Aquaculture Sector Targets $2.5 Billion in Exports

September 25, 2026 · Tarım Pusulası

The aquaculture sector, meeting with international representatives at the Future Fish Eurasia Fair held in Izmir, has raised its export target to $2.5 billion.

Turkey's aquaculture sector met with international representatives at the Future Fish Eurasia Fair held in Izmir, with the aim of increasing its current export volume of $2.3 billion to $2.5 billion. The 12th International Aquaculture Export and Processing, Aquaculture and Fishing Technologies Fair, hosted by Fuar İzmir and organized by Avrasya Fuarcılık, is hosting 165 companies and brands from 26 countries between September 24-26. Within the scope of the organization, fish processing machinery, cage systems, and aquaculture equipment are being introduced to industry professionals.

Sinan Kızıltan, Chairman of the Turkish Aquaculture and Animal Products Sector Board, noted that the sector's exports, which were $50 million in 1999, have now risen to $2.3 billion. Stating that production has evolved from earthen ponds and wooden cages to a structure that exports technology and R&D, Sinan Kızıltan, Chairman of the Turkish Aquaculture and Animal Products Sector Board, highlighted the rapid growth of Turkish salmon:

Turkish firms currently provide technical guidance to aquaculture facilities and investments in various countries.

Hüseyin Akbaş, Deputy Director General of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, stated that the share of aquaculture in production has surpassed wild catch. According to data announced by Hüseyin Akbaş, Turkey set a record in the history of the Republic with a total aquaculture production of 1,037,000 tons in 2025, with 627,000 tons of this amount coming from aquaculture. Turkey, which ranks first among European Union countries in aquaculture, is reportedly targeting $2.5 billion in exports for 2026.

Fatima Camara, Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Economy of the Republic of Guinea, who attended the fair, stated that their country has a marine fishing potential of approximately 905,000 tons as of 2026. Expressing their need for international cooperation in areas such as modern hatchery setup, fish feed industry, and production technologies, Fatima Camara invited Turkish investors to her country. Emphasizing their focus on innovation and technology transfer, the Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Economy of the Republic of Guinea reiterated her call:

Şebnem Türe, a Member of the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Council, pointed out that two-thirds of Turkey's $2.3 billion aquaculture exports are met by the Aegean Region. Şebnem Türe reminded that marine resources are limited and stated that production and export increases must be carried out with environmental sustainability principles.

Within the scope of Future Fish Eurasia, countries such as Norway and Libya are participating with national pavilions, sharing their sector experiences and commercial connections with visitors. The AquaFeed Eurasia International Feed Conference, held concurrently, discusses aquaculture feed formulations, sustainable feeding models, and the latest production techniques. The fair, aiming for sector representatives to establish new export markets, will continue to host commercial meetings at Fuar İzmir Hall C until Saturday, September 26.

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