A Perspective on Sustainable Aquaculture in Turkey

In order for an endevour for the benefit of humanity to be continuous, it is essential that this activity is also of a nature to protect the environment. It is obvious that we, who work in aquaculture, should be much more careful in this regard.

We are recently becoming aware that we made unforeseen mistakes in the 1970s when we first started aquaculture in Turkey, and in this period we believed that we were being very careful. Of course, as aquaculture progressed and educational opportunities increased, so did our views. For example, in the 1975-80s when the first cage systems were discussed, for small net cage units of 4x4 or 8x8 m dimensions, we were looking for small and sheltered areas that do not receive much wave activity. Therefore, many small businesses were established close, 20-50 m away from the coast. During those years, our technical knowledge was not enough. We also didn't have the option to choose any other path, because there was no capital to set up big net cages that could hold 100-200 tons of fish like today. In the 90s the number of larval breeding hatcheries increased, and larger enterprises began to be established. When we arrived in the 2000s, possible pollution problems began to arise in sheltered bays close to the coast.

Especially in terms of tourism, objections were increasing. As a result, as we approached 2010, the cage units were forced to move away from the coast, and, large cage units were established 1-2 km from the coast, that will not have a negative effect on tourism. In the coming years we expect developments that will not harm the environment with the technologies that will exist in locations 8-10 km or even further from the coast, even in the open seas, and the establishment of underwater large diving cages. As a result, sustainable aquaculture will be implemented with less negative impact on the environment and will have a significant contribution to the economy.

In addition to the marine studies, we started to work in inland waters on trout breeding in the 1970s. During those years, if a facility was established in a stream or creek for production, we would never allow a second. Because we thought that the polluted water coming from a facility would harm a business established near this facility. I believe we were right in our thinking. At the time we did not have deep studies and research on the subject. Later, we tried to expand the production areas by evaluating every possibility. However, some of our lakes and dams have problems due to too many projects. Currently, we can say that we are much more sensitive to the environmental impact of fish farming.

Of course, as technologies improved, our possibilities to build large cages have increased. It is a fact that we have to expand facility areas in order to increase production. Now the share of aquaculture has increased in aquatic production. In terms of quantity, we provide half of the total fish production from farms. In terms of value, 60% of the income from aquaculture is provided by aquaculture. It is also a fact that trying to expand these efforts is of great importance in terms of balanced nutrition of our people.

At this stage, ensuring a sustainable production is an issue that cannot be neglected. It is necessary to develop balanced projects that will improve cultivation without harming the environment. In addition to the efforts to benefit from the near marine areas, we have to create areas where large offshore enterprises will be established. To increase the fish consumption per capita in our country with a population of more than 80 million, it should be one of our country's goals to increase the production, currently approaching 400 thousand tons, to 500 thousand tons and to one million tons in the next decades. In order to meet this need, while developing new projects, we have to apply conditions and methods that do not harm the environment in order to ensure a sustainable production. Therefore, it is critical that our universities and our government consider and support this type of research. Meanwhile, scientists and environmentalists also have important duties in the implementation of these goals. Thus, it is certain that while developing fish production projects and endeavours, sustainability is a criterion that should never be neglected for the success of the endeavours.

It should be emphasized that for future sustainable aquaculture endeavours, current research emphasizing sustainability is very important and cannot be neglected.