AbstractThis paper deals with the influence of the annual temperature distribution on anchovy fishing in Trabzon and its surroundings (which have been taken to be representative of the coastal region of the south‐east Black Sea). Data used in this study come from two periods: 1960 to 1990 and 1987 to 1992. It is shown that the variation in temperature distribution has no effect on anchovy fishing. Also, it is demonstrated that commercial fishing takes place when the temperature is lower than the annual mea