Fishermen on Paşalimanı Island Distribute Crates of Fish for Free: The Reason’s Quite Unusual

On Paşalimanı Island, fishermen, reacting to low purchase prices, handed out crates full of fish to the public at no cost. They said: “When we catch fish, a 15‑kg crate is bought for 300‑500 Turkish lira, yet it’s sold at 200 lira per kilogram.”

The fishermen explained that due to lack of demand and poor selling prices, it was no longer viable to sell the catch at market rates — thus the public free distribution. This act has become a public protest against the procurement chain and middle‑man pricing.

Analysis & Forecasts:

This move underscores the tensions in the fishing sector: low procurement prices, large discrepancy between purchase and consumer retail, and the opaque role of intermediaries.

While the free distribution benefits the community, it raises concerns about the sustainability of fishermen’s incomes.

It is likely that pressure on intermediaries will intensify, and direct‑to‑consumer fish supply models along with greater market transparency could emerge.