By Emir Yildirim
ISTANBUL (AA) – Türkiye has set a record for aquaculture production in consecutive years, with the country producing 1.7 million tons in 2023, up 18.6% year-on-year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ibrahim Yumakli said aquaculture production in 2022 was 849,800 tons, which was also a record.
Yumakli highlighted that the record production was achieved thanks to the ministry’s support, policies, and projects, which gave momentum to increased sustainable aquaculture production.
“273,900 tons of European anchovies were caught in 2023, up 117% year-on-year, leading to a significant increase in our total production,” the minister said.
“It is important to ensure the sustainability of this species instead of overfishing, and to have it on our plates for many years to come, which is why we are putting all our efforts towards that goal by including the European anchovy in the seven fish species that are in our production planning list,” he added.
Yumakli noted that the Turkish salmon species was the major increase, up 45% annually, reaching over 66,000 tons last year.
He underlined that the ministry will continue its efforts to ensure sustainable aquaculture farming for bream, sea bass, and mussel species.
He added that Türkiye exported aquaculture products worth $1.7 billion in total to approximately 100 countries in 2023.