Fishermen Beware: New Prohibitions and Quotas Have Arrived
Official title6/1 Communiqué on Amending the Communiqué on the Regulation of Commercial Fishing for Aquatic Products (Communiqué No: 2024/20) (No: 2026/25)
By amending the regulations on commercial fishing for aquatic products, the size limits for sea bass, mesh sizes, and prohibited fishing areas and hours have been revised.
Before
The catch size limit for sea bass was 13 cm, and the mesh size was 80 mm; there was no tourism restriction on the specified line in the İstanbul Boğazı.
After
The sea bass size limit was reduced to 12 cm, and the mesh size was reduced to 72 mm. Amateur fishing tourism for commercial purposes was prohibited in the specified section of the İstanbul Boğazı, and a SUBİS registration requirement was introduced for vessels over 12 metres.
Details of the Regulation
numerous administrative and technical rules concerning commercial fishing for aquatic products have been updated through the new Communiqué prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Under the regulation, the definition of hook length has been clarified, and amateur fishing tourism activities for commercial purposes have been completely prohibited in a certain section of the İstanbul Boğazı. Additionally, fishing grounds and maps of prohibited areas at strategic locations, such as Antalya Kemer Üç Adalar and the vicinity of the 1915 Çanakkale Köprüsü, have been redrawn.
Under provisions directly concerning fisheries in the Black Sea and Marmara regions, licensed vessels have been required to obtain fishing permit documents for anchovy and sea bass fishing. While the minimum permissible catch size for sea bass has been reduced from 13 cm to 12 cm, the mesh size of certain types of nets has been reduced from 80 mm to 72 mm. The hours during which anchovy fishing may be conducted with midwater trawls in the Black Sea have been reorganized, while rules concerning quotas and landing points have been introduced for sea bass fishing.
With the aim of preserving ecological balance, the list of protected marine organisms has been updated, and the fishing prohibitions for Akdeniz foku, orfoz, and various shark species have been reinforced. Sea urchin fishing has been prohibited between 1 May - 31 October and completely restricted along certain lines in the İzmit Körfezi. Finally, owners of commercial fishing vessels with a length of 12 metres or more have been required to register the persons aboard their vessels in the Su Ürünleri Bilgi Sistemi (SUBİS).
Questions You Might Have
- How are vessels engaged in fishing tourism in the İstanbul Boğazı affected by this decision?
- Amateur fishing tourism activities for commercial purposes have been completely prohibited between the Rumeli Feneri-Anadolu Feneri line and the Yeniköy-Çubuklu line.
- For which fish species has the minimum catch size been reduced?
- The minimum catch size limit for sea bass (Karagöz İstavrit) has been reduced from 13 cm to 12 cm.
Key Terms
- Ortasu Trolü
- A fishing gear used to catch fish by being towed through the mid-depths of the water.
- SUBİS
- The Su Ürünleri Bilgi Sistemi is the ministry’s registration system in which vessel, fishing, and fisherman data are tracked digitally.
- Gırgır Ağları
- Large encircling nets that narrow at the bottom and are used to catch schools of fish.
Affected Sectors
- Fishing
- Aquatic products
- Maritime trade and tourism
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REGAS Commentary
The amendments directly affect commercial fishermen fishing in the Black Sea and Marmara regions as well as marine tourism operators. Although reducing the sea bass size limit to 12 cm may increase the catchable yield, the tourism prohibition in the straits and the SUBİS registration requirement impose new administrative obligations and stricter inspections on fishing vessels.