Looks like Turks' love for lufer (AKA bluefish) may be leading to the fish's demise.
The Tree Hugger blog reports that stocks of the fish, a staple in Istanbul's restaurants and fish shacks, are rapidly depleting, particularly because lufer is frequently caught before it reaches maturity and can lay its eggs.
Fortunately, a coalition of Istanbul fish lovers, chefs and food suppliers are gathering to protect the fish. From Tree Hugger's report:
When Defne Koryurek was growing up in Istanbul, lüfer (bluefish) were a favorite -- and plentiful -- dish. "I don't remember ever being able to finish a whole lüfer. My mother would ask which part I wanted, the tail or the head," she said. But over the years, imperceptibly to most local residents, the fish have gotten smaller and smaller, Koryurek, the founder of a Slow Food group in Istanbul, said: "Today people order lüferand they're not satisfied; they have to order another plate."
Fearing the eventual disappearance of the iconic fish, found in the Black Sea and Marmara Sea on either side of the city, Koryurek's organization has initiated the "Don't Let the Lüfer Go Extinct!" campaign to increase the minimum catch size for lüfer -- and secure vows from local restaurants and shops not to serve or sell the smaller fish.
You can read the full Tree Hugger post here.
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