![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Y37FFJNCBQB7TON2WT5VJQVLMU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a328e38062b71f4010cd17298a18cc737adcdaa6ad80f39f73e60fb553561a2c&width=400&height=225)
Mehmet Dogan, an amateur fisherman, poses for a photograph on the bank of the Bosphorus, in Istanbul, on 6 November 2022. - It is high season for the popular variety of tuna, with shoals teeming through the Bosphorus on their way from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. But pulled taut across the strait are fishing nets more than a kilometre (3,280 feet) long. Anglers who cram shoulder to shoulder along the banks say the nets leave them with little chance, and the fish with even less. (Photo by Yasin AKGUL / AFP)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SH4IJXKZPJGGTPDWF3IXFPZ27A.jpg?smart=true&auth=59b22cef3983a044c6519d2b54c7062196b1de6516adbaf3b67be821dccf38ab&width=400&height=225)
A fishing boat casts its net in the Sea of Marmara, sea off the coast of Istanbul, Turkey. All photos: AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J6VN2TK5ABBIZ6CITVDFNTXN6E.jpg?smart=true&auth=2004906aea9ffbee8bb692784633510cccc28dd21f23dd548546d4f9961145fa&width=400&height=225)
November is high season for tuna shoals heading through the Bosphorus Strait and passing through the Sea of Marmara on their migration from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YOXMZ2YOJZVNLDKFP5P2A7P374.jpg?smart=true&auth=2da1f88fd29ef257ae6efc9b47354808990ef89d77d10379a986584b1d217031&width=400&height=225)
A fishing boat lays its nets in the Marmara sea off the cost of Istanbul, on November 6, 2022. - It is high season for the popular variety of tuna, with shoals teeming through the Bosphorus on their way from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. But pulled taut across the strait are fishing nets more than a kilometre (3,280 feet) long. Anglers who cram shoulder to shoulder along the banks say the nets leave them with little chance, and the fish with even less. (Photo by Yasin AKGUL / AFP)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FUMASFI7637JXTCKF7ZBR2WPEM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a63d44fa09b06ee35426f386f0286ec7ece9d6424979d6eba4664a860f15d304&width=400&height=225)
A fishing boat crew member carries out maintenance on the Sea of Marmara. In a few years, hauls have plummeted from 600,000 tonness a year to 328,000 tonnes, say researchers.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FSCRHZDM5TYF3BFX4V7VYVRW6I.jpg?smart=true&auth=88df34039f6a1b958b651c7228dcf8bcc24bf985841d3e956ca1ae04c93280c9&width=400&height=225)
A fishing boat on the Sea of Marmara. Crews report falling catches of horse mackerel, anchovy, picarel and bluefish.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QSYD6OPSMBOALK7L6SGJ4BCVT4.jpg?smart=true&auth=35d050e3eec6cfe23df685555f29791025c1bd2315dd1a2f8cab95bf80696cc6&width=400&height=225)
Anglers say they — and the fish — cannot compete with the large boats.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Y37FFJNCBQB7TON2WT5VJQVLMU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a328e38062b71f4010cd17298a18cc737adcdaa6ad80f39f73e60fb553561a2c&width=400&height=225)
Mehmet Dogan, an amateur fisherman, poses for a photograph on the bank of the Bosphorus, in Istanbul, on 6 November 2022. - It is high season for the popular variety of tuna, with shoals teeming through the Bosphorus on their way from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. But pulled taut across the strait are fishing nets more than a kilometre (3,280 feet) long. Anglers who cram shoulder to shoulder along the banks say the nets leave them with little chance, and the fish with even less. (Photo by Yasin AKGUL / AFP)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SH4IJXKZPJGGTPDWF3IXFPZ27A.jpg?smart=true&auth=59b22cef3983a044c6519d2b54c7062196b1de6516adbaf3b67be821dccf38ab&width=400&height=225)
A fishing boat casts its net in the Sea of Marmara, sea off the coast of Istanbul, Turkey. All photos: AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J6VN2TK5ABBIZ6CITVDFNTXN6E.jpg?smart=true&auth=2004906aea9ffbee8bb692784633510cccc28dd21f23dd548546d4f9961145fa&width=400&height=225)
November is high season for tuna shoals heading through the Bosphorus Strait and passing through the Sea of Marmara on their migration from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YOXMZ2YOJZVNLDKFP5P2A7P374.jpg?smart=true&auth=2da1f88fd29ef257ae6efc9b47354808990ef89d77d10379a986584b1d217031&width=400&height=225)
A fishing boat lays its nets in the Marmara sea off the cost of Istanbul, on November 6, 2022. - It is high season for the popular variety of tuna, with shoals teeming through the Bosphorus on their way from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. But pulled taut across the strait are fishing nets more than a kilometre (3,280 feet) long. Anglers who cram shoulder to shoulder along the banks say the nets leave them with little chance, and the fish with even less. (Photo by Yasin AKGUL / AFP)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FUMASFI7637JXTCKF7ZBR2WPEM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a63d44fa09b06ee35426f386f0286ec7ece9d6424979d6eba4664a860f15d304&width=400&height=225)
A fishing boat crew member carries out maintenance on the Sea of Marmara. In a few years, hauls have plummeted from 600,000 tonness a year to 328,000 tonnes, say researchers.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FSCRHZDM5TYF3BFX4V7VYVRW6I.jpg?smart=true&auth=88df34039f6a1b958b651c7228dcf8bcc24bf985841d3e956ca1ae04c93280c9&width=400&height=225)
A fishing boat on the Sea of Marmara. Crews report falling catches of horse mackerel, anchovy, picarel and bluefish.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QSYD6OPSMBOALK7L6SGJ4BCVT4.jpg?smart=true&auth=35d050e3eec6cfe23df685555f29791025c1bd2315dd1a2f8cab95bf80696cc6&width=400&height=225)
Anglers say they — and the fish — cannot compete with the large boats.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Y37FFJNCBQB7TON2WT5VJQVLMU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a328e38062b71f4010cd17298a18cc737adcdaa6ad80f39f73e60fb553561a2c&width=400&height=225)
Mehmet Dogan, an amateur fisherman, poses for a photograph on the bank of the Bosphorus, in Istanbul, on 6 November 2022. - It is high season for the popular variety of tuna, with shoals teeming through the Bosphorus on their way from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. But pulled taut across the strait are fishing nets more than a kilometre (3,280 feet) long. Anglers who cram shoulder to shoulder along the banks say the nets leave them with little chance, and the fish with even less. (Photo by Yasin AKGUL / AFP)
Bosphorus fish stocks crash as huge trawlers snatch the catch
Anglers call for sustainable practices to protect future fish stocks
AFP
25 November, 2022
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic