Fishermen in Yalova stated that they are facing difficulties due to the location of the anchoring area for ships off the coast of Yalova.
Fishermen in Yalova said that they are facing difficulties due to the location of the anchoring area for ships off the coast of Yalova.
Hasan Karataş, the President of the Yalova Central District Fisheries Cooperative, argued that the anchoring area for ships off the coast of Yalova negatively affects the fishermen. Karataş stated, "In our Yalova region, there is an anchoring area. They placed the anchoring area in the most suitable place for us, where we call our pasture. We requested the relocation of the anchoring area towards the shipyards, towards Tavşanlı. If they go there, the fishermen can breathe a little. 'This place is forbidden for fishing, here is forbidden for the military, here is forbidden in front of the coast guard.' In other words, everywhere is forbidden for us."
Fahri Topalak, who has been fishing since 1976, said, "I was born and raised here. I used to own a house in the anchoring area, now I'm not even a tenant. Recently, I painted my boat and put a net there for safety. I wanted to retrieve it the same night so that there wouldn't be any problems. The Coast Guard came and fined me 5,300 lira for throwing a net in the anchoring area as if we were guilty children. What crime did I commit? Because of the anchoring area, we no longer have a fishing ground."