WHY PROCESS TURKISH SALMON?

Before we dive into our topic, let’s take a closer look at salmon itself.

Also known as the “trout fish,” salmon belongs to the family Salmonidae of the order Salmoniformes. More specifically, they come from the genera Salmo, Salmothymus, Stenodus, and Oncorhynchus. The Atlantic and Pacific salmon are species that are born in freshwater, migrate to the sea, and return to freshwater to spawn—a truly nomadic life. I couldn’t help but compare them to the resilient people of the Black Sea region of Turkey, who migrate to the highlands in the summer to produce natural goods and return home in winter, braving tough terrains. It seems the Black Sea Salmon got its name and character from adapting to this very spirit of the region.

Much like the fierce waves of the Black Sea, these fish show incredible endurance during migration, leaping meters-high waterfalls, swimming against strong currents, and persistently returning to their place of birth. Some say they find their way back by smell. Given that the word salmon comes from the Latin “Salmo,” which in turn stems from “salire” meaning “to jump,” I’m inclined to believe they truly jump their way home. Considering their journey spans 1,500–2,000 km, their ability to navigate and orient themselves reveals their extraordinary biological intelligence. All this while dodging predators like birds, bears, and other wildlife.

Salmon have been the subject of countless experiments and studies, leading to fascinating and diverse findings. We’ll explore these discoveries in detail in future articles.

Such a remarkable creature naturally holds substantial economic value. Norway, one of the world’s largest salmon producers, owes a significant part of its GDP to salmon farming and processing. Although Chile briefly overtook Norway in 2004 in terms of production volume, Norway continues to generate considerable income from salmon.

In Turkey, salmon production has gained major momentum in recent years due to increasing demand. Though it hasn’t yet reached its full potential, the sector is advancing steadily with substantial investments. The value of salmon isn’t limited to its delicious meat—caviar, a delicacy often associated with elite lifestyles, also contributes greatly to its market appeal. Russia, with its vast territory and cultural affinity for caviar, plays a major role in its global popularity.

Let’s not forget Japan’s iconic sushi, either.

So, how much of this value can we as a country capture? Surrounded by seas on three sides and moving steadily toward becoming a global brand, Turkey places great importance on producing and processing Turkish (Black Sea) Salmon. Significant government incentives are also being provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to encourage investment—especially when producers comply with EU standards. The Agriculture and Rural Development Support Institution (TKDK) closely monitors this progress and delivers strong support. One of the main areas of funding—coded as 103-4—is the Processing and Marketing of Aquatic Products. Investors in one of the 42 designated support provinces can receive expert consultation during the application process.

The significance given to salmon production is also evident from public initiatives. For example, a major workshop on salmon farming and processing was held in October of last year. Producer unions established under Law No. 5200 have increasingly been organizing and carrying out collaborative efforts focused on Black Sea Salmon. Thanks to technological advancements in processing and breeding techniques, the Black Sea’s unique ecological balance is now enabling the production of healthier and more sustainable fish.

Although still relatively new to the world market, Turkish Salmon—raised under high nutritional standards in the Black Sea—is gaining fast recognition. Competing with Atlantic salmon in size, appearance, meat quality, and market potential, Turkish salmon is opening new doors for the industry. Starting with an initial national target of 1,500 tons, Turkey raised its 2023 goal to 100,000 tons to meet increasing demand from countries like Japan, Russia, Spain, and Germany. With its outstanding taste and quality, Turkish Salmon has drawn the attention of international markets and expanded its export reach to 30 countries.

Although we’re still at the beginning of this journey, the sector will undoubtedly continue to offer high returns for investors and emerge as a fast-growing investment vehicle.

Investing in Turkish Salmon always pays off.

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