Fishermen operating in the Aegean Region achieved remarkable success with their seafood exports during the January-November period of 2023. The Aegean Seafood and Animal Products Exporters’ Association increased its export from $984 million to $1.04 billion, marking a 6% growth and becoming one of the few food product groups to surpass $1 billion in the 11-month period.

Seafood Dominates among Aegean Exporters

Within the Aegean Exporters’ Associations, the seafood sector became the only product group surpassing the $1 billion mark. Out of the $5.18 billion worth of food product exports conducted by the Aegean Exporters’ Associations in 2023, the seafood sector accounted for a 21% share, emphasizing its significant role in the industry.

Egean Fishermen Shape Turkey’s Exports

Egean fishermen were responsible for two-thirds of Turkey’s $1.54 billion seafood exports during the January-November period of 2023. This achievement reflects the substantial investments in seafood cultivation in the region and the increased capacity in the sector.

Statement from the President of the Aegean Seafood and Animal Products Exporters’ Association

Bedri Girit, President of the Aegean Seafood and Animal Products Exporters’ Association, stated that fishermen have made significant investments in seafood cultivation in the last 25 years. He highlighted that seafood exports, which were $59 million in 2000, reached $1.04 billion during the January-November period of 2023. Girit also expressed the association’s goal to close the year 2023 with $1.15 billion in seafood exports in the Aegean Region, contributing a total of $1.7 billion in foreign currency to Turkey.

Seabass Leading, Italy the Top Importer

Girit pointed out that seabass is the leading product in seafood exports, with $346 million, followed by $149 million from Turkish salmon exports, $60 million from trout exports, and $40 million from other seafood exports. Italy topped the list of importing countries with $130 million, followed by the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation with $128.6 million and $127 million, respectively. Egean fishermen also succeeded in exporting $108 million worth of seafood to the Netherlands and $91 million to Greece.

This impressive performance in seafood exports from the Aegean Region indicates the strong position of the fishing industry in the global market.