Alabalık fish raised in the reservoirs of Kahramanmaraş and sent all around the world generated an income of $30 million in 9 months last year. Fish producers are exporting fish to 54 countries.

In Kahramanmaraş, a city leading in fish processing plant capacity, fishermen produced 10,000 tons of trout and 80 million fish fry with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry last year. Continuing their production in fish farms established in the city’s reservoirs, fishermen exported 6,000 tons of trout to 54 countries, including Germany and Russia, in the first 9 months of this year, bringing in $30 million in foreign exchange. The Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, Ramazan Bilir, mentioned that various supports were provided to the businesses by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry after the disaster on February 6, 2023 to ensure the continuation of production. Emphasizing the significant role of Kahramanmaraş in fish production, Bilir stated that fish raised in the city’s reservoirs were starting to take their place in world cuisines again. Bilir mentioned, “Kahramanmaraş is the first in terms of fish processing plant capacity in Turkey, and third in Europe. Our goal is to increase our production to 20,000 tons by 2025.”

Bilir stated that the fishery sector, like all other sectors, was negatively affected by earthquakes, reminding that the cages and installations in the facilities in the city were damaged, causing approximately 30 million lira in losses for 14 out of 68 producers. Bilir added that within the scope of the support provided to the affected producers due to the earthquake, the damaged cages were replaced, the equipment in the facilities were repaired and restored. Ibrahim Sarı, the President of the Kahramanmaraş Fishermen’s Association, also emphasized the city’s important position in fish exports, stating that salmon and trout raised in production facilities established in the reservoirs were exported to 54 countries. Sarı expressed that Kahramanmaraş is like a trout city and mentioned that some facilities in the sector were damaged due to the earthquake, but with the support of the government, they quickly recovered and resumed exports.