Turkey: 12 million dollar export of non-fish aquaculture products from the Aegean

The Aegean region of Turkey played a crucial role in the country's aquaculture exports, contributing $953 million, or 70% of the total $1.4 billion exports in 2021. In the first half of 2022, the region's fishery products exports reached $513.71 million. The main exports included sea bass, sea bream, and trout, with Russia, Italy, England, Spain, and Greece as the top markets. Besides fish, the region also exported seafood like shrimp, cuttlefish, squid, octopus, and sea cucumber. The United Arab Emirates, France, and Greece were the leading markets for other fishery products like black shell mussels, snails, and shrimp. Şahin Çakan, the President of the Izmir Fishermen's Businessmen's Association, highlighted the diversity of the Aegean Sea's produce and the potential for increased exports of non-fish products like cuttlefish, octopus, squid, and shrimp. These products, which have a high added value, are not only exported but also consumed domestically, with Spain and Italy being the primary markets.