Türkiye records highest-ever fish output as exports reach US$2 billion

Türkiye – Türkiye produced a record 1.02 million tonnes of fish in 2025, marking the highest annual output since the founding of the republic, according to figures shared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry ahead of official statistical publication.

Speaking at a meeting with fishing communities in Sarıyer, Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı said ministry records indicated that approximately 600,000 tonnes were generated through aquaculture, while capture fisheries contributed about 400,000 tonnes over the course of the year.

As a result, farmed fish represented close to 60 percent of total production, demonstrating the continued expansion of marine and inland aquaculture operations, particularly along the Black Sea and Aegean coasts.

Although final data will be released later by the Turkish Statistical Institute, Yumaklı stated that the preliminary figures already exceeded all previous production levels recorded nationally.

Alongside higher volumes, the minister reported that fisheries exports reached US$2 billion in 2025, linking export performance to stable output across both industrial fishing and aquaculture segments.

According to Yumaklı, the sector’s performance followed the implementation of revised production planning policies, including catch quotas designed to regulate fishing pressure and coordinate harvest levels across species.

Climate pressures and management measures

Addressing environmental conditions, the minister said the industry continued to face challenges linked to climate change, including warming seas and altered fish migration patterns, which have affected fishing seasons and regional availability.

Despite these pressures, he said fishing activity proceeded without major disruption during the year, supported by regulatory frameworks developed through consultations with fishing cooperatives and aquaculture producers.

Yumaklı described the quota system as a central management tool, explaining that it was intended to align annual production with long-term stock sustainability rather than short-term yield increases.

He added that maintaining a balance between resource conservation and commercial use remained a priority for authorities overseeing marine and inland fisheries.

Within capture fisheries, anchovy landings were highlighted as exceeding expectations, with production reaching about 245,000 tonnes in 2025, making it one of the largest contributors to wild catch volumes.

Looking ahead, the minister said the government planned to continue working with industry stakeholders throughout 2026 to maintain production levels under existing management rules, while monitoring environmental and market conditions affecting the sector.

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