Despite this year’s devasting earthquake, the European country remains focused on increasing its domestic fish catch and its exports

The 6 February 2023 earthquake that shook Turkey and neighbouring Syria and took tens of thousands of lives massively disrupted the Turkish seafood industry, with the immediate suspension of all fishing and aquaculture activities, but the country remains steadfast in its resolve to implement ambitious plans geared towards raising both its domestic fish output and its exports this year.

Turkey’s trout production heartland – Kahramanmaraş province in the southeast of the country – was at the epicentre of the earthquake. According to calculations made by Kahramanmaraş authorities, the earthquake ked to a 40% drop in the region’s fish production. Historically, the area has produced up to 17 million tonnes of trout per year, with its exports going to 54 countries.