by Prof Ercüment Genç, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Engineering, Ankara University, Türkiye and Dr Doğukan Kaya, Department of Animal Science, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Türkiye
Aquaculture is a branch of agriculture that takes place in water. In Türkiye, this activity initially developed around a limited number of farms and species. Over time, it has evolved into an integrated production ecosystem that includes hatcheries, the feed industry, marine and inland farms, health services, processing facilities, the cold chain and exports. The scale reached through this transformation is reflected in the 2025 figures.
Türkiye’s total fisheries and aquaculture production reached 1.037 million tonnes, of which 626.6 thousand tonnes came from aquaculture. Growing by 8.6 percent compared with the previous year, aquaculture accounted for 60.4 percent of total production. Of this production, 440.8 thousand tonnes were produced in marine waters and 185.8 thousand tonnes in inland waters.
Behind this growth lies the combined knowledge, ideas and labour of farmers and entrepreneurs, employees of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, including the General Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture and TAGEM, aquaculture engineers, veterinarians, farm workers, technical personnel, university and private-sector researchers, other public employees and specialists from different disciplines. Increasing production capacity is directly related to a more specialised workforce and an improving technical infrastructure.
As the scale of production increases, the criteria used to define success are also changing. Animal health and welfare, environmental performance, the contribution of employees, food safety and traceability are now being considered within the same framework as production volume. The future direction of the sector will be shaped by the strength of the links between science, technology, human resources, processing capacity and market knowledge, together with ethical principles, traceability, accountability and increasing transparency.
Efficiency in established species, diversity in production
Rainbow trout, European seabass and gilthead seabream form the main production backbone of aquaculture in Türkiye. In 2025, 185.3 thousand tonnes of trout were produced in inland waters, while marine production included 174.9 thousand tonnes of seabass and 164.6 thousand tonnes of seabream.
Given this production scale, even small improvements in feed utilisation, high-quality seed production, genetic improvement, disease resistance and adaptation to environmental conditions can produce important results. Such gains can reduce production costs and resource use while strengthening animal health, product quality and environmental performance.
The rise of Turkish salmon is one of the strong examples of the sector’s ability to transform its biological and technical experience into a new product and market opportunity. Rainbow trout, first grown in inland waters and then transferred to sea cages in the Black Sea, has developed a distinct commercial identity within a relatively short period. This development is based on the coordinated progress of the entire value chain, from seed and feed use to health management, harvest timing, processing, cold-chain management and marketing.
Initiatives in mussel and shrimp farming are also opening new areas for high-value products. Different fish and invertebrate species, together with microalgae and macroalgae, may also become part of production diversification to the extent that they are technically feasible and have a viable market.
Bringing new species into commercial production requires a regular supply of seed, appropriate nutrition and health management, economically viable production systems, suitable environmental conditions, processing opportunities and stable demand. Türkiye’s main advantage in this area is its infrastructure and capacity to transfer the hatchery, feed, health, farming and processing experience developed for established species into new production areas.
Processing, exports and market strength
The capacity reached by the processing industry has played a decisive role in the development of Türkiye’s fisheries and aquaculture sector. The value chain does not end with harvesting at the farm; it continues through filleting and portioning, freezing, smoking, packaging, quality control, cold-chain management and logistics. In this way, the same raw material can be transformed into different products and offered to different market segments.
The developing processing infrastructure has given the sector flexibility in adapting to the product, quality and supply expectations of different markets. Exports reaching around 100 countries, particularly in Europe, have created significant experience in regular supply, logistics and quality assurance.
Türkiye’s fisheries and aquaculture exports exceeded US$2.24 billion in 2025. While export volume declined compared with the previous year, total revenue increased by approximately 10.7 percent and the average export value per kilogram rose from US$6.46 to US$7.78. This result shows that added value has increased alongside production capacity.
Türkiye’s production and processing capacity, combined with its proximity to Europe, the Middle East and surrounding markets, creates an important commercial advantage. In the future, environmental performance, animal welfare, transparency of production processes and consumer confidence are also likely to have a stronger influence on the market value of products.
Knowledge, biotechnology and a developing R&D culture
One of the important elements of the sector’s transformation is the integration of a research and innovation culture into production systems. Universities and public research institutions generate knowledge in aquaculture, nutrition, fish health, genetics, environmental management and processing technologies, while some companies are also developing their own research infrastructure and R&D teams.
Biotechnology is among the main tools supporting this convergence. Genetic and genomic applications, molecular diagnostics, vaccine development, microbiota research, probiotics, alternative feed ingredients, functional feed studies and biofloc technology are expanding the scope of applied research in the field.
The TR.AQUA Platform, conducted under the TÜBİTAK 1004 Centre of Excellence Support Programme, is one of the prominent examples of this approach. The platform brings together academic institutions, public research units and the private sector working on genomic research, genetic improvement, alternative feed sources, vaccines, biosensors and diagnostic technologies within the same structure. Research institutes affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry also support this network through their work on farming techniques, bringing new species into culture, fish health, genetic resources, nutrition and product quality.
The sectoral value of research depends on whether the knowledge produced can be tested under farm conditions, made economically applicable and transformed into a product, method or management decision that farmers can use. The future impact of the R&D culture will depend on the speed at which knowledge moves from research into practice.
Health and traceability
Health management is also moving from treatment-oriented practices towards preventive and predictive approaches. Biosecurity, regular health monitoring, early diagnosis, appropriate nutrition and management of environmental conditions reduce disease risks. Controlled use of medicines and chemicals, recording of applications, compliance with withdrawal periods and monitoring of residues are complementary elements of animal health, food safety and consumer confidence.
Compliance with international animal-health and food-safety standards has strengthened the culture of recording and control, particularly in export-oriented farms in Türkiye. Linking information from the source of juveniles and feeds used to health applications, harvesting and processing conditions, the cold chain and distribution allows the product to be traced from farm to fork.
Traceability contributes to the rapid identification of the source of risks and to the verification of producer declarations. At the same time, the reliability of the system depends, before the technology itself, on the accuracy of the data, continuity of records and the ability of actors throughout the chain to work according to common standards. When official inspection, international standards, farm control systems and professional responsibility come together, a more transparent and reliable production structure emerges.
People and the social dimension of sustainability
Although the use of technology is increasing, aquaculture continues to depend on human knowledge, attention and labour. From hatcheries and marine cages to inland farms, feed mills and processing facilities, technical knowledge and field experience need to work together at every stage. As production systems become more complex, the importance of experienced employees also increases.
The accumulated knowledge of aquaculture engineers, veterinarians, technical personnel, farm and processing-plant employees, vessel crews and managers represents a form of sectoral capital. Maintaining this knowledge is associated with fair wages, safe working conditions, professional development, employee satisfaction and the transfer of institutional memory to younger generations.
Consumers’ growing interest in the origin of food, production conditions and environmental impacts is also widening the sector’s area of responsibility. As expectations for traceability and transparency increase, social and environmental responsibility is becoming one of the main elements of the relationship with the market.
Producing better
Türkiye’s aquaculture sector has reached an important point with its strong production and processing infrastructure, international market experience and developing research capacity. The development of the sector so far has produced a dynamic structure capable of adapting to changing conditions. The future strength of Türkiye’s aquaculture sector will depend on its ability to continue transforming production capacity into knowledge, trust and lasting value.
One of the fundamental conditions for better production is peace. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s words, “Peace at home, peace in the world,” continue to reflect the importance of international cooperation and collective effort today. From scientists and farmers to public employees and the workers who bring products from farm to fork, the contribution of all sector stakeholders forms the basis of access to reliable food. A stronger and more responsible production structure can be built by recognising the value of this shared effort.
