Seafood Exports Hit Record $2.3 Billion
· GıdaTarım
Turkey's seafood sector reached an all-time high last year with a production volume of 1 million 37 thousand tons and exports totaling approximately $2.3 billion to nearly 100 countries.
Historic Production Record in Seafood
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı shared sector-specific data at the opening of the 2026-2027 Fishing Season held at the Güzelbahçe Yalı Fish Port. According to Ministry data, which indicates that 1,600 large-scale fishing vessels are operating across Turkey, a total production volume of 1 million 37 thousand tons was reached last year. The sector's exports to approximately 100 countries provided a foreign currency inflow of $2.3 billion to the Turkish economy.
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı made the following statements regarding the sector's reached capacity:
"Today, Turkey is not just a country that fishes alone in seafood. We are talking about a Turkey that is a regional leader with its modern fleet, qualified human resources, technology, and export capacity. The numbers speak for themselves. Let's reiterate them. Last year, we broke the record in the history of our Republic with a production of exactly 1 million 37 thousand tons. We have very valuable businessmen exporting to nearly 100 countries. The amount of foreign currency we have brought to our country through both aquaculture and production is $2.3 billion."
Sectoral Employment and Production Planning
According to the Ministry's statement, the fishing sector provides direct employment to 250,000 people across Turkey. Minister Yumaklı stated that sustainable fishing and aquaculture policies are being implemented and announced that the production planning steps initiated in 2024 are being carried out flawlessly in the field of aquatic products.
Emphasizing that planning, financing, and inspection steps are being handled in a holistic manner, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı said:
"We are acting with a proactive approach, with decisions that calculate the future of the sector and are meticulously crafted. We want to state that we plan and oversee every step as a whole, from production planning to financing, from inspection to export. When we started production planning in 2024, we went through an intensive work process to include aquatic products in this production planning. Our goal is for our fishermen to profit, for the sector to profit. For our citizens to access quality food at affordable prices. And to leave our seas to future generations as they should be."