Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
10th International Çukurova Agricultural and Veterinary Congress, Adana, Türkiye, 22 Haziran 2025, (Tam Metin Bildiri)
Marine cage aquaculture has emerged as one of the most dynamic sectors within Türkiye's
aquaculture industry, driven by increasing global seafood demand and the country’s strategic
geographical position. Türkiye’s long coastline along the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Black
Seas provides favourable environmental conditions for marine fish farming, particularly for
high-value species such as gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), European seabass
(Dicentrarchus labrax), and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Over the past two decades,
significant advancements in cage design, feed management, and health monitoring systems
have contributed to substantial increases in production capacity and export volume. This paper
aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the development, current status, and future
prospects of marine cage aquaculture in Türkiye. The sector's economic contributions,
technological infrastructure, and regulatory framework are analyzed in detail. Despite its rapid
growth, the industry faces several challenges, including environmental concerns, spatial
limitations, disease outbreaks, and the impacts of climate change. Moreover, the need for
sustainable practices and improved integration of smart technologies such as IoT, AI, and
remote sensing remains critical for long-term resilience and competitiveness. According to the
last five years of data, sea cage farming in Turkey has shown steady growth. The total
production amount, which was 202,700 tons in 2019, increased by approximately 18% to
239,800 tons by 2023. The main source of this increase is the production increases in traditional
species such as sea bass and sea bream. Sea bass production increased by 18% in the 2019-
2023 period, while sea bream production increased by 15%. Trout raised in marine conditions
has also come to the forefront as an alternative production area in recent years, and has recorded
a significant increase in production, especially in the years after 2020. Although tuna production
is carried out in more limited quantities compared to other species, it maintains its economic
importance due to its high added value. This production model, which is carried out by feeding
tuna obtained through hunting in cages, has a strategic place in Turkey's commercial
aquaculture exports specific to the Mediterranean. In general, Turkey continues to grow
sustainably in the sea cage aquaculture sector in terms of both species diversity and production
volume, which strengthens the country's competitiveness in the international market. However,
managing this growth within the framework of environmental sustainability and technological
efficiency is a critical requirement for the future of the sector.