The Aegean Fishery and Animal Products Exporters’ Association was established on March 15, 1940. As a remarkable example of public-private sector cooperation, the Association serves as a bridge between exporters of aquatic and animal products and the government. Its mission is to promote and increase the exports of aquatic and animal products from both the Aegean region and Türkiye. The Association boasts over 800 member companies operating in areas such as fisheries, poultry, eggs, dairy products, and honey. Thanks to its geographical location and advanced technological infrastructure, the Aegean region is highly suited for aquatic and animal product farming. High-quality production, supported by exporters’ continuous investments to enhance quality, meets the specific demands of importing countries.
Türkiye, surrounded by seas on three sides, holds immense potential for both aquatic product production and export. The country’s sustainable production capacity, species diversity, compliance with European Union standards, expertise in processing, and geographic proximity to target markets are key advantages in achieving significant market shares in exports. The number of vertically integrated groups with hatcheries, feed factories, aquaculture farms, product packaging, and processing facilities is increasing year by year. Turkish fish are highly praised for their flavor.
The coasts of the Aegean and Mediterranean regions offer a unique habitat for sea bass and gilthead seabream, thanks to the favorable climate and warm sea conditions. Other Mediterranean species, such as meagre, gilt-head bream, common dentex, white grouper, red porgy, and sea bream, are also farmed. Tuna, a staple of Japanese cuisine, stands out as one of Türkiye’s most important export products.
With its abundant water resources, experienced workforce, and advanced technical capacity, Türkiye exports aquatic products to over 100 countries. While Norway and Chile dominate the global market for salmon exports, Türkiye has secured its place in the global market with Turkish salmon primarily exported to Russia, Vietnam, and Japan.