The Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Ibrahim Yumakli has announced that fish production in Turkey reached a record of 1.02 million tons in 2025, marking the highest level in the country’s history.

Speaking to Anadolu during a meeting with fishermen on the last day of 2025 in Istanbul’s Sariyer district, Yumakli said that the quota system established in production planning has turned out to be very effective.

“Fish production in Turkey reached 1.02 million tons in 2025, breaking the all-time record in the history of the Republic. This is really a massive figure,” Yumakli said.

– Fisheries exports close to $2 billion

Emphasizing the sector’s contribution to the national economy, Yumakli said that fisheries exports have reached nearly $2 billion, calling it important moment for a country surrounded by seas on three sides.

“Climate change has affected all sectors, including fisheries, through rising sea temperatures and changes in fish migration routes. Sometimes, this made the year challenging, sometimes easier. But, overall, we finished 2025 without major incidents,” he said.

According to preliminary data from the ministry, about 400,000 tons of total production came from capture fisheries, while 600,000 tons were generated through aquaculture. The final figures are expected to be published by the Turkish Institute of Statistics in June.

– Balance between conservation and use

Furthermore, Yumakli emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between conservation and exploitation, thanking fishermen and farmers in this area for respecting sustainability rules.

He also emphasized that sardine production exceeded expectations, reaching 245 thousand tons in the year 2025.

“The year 2025 was a year in which our fisheries sector made a very significant contribution to Turkey’s economy. It was a record year for production in both capture fisheries and aquaculture,” Yumakli said.

Expressing hope for continued success, the Turkish minister said his ministry will continue to work in close coordination with the fisheries sector to ensure similar performance in 2026, wished all stakeholders a productive, safe and prosperous new year.

Source: prizrenpost