Türkiye eyes 'Turkish caviar' brand as seafood exports hit record

Türkiye's Agriculture and Forestry Ministry is working to establish a global "Turkish caviar" brand while expanding mussel farming, as record seafood production of 1.037 million tons last year positions the country to become a major sturgeon and premium seafood exporter, a senior official said.

Record harvest drives export growth

Turgay Turkyilmaz, director general of fisheries and aquaculture, said aquaculture now accounts for 60% of total output after production reached 627,000 tons from farming operations alongside 410,000 tons from wild catch. Seafood shipments generated $2.25 billion in export revenue during 2025, creating a foreign trade surplus of nearly $1.9 billion, according to ministry data.

"The positive momentum has continued into 2026. In the first six months of this year, our exports increased 13% year-on-year to reach $1.1 billion. We aim to achieve at least $2.4 billion in seafood exports by the end of the year," Turkyilmaz said, noting that Türkiye currently ships seafood to more than 100 countries worldwide.

Turkish salmon powers overseas sales

Sea bream, sea bass, rainbow trout, Turkish salmon and bluefin tuna form the backbone of export volumes, with aquaculture products representing more than 80% of total shipments, Turkyilmaz stated. "Sea bream and sea bass hold a strong position in the European Union market. One of the biggest success stories in recent years has been Turkish salmon exports," he said, adding that production has surged from 5,000 tons in 2016 to 75,000 tons currently while generating approximately $500 million in annual export revenue.

Russia and East Asian countries serve as primary markets for the premium fish alongside growing demand in Turkic states, the US and Canada, he noted. China is expected to become an increasingly important destination after the two countries reached a trade cooperation agreement, he added.

Environmental challenges persist

Officials have set a target of $3 billion in annual seafood exports by 2028, Turkyilmaz said. Despite these ambitions, rising sea temperatures, climate change, invasive species and marine mucilage continue to threaten the sector's expansion, requiring science-based production planning, stricter inspections and sustainable fishing practices to minimize ecological impacts, he stated.