TURKEY
Quality, traceability and food safety will determine the success of the fish farming industry
Effective communication with the consumer is crucial Hasan Girenes is President of Agriculture and Fisheries in the Yasar Group, one of Turkey’s largest conglomerates. He is also Chairman of the Izmir Fish Producers’ Association. In this article he reflects on how the aquaculture industry can capitalise on the growing importance of seafood.
W
e are currently experiencing a global seafood trend. Demand for fish and seafood is growing, and all prognoses predict it will increase further. As more and more consumers become aware of how they can improve their health by eating seafood, demand will surely keep rising. I think, compared to other animal proteins, the seafood sector is the most complex and diverse. It is based on more species and it comprises a vast array of different technologies, which tends to complicate the analysis of emerging trends. It is clearly the most international of the food subsectors. Aquaculture is becoming a very big market: nearly half the seafood consumed in the world today is farm-raised. In my opinion, it represents a revolution in the production of fish and seafood. It appears to be the most realistic and feasible way to provide quality fish products to consumers.
Hasan Girenes, President of Agriculture and Fisheries in the Yasar Group, and Chairman of the Izmir Fish Producers’ Association.
Fish farming is key to food security
the long term. So fish farming is a key way to meet the demand in a world hungry for protein. Aquaculture has been growing at three times the rate of world meat production since the 1950s.
flavor profiles. Improved packaging, product differentiation and the adoption of quality management systems are some of the ways that the industry can add value to production.
Aquaculture is a unique industry in many ways. And among those, its role in ensuring food security stands out. Most traditional wild fisheries are being overexploited or harvested above a level which is believed to be sustainable in
There is a growing appetite for value-added seafood products and it is mainly fuelled by changing lifestyles. Value-added seafood products are really coming on strong due to their convenience, versatility and different
Turkey – a wealth of new opportunities
www.eurofishmagazine.com
In Turkey, the seafood industry is still immature, allowing many opportunities for new product development and branding. With
more than 70 million consumers and 30 million tourist potential annually, Turkey is a huge market for fish consumption. Change in lifestyles and increase in incomes are the main factors accelerating consumption. The industry effectively follows general consumer trends such as the demand for increased health and convenience. People are making more conscious decisions each day to improve the quality of their health and wellness. Eurofish Magazine 1/ 2012
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