Fishermen from Tsarevo have expressed serious concerns that the forecast for a heavy bonito catch this coming autumn could trigger a drop in the purchasing prices of the fish. According to them, there is a real risk that revenue from sales will not be sufficient to cover fuel costs, as well as the maintenance of boats and fishing nets.

At the moment, the bonito caught in the Southern Black Sea region weighs between 400 and 500 grams. However, fishermen are hopeful that by the end of the autumn season, the specimens will gain significant weight and reach sizes of one to one and a half kilograms. Currently, fresh bonito is being sold at the Tsarevo pier for about 6 euros per kilogram.

According to the fishermen, bonito is already being spotted all along the Black Sea coast. They explain that market logic dictates that larger quantities of caught fish traditionally lower the purchase price, while fuel and maintenance costs for fishing vessels remain unchanged. Similar optimistic forecasts for a rich season are also coming from Turkey. There, just days before the lifting of the industrial fishing ban on September 1, recreational catches in the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea have sparked hopes for an abundant season, reported the Turkish agency IHA.

Kenan Balcı, a professional fisherman and founder of the Museum of Sea Creatures in Turkey, predicts that lovers of bonito, sardines, and anchovies will be pleased with the upcoming season. According to his preliminary data, fish quantities are expected to be significantly higher compared to last year, which will allow not only for satisfying domestic market needs but also for realizing exports.

In addition to bonito, the fishermen in Tsarevo are pinning high hopes on the expected autumn shoals of bluefish, young bluefish, horse mackerel, and red mullet.

The fishermen shared that the catch during the current summer season has been more successful compared to the previous year. This is also confirmed by official data presented by the Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture in June. According to them, the horse mackerel catch marked a 200 percent jump in the first five months of the year compared to the same period last year. A rise has also been observed in scorpion fish, where the caught quantity is three times higher. Only in the case of gobies is the opposite trend observed, with their catch having decreased.