KIRKLARELI, Türkiye, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- As the first light of dawn bathes the tranquil waters of Igneada, a town in the northwestern Turkish province of Kirklareli, Captain Sinan Girit stands at the helm of his fishing vessel, eyes fixed on the horizon.

Schools of fish have been detected by sonar just 15 miles inside Bulgarian waters. Within hours, or by the next day, they will cross into Turkish territory, where Girit expects a bountiful catch.

Nestled along Türkiye's Black Sea coast, Igneada has long been a key waypoint for migratory fish from the waters of Ukraine, Romania, and Bulgaria.

Local fish species such as anchovies, mackerels, bonitos, and red mullets thrive here, making the region crucial not only for local fishermen like Girit but also for Türkiye's fishing industry.

"This year, the sea has been exceptionally generous," Girit told Xinhua. "We're seeing 10 times more mackerels and anchovies compared to previous years."

The fishing boom has attracted boats from across the country, including from the Mediterranean coast. "The catch is then distributed throughout Türkiye," Girit explained.

The challenge now is getting the catch to markets across the country -- a process fishers have mastered over the years.

"We can ship our catch anywhere in Türkiye, as we manage all the deliveries," Girit said. "You've probably seen the refrigerated trucks -- some of them wait along the coast, lined up on the roadside, while others are at the port, handling shipments to keep everything fresh."

The abundant catch has had a profound local impact. Enver Sanli, president of the Fisheries Cooperative in Igneada, noted that the remarkable abundance of fish has led to a significant drop in prices, making seafood more affordable for consumers.

"An astonishing six million kilos of fish were caught in just one week," Sanli said. "The bonito season was fantastic, with plenty of horse mackerels, red mullets, small bluefish, and anchovies."

For Sanli, who also owns a fishing boat, the revenue has been 10 times higher than last year. "I've probably never earned money from the sea like this before," he remarked, though he noted that rising operational costs, especially fuel, remain a major challenge. "My daily fuel costs amount to 13,000 Turkish liras (about 360 U.S. dollars) as soon as we set out to sea."

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Türkiye harvested 454,059 tons of aquatic products in 2023, a significant rise from 302,212 tons in 2014. While official data for 2024 has not yet been released, sector insiders predict that the numbers will continue to climb in 2024 and 2025 given the current abundance of fish.

Altug Erdem, mayor of Igneada, emphasized the broader benefits of the successful fishing season for the local economy and community. "The boom in fishing has provided essential food resources and created job opportunities, especially for local workers unloading the catch," Erdem told Xinhua.

Local businesses, from grocery stores to restaurants and taxi services, have felt the economic boost during the traditionally slow winter months, according to the mayor. Enditem

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