September 27, 2022

Turkey tops as major aquaculture producer in EU

With an annual 800,000 tonnes of aquaculture production in the past three years, Turkey has ranked first among European Union countries, according to data from the country's Agriculture and Forestry Ministry.

Some 328,000 tonnes of this production in 2021 came from hunting and 472,000 tons from aqua farming. As production rose, the industry's exports also increased. Some $1.4 billion worth of 239,000 tonnes of aquaculture products were exported last year, while the country's imports amounted to 105,000 tonnes or $217 million which made the country a net exporter - $1.2 billion - of aquaculture products.

In the production of beam, bass and steelhead fish, Turkey ranked first and second in the world, respectively.

The industry shipped its products to 106 nations last year with 55% of all exports going to the EU, while Turkey imported from 75 countries in 2021, mostly feeder fish and some mollusk species that are produced in the country.

- Daily News