Turkey has been growing steadily in the seafood industry, and its 2022 results prove it. The Turkish Statistical Institute reported a 6.2% increase in fish production and a 2.1% increase in fish catches. Additionally, the aquaculture industry also added milestones, reaching an increase of 9.1%.
Aquaculture is the most remarkable segment of the figures, reaching a share of 60.6% and accounting for an impressive 514,805 tons. Fishing also accounted for 30% of total production, reaching 335,003 tons. Other marine products and inland fishing contributed 5.6% and 3.9%, respectively.
The year 2022 has been promising for the fishing industry on both fronts. Both seafood and inland fisheries have experienced increases in their catch volumes. Seafood fishing has grown a 2.3%, while inland fishing has shown an increase of 0.4%. As for specific data on sea fish, it is estimated that 254,535 tons were caught. Included in this category, the most notable species has been the anchovy (125,980 tons), followed by the bonito (49,892 tons) and sardine (16,729 tons). These results consolidate the importance and potential of the fishing industry in the current financial panorama.
According to research conducted in Current Trends in Natural Sciences, aquaculture has emerged as the fourth largest industry in Turkey. An industry that continues to grow and, according to this research, forecasts a total production of 700,000 tons by 2050.
Thus, aquaculture has become one of the fundamental pillars of the seafood industry, showing an astonishing growth of 9.1% in the last period analyzed. in figures, the data reveals a marine production of 368,742 tons and 146,063 tons in inland waters.
Within farmed fish species, trout has emerged as the undisputed leader in inland waters, with an impressive production of 145,649 tons. In the marine arena, sea bass and sea bream have taken the lead, with high catch volumes: 156,602 tons of sea bass and 152,469 tons of sea bream.
These findings not only showcase the remarkable efficiency and continuous expansion of aquaculture in Turkey but also underscore its capacity to enhance the variety of fish production and cater to the escalating need for fresh, high-quality seafood.
