Türkiye is blessed with extensive coastlines along the Aegean, Mediterranean, Marmara, and Black Seas, as well as its inland lakes and rivers. As a result, Turkish cuisine and food culture prominently feature fish and seafood. Whether enjoyed in seaside taverns or family gatherings, the appreciation for fish and seafood reflects not only Türkiye’s maritime heritage but also its commitment to vibrant and flavourful cuisine.
Turkish aquaculture has emerged as a key player in the country’s export economy since the early 2000s, experiencing remarkable growth. Turkish entrepreneurs have introduced some of the world’s most modern and integrated facilities in the aquaculture sector to Türkiye. These high-tech facilities have established Türkiye as one of the major exporters of protein-rich aquatic products. Thanks to our sustainable production capacity, diversity of species, and advanced production and processing technologies, the sector has seen a 65 percent increase in fishery product exports, rising from $1 million to $1.7 billion over the past five years. In 2023, Türkiye exported its fishery products to over 100 countries, solidifying its position as a global leader.
The Aegean Sea, which borders our country, is home to a wide range of fish species and is one of the largest seafood suppliers to the rest of the world. Sea bream, sea bass, Turkish salmon, trout, and bluefin tuna lead the country’s aquaculture export market. Türkiye is also a global leader in the export of these commodities. Several fish species are highly regarded and prized in the Aegean region due to their taste, texture, and culinary versatility.
Fish cultivated in the pristine blue waters off the coasts of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas boast high nutritional value and significant health benefits. The clean and nutrient-rich aquatic environment contributes to the growth of healthy and robust fish, such as sea bream and sea bass, enhancing their nutritional profile.
Sea Bass
Türkiye is the largest producer of sea bass in Europe and the leading global exporter of this species. In 2023, sea bass topped Türkiye’s aquaculture exports, amounting to $517 million.
With its high economic and nutritional value and delicious taste, sea bass holds a significant share in the seafood market. Naturally growing in the Marmara, Black Sea, and Aegean Seas, and farmed on the West and South-West coasts, sea bass acquires its unique taste from deep seas and special feeding techniques. It is a popular choice among fish lovers worldwide, growing in all our seas from the Aegean to the Mediterranean and reaching its highest flesh quality.
Sea Bream
Türkiye is also a leading producer of sea bream, with high demand both domestically and globally.
Turkey offers an ideal environment for bream breeding thanks to the favourable conditions of the Mediterranean climate and clean sea waters. Bream farming is usually done in cages along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. Turkey’s modern and integrated aquaculture farms ensure sustainable farming of this fish species. Advanced technologies and controlled production processes ensure quality and healthy growth of bream.
Our sea bream export was $371 million in 2022, increasing to $417 million in the same period of 2023.
Turkish Salmon
Developed through recent R&D studies in the Turkish aquaculture industry, Turkish salmon, which contains Omega-3 and is more delicious and satisfying than Norwegian salmon, reached $376 million in 2023, marking a 9 percent increase and becoming the star of aquaculture exports. The water conditions and climate, particularly in the Black Sea region, provide ideal conditions for salmon farming, supporting increased production. Advances in salmon farming technologies and the establishment of modern facilities are also factors that enhance production efficiency. The rise in salmon production parallels Türkiye’s growing competitiveness in international markets. Efforts to increase our share in existing markets for salmon exports and to explore new markets are encouraging production. In 2023, 63,000 tons of salmon were sold to 52 countries from Türkiye.
Trout
Türkiye ranks second globally in trout production, further highlighting its dominance in the aquaculture sector. Rainbow trout is widely farmed in the rich water courses of Central Anatolia. With this potential, Türkiye is the largest producer of rainbow trout. Our trout export also reached $112 million in 2023.
Bluefin Tuna
The most widely known species of tuna in Türkiye is bluefin tuna, which has the highest economic value in world trade. Farming is typically done by fattening individuals caught from natural stocks. Bluefin tuna is a key ingredient in traditional sushi and sashimi, so nearly all of the bluefin tuna grown in Türkiye is exported to Japan, generating approximately $70 million annually.
These products are shipped in various forms, including fresh, chilled, frozen whole or fillet, and even smoked.
Other available species in Türkiye include blue spotted seabream, anchovy, real dentex, pink dentex, royal seabass, black mussel, clam, shrimp, sepia, octopus, frog legs, and topshell.
As noted above, our industry has established a significant global presence through ongoing investments. Additionally, with intensive promotional activities and marketing efforts, our exports continue to increase each year.
As the Aegean Exporters’ Associations, we participate in trade shows, conduct promotional projects, organise trade delegations, etc., to enhance the awareness of Turkish seafood in target countries. In the upcoming period, we plan to continue adding value to our exports in 2024 by increasing our promotional activities. Moreover, we will participate in international trade fairs to further boost our exports to existing markets and open new ones, while continuing to promote our industry on the global stage.
Participation was achieved by setting up a booth or visiting to explore the seafood industry at the ‘Winter Fancy Food Show’ held in Las Vegas, USA, on January 21-23, 2024; at the ‘Foodex Japan’ held in Tokyo, Japan, on March 5-8, 2024; at the ‘Seafood Expo North America’ held in Boston, USA, on March 10-12, 2024; at the ‘Seafood Expo Global’ held in Barcelona, Spain, on April 23-25, 2024; and at the ‘Summer Fancy Food Show’ held in New York, USA, on June 23-25, 2024. It is planned to participate in many more exhibitions by setting up a booth or visiting until the end of the year.
