Minister Yumaklı: Aquaculture exports are expected to approach 2 billion dollars by the end of the year

In his statement on the occasion of November 21, World Fisheries Day, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı expressed his “get well soon” wishes to the fishermen affected by the storm and downpour.

Stating that they will continue to support the fishing industry while protecting aquatic assets in the sea within the framework of sustainability principles, Yumaklı said that in this context, they have provided 17.9 billion liras of Special Consumption Tax discounted fuel support to fishermen in the last 20 years, 12.6 billion liras of aquaculture support and 341.9 million liras of small-scale fishing support. he underlined.

Yumaklı stated that a total of 30.8 billion lira was paid in this context and reminded that Turkey’s aquatic products exports reached 1.7 billion dollars in 2022. Yumaklı continued as follows:

“We expect aquaculture exports to approach 2 billion dollars by the end of 2023. Turkish fishermen fish in international waters from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, with agreements signed to evaluate their capacity. Our fishermen fish approximately 1 million tons, which is at least 3 times the amount of fish caught in the country’s waters. It catches fish in international waters and oceans.”

100 million fish for the 100th anniversary

Drawing attention to the importance of establishing a commission in the Parliament for the problems of the fisheries and aquaculture sector, Yumaklı underlined that the report prepared by the commission will be guiding.

Emphasizing that natural resources are not infinite, Yumaklı pointed out that not only fish but the entire marine ecosystem should be protected.

Yumaklı stated that they released 15 different species of fish into the water resources, including shabut fish in Southeastern Anatolia, grouper, grouper and coral in the Mediterranean, sea bream and sea bass in the Aegean, turbot, sturgeon and natural trout in the Black Sea, and stated that they released 15 different species of fish into the water resources on the 100th anniversary of the Republic. He noted that they increased the amount of fish farming to 100 million fish.