THE multiple civilizations it hosted over the centuries gave Istanbul a rich historical, architectural, cultural and gastronomical accumulation. At the same time, the city hosts Türkiye’s largest fleet regarding fishery and aquacultural products. The Bluefish is only edible in Istanbul’s Bosphorus; it symbolizes Istanbul’s gastronomy and is named the ‘Master of Bosphorus.’ Bluefish is known to be a subtle, aggressive, vulturous predator that attacks anything that moves in the water. Historical records reveal that mackerel and valonia were the symbols of Bosphorus during the rule of the Byzantine Empire. Bluefish, on the other hand, had been recognized as Istanbul’s trademark during the rule of the Ottoman Empire.

LED BY ICOC

Bluefish still maintains its prominence. The efforts led by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ICOC) and supported by the stakeholders of the Istanbul Geographical Indication Consortium, the geographical indication registration of the Bosphorus Bluefish took place on 17 January 2023 on behalf of ICOC by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office. Supervision mechanisms were established to maintain the Bosphorus Bluefish’s registration.

APPLICATION TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Bosphorus Bluefish can be found in the Bosphorus. It is a delicious fish that can only be tasted in the Bosphorus. Hundreds of civilizations existed in Türkiye, and the country belongs to a geography that blends the cultures of these civilizations with the local produce. Istanbul is a centre that connects such a geography with a transfer route to Europe. The Bluefish is one of the most prominent delicacies on the globe.

Efforts are being conducted to secure the sustainability of the Bosphorus Bluefish’s geographical indication. The preparatory work for the registration application process for the European Union (EU) Commission’s geographical indication has commenced. The institutional promotion activities continue as well.

Lord of the fish

Academic of the Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Dr. Ruhi Güler spoke on the Bosphorus’ Bluefish: “Bluefish is a unique fish. It is brilliant, active and hard to catch. It is aggressive. It challenges bigger fish and fights them. When the fish migrate from the Bosphorus in autumn, different schools of fish rush towards the Sea of Marmara from the Black Sea. During this migration, the Bluefish were particularly searched for and observed. August had been full of bluefish talks in the old times in Istanbul. One had to wait patiently for the Bluefish on the sandals.

All segments of Istanbul’s inhabitants were addicted to this Bluefish in the era I refer to as the Bluefish Period (1858-1908) in my book ‘Lüfer Boğaziçi Şehrayini (Bosphorus Bluefish Festival). Sultan Abdulaziz is known to attend the bluefish parties in the Kanlıca district. How Sultan Abdulhamid II went for bluefish fishing is recorded in his memoirs. It has always been an exceptional fish for the people.

According to Ahmet Mithat Efendi, one has to know Bluefish to understand Istanbul’s dynamics. In one of his articles, journalist Burhan Felek mentions Bluefish as ‘Bluefish is the lord of the fish in Istanbul’.