Ankara: Trkiye aims to expand mussel farming and establish a "Turkish caviar" brand to become a major global producer of sturgeon and caviar, a senior Agriculture and Forestry Ministry official said. Turgay Turkyilmaz, director general of fisheries and aquaculture, emphasized the country's record seafood production, which has led to significant export growth.

According to Anadolu Agency, Trkiye's seafood production reached a record 1.037 million tons last year, with 627,000 tons coming from aquaculture and 410,000 tons from wild catch. Aquaculture now accounts for 60% of total production, underscoring the sector's increasing importance. Seafood exports totaled 288,000 tons worth $2.25 billion in 2025, generating a foreign trade surplus of nearly $1.9 billion.

"The positive momentum has continued into 2026. In the first six months of this year, our exports increased 13% year-on-year to reach $1.1 billion. We aim to achieve at least $2.4 billion in seafood exports by the end of the year," Turkyilmaz stated. Key contributors to this growth include Turkish salmon, sea bream, sea bass, rainbow trout, and bluefin tuna, with aquaculture products making up over 80% of total shipments. Trkiye exports seafood to more than 100 countries, with sea bream and sea bass holding strong positions in the European Union market.

Turkyilmaz highlighted the success of Turkish salmon exports, noting that Russia and East Asian countries have become the main export markets. The production of Turkish salmon has surged from 5,000 tons in 2016 to 75,000 tons today, with export revenues reaching around $500 million. China is expected to become a key market following a new trade cooperation agreement, and the Turkic states have also been identified as important export destinations.

Looking ahead, Turkiye aims to increase seafood exports to $3 billion by 2028. However, challenges persist, including rising sea temperatures, climate change, invasive species, and marine mucilage. The ministry is addressing these issues through science-based production planning, stricter inspections, sustainable fishing practices, and modern aquaculture techniques.