Türkiye’s fishing industry is a vital part of the country’s economy and culture, shaped by its unique geography with long coastlines along the Black Sea, Aegean Sea, and Mediterranean Sea. The industry’s top catches include anchovy (hamsi), which is by far the most significant both in volume and cultural importance, especially in the Black Sea region. Other important species are sardines, bonito, bluefish, mackerel, and red mullet. Inland fisheries also contribute, with species like carp and trout. Türkiye’s fishing history dates back centuries, with traditional methods evolving into a modern industry after the 1950s, marked by increased mechanization and the development of fishing fleets. Today, Türkiye is among the leading fish producers in the region, balancing wild capture with a growing aquaculture sector to meet domestic demand and export markets.
| Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European anchovy | 125,980 |
| 2 | Atlantic bonito | 49,892 |
| 3 | Striped venus | 28,305 |
| 4 | European pilchard(=Sardine) | 16,729 |
| 5 | European sprat | 11,162 |
| 6 | Mediterranean horse mackerel | 10,982 |
| 7 | Tarek | 9,991 |
| 8 | Marine molluscs nei | 9,250 |
| 9 | Goldfish | 8,149 |
| 10 | Whiting | 7,690 |
| 11 | Silversides(=Sand smelts) nei | 7,470 |
| 12 | Bluefish | 5,495 |
| 13 | Atlantic horse mackerel | 3,948 |
| 14 | Common carp | 3,359 |
| 15 | Deep-water rose shrimp | 3,355 |
| 16 | Mediterranean mussel | 3,221 |
| 17 | Shads nei | 3,147 |
| 18 | Atlantic chub mackerel | 2,493 |
| 19 | Mullets nei | 2,393 |
| 20 | Bogue | 2,311 |
| 21 | Atlantic bluefin tuna | 2,292 |
| 22 | Surmullet | 1,304 |
| 23 | Red mullet | 1,196 |
| 24 | Natantian decapods nei | 1,170 |
| 25 | Blue whiting(=Poutassou) | 1,084 |
| 26 | Red porgy | 1,012 |
| 27 | Bullet tuna | 809 |
| 28 | Common cuttlefish | 714 |
| 29 | Seven khramulya | 703 |
| 30 | Euro-American crayfishes nei | 662 |
| 31 | Freshwater molluscs nei | 573 |
| 32 | Common squids nei | 560 |
| 33 | Gilthead seabream | 559 |
| 34 | Turbot | 491 |
| 35 | Little tunny(=Atl.black skipj) | 410 |
| 36 | Swordfish | 379 |
| 37 | Freshwater fishes nei | 354 |
| 38 | Pike-perch | 311 |
| 39 | European eel | 300 |
| 40 | Common sole | 292 |
| 41 | Marine fishes nei | 284 |
| 42 | Common octopus | 279 |
| 43 | Sea cucumbers nei | 255 |
| 44 | Groupers nei | 232 |
| 45 | Sea trout | 210 |
| 45 | Frogs | 210 |
| 47 | Garfish | 186 |
| 48 | Chub | 178 |
| 49 | Leerfish | 173 |
| 50 | Picarels nei | 156 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.