security teams took precautionary measures both on land and sea.
Deputy President Fuat Oktay, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli, Minister of Internal Affairs Süleyman Soylu, Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank, Governor of Istanbul Vasip Şahin, Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mevlüt Uysal, Ruling Party's Istanbul Provincial Head Bayram Şenocak participated in the organization along with many citizens.