Turkish professor says anchovy population in Black Sea critical, urges one-year ban on hunting
A professor from Turkey’s Karadeniz Technical University has called for a one-year ban on anchovy (hamsi) hunting, drawing attention to the fish’s notable shrinking population and size.
Duvar English
Karadeniz Technical University’s Sea Sciences and Technology Institute Director Prof. Dr. Ahmet Cemal Dinçer has drawn attention to the decreasing population of anchovy (“hamsi” in Turkish) in the Black Sea and called for a ban on hunting for one year for a sustainable marine life.
Turkey has a ban on catching anchovy smaller than 9 centimeters. But experts have been warning that this is not sufficient.
“Anchovy did not give the desired (production) this year as well. The fish is getting thinner gradually (over the years). My suggestion is a ban of a whole year on its hunting. But the ministry only imposed a ban of 10 days last year,” he was quoted as saying by Demirören news agency.
He said no fish that is 9-centimeter long is good for eating and the price of “eatable” anchovy was very high this winter, with its kilogram price going up to 100 liras.
“We need to be very careful with regards to sustainable quality anchovy hunting. We need to show sensitivity to make sure that this stock (of anchovy fish) can go back to old days. What I suggest is that anchovy hunting stops for one year. In that case, we would eat anchovy that is of more quality and also cheaper.”