Future Fish Eurasia Fair Opens its Doors in Izmir
· denizhaber.net
The Future Fish Eurasia and AquaFeed Eurasia event in Izmir brought together global representatives of the aquaculture sector, hosting 165 brands from 26 countries.
Hosted by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and organized by Avrasya Fuarcılık, the Future Fish Eurasia – 12th International Aquaculture Export and Processing, Aquaculture and Fisheries Technologies Fair, along with the AquaFeed Eurasia International Feed Conference, have opened their doors. The fair, held at Izmir C Hall between September 24-26, brought together 165 companies and brands from 26 countries. The opening ceremony was attended by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Council Member Şebnem Türe, Guinea Republic Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Economy Fatima Camara, and Norwegian Ambassador to Ankara Andreas Gaarder.
At the fair, one of Turkey's most prestigious gatherings in the field of aquaculture, a wide range of products are being showcased, from fish processing technologies and modern aquaculture equipment to marine cage systems and fish feed production lines. Norway and Libya are represented with special country pavilions at the event, while domestic and international professionals have the opportunity to examine next-generation production models. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Council Member Şebnem Türe highlighted the city's sectoral importance, reminding that approximately two-thirds of Turkey's aquaculture exports in 2025 are expected to come from producers based in the Aegean Region.
Speaking at the opening, Deputy Director General of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Hüseyin Akbaş, touched upon the sector's strategic role in food security and employment. Akbaş announced that Turkey will achieve the highest aquaculture production in the history of the Republic in 2025 with 1 million 37 thousand tons. He stated that 627 thousand tons of this production comes from aquaculture, and Turkey holds a global leadership position in sea bream and sea bass farming, ranking first across the European Union.
Sinan Kızıltan, Chairman of the Sector Board of Turkish Seafood and Animal Products Exporters' Associations, stated that the sector's exports have grown from $50 million in 1999 to $2.3 billion today. According to ministry data, Turkish seafood is delivered to approximately 100 countries, and the export target set for 2026 has been announced as $2.5 billion. Sector representatives emphasize that modern processing facilities and high-standard hatcheries play a critical role in meeting increasing global demand.
Drawing attention to the risks posed by climate change and marine pollution, Deputy Director General of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Hüseyin Akbaş, emphasized the importance of energy efficiency and digitalization with the following words:
Speaking at the ceremony, Guinea Republic Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Economy Fatima Camara expressed their openness to aquaculture technology transfer and joint investments with Turkey in areas such as fish feed production facilities and hatchery infrastructure.
| Value | Period | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 26 countries | Fair period | Number of participating countries |
| 165 units | Fair period | Number of participating companies and brands |
| 1,037,000 tonnes | 2025 | Total aquaculture production |
| 627,000 tonnes | 2025 | Aquaculture production |
| 100 countries | 2026 | Number of countries exported to |
| 2.5 billion $ | 2026 | Aquaculture export target |
| 50 million $ | 1999 | Previous period export revenue |
| 2.3 billion $ | Current period | Current export revenue |