1.Aquaculture Production Methods

1.1.The Importance of Aquaculture Production Methods

1.1.1.Aquaculture and Its Importance

Aquaculture, also known as fish farming, is defined as the cultivation of aquatic organisms such as fish, mussels, shrimp, and other shellfish, as well as various aquatic plants (FAO, 2024a). Aquaculture production systems play a critical role in preventing overfishing, which places pressure on fish stocks. Due to this importance, it has emerged in recent years as a preferred method of food production over traditional fishing. Additionally, aquaculture production systems provide a sustainable alternative by enabling employment and food supply in regions without access to seas or inland waters, thanks to production methods that allow for the design of tanks and ponds of various scales. Through aquaculture production systems, protein-rich, healthy, and high-quality products are produced.

The world population is increasing every day, making it crucial to provide sustainable food solutions for the growing global population. According to a report by the United Nations, the world population is projected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030 and 9.7 billion by 2050 (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2022). The rise in global population also leads to overfishing and the depletion of fish stocks, particularly in regions where fishing is a primary source of livelihood and nutrition. Research indicates that overfishing caused a 58% decline in fish stocks in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions in 2021 (FAO, 2023).

The pressure exerted by overfishing on fish stocks obtained through marine and river fisheries has led to the depletion of natural fish populations, making oceans insufficient to meet the food demands of the growing global population and increasing the preference for aquaculture. For this reason, aquaculture production provides a safe and sustainable solution to meet the food demands of the expanding world population.

According to the report The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024 published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), aquaculture accounted for only 4-5% of total aquatic food production in the 1970s. However, this share increased over the years, reaching 20% in the 1990s, 44% in the 2010s, and finally 51% in 2022 (FAO, 2024b).

The year 2022 is particularly significant as it marks the first time that aquaculture production surpassed capture fisheries in total aquatic food production. According to the published report, a total of 185 million tons of aquatic products were obtained in 2022, consisting of 94 million tons from aquaculture (51%) and 91 million tons from capture fisheries (49%) (FAO, 2024b). All these data demonstrate that aquaculture holds significant potential to meet the growing global food demand and serves as a crucial food supply method that could replace capture fisheries worldwide. Figure 1 shows the amounts of aquatic products obtained worldwide over the years.

The aquaculture sector in Turkey also contributes to the global increase in aquaculture production. According to data obtained from TURKSTAT (Turkish Statistical Institute) for 2023, aquaculture production in Turkey increased compared to the previous year, with a growth rate of 18.6%, reaching a total of 1,007,921 tons (TURKSTAT, 2024). While aquaculture surpassed capture fisheries globally in 2022, this shift occurred in Turkey in 2023. In 2023, Turkey’s total seafood production amounted to 454,059 tons from capture fisheries, while aquaculture production reached 553,862 tons, surpassing capture fisheries in volume (TURKSTAT, 2024). It is reported that 55% of the total production consisted of aquaculture products, while 38.4% came from marine fish obtained through capture fisheries, 3.3% from other marine products caught through fishing, and 3.3% from inland water products obtained via capture fisheries (TURKSTAT, 2024). Figure 2 shows the seafood production volumes in Turkey between 2014 and 2023, while Figure 3 presents the aquaculture production volumes in Turkey from 2000 to 2023.

 

Fishing is a limited means of livelihood and food supply for regions with restricted access to seas and inland waters. Aquaculture, on the other hand, can be carried out not only in seas and inland waters using ropes and cages but also in ponds, tanks, and closed units (Ahmad et al., 2021). Since aquaculture includes production methods that allow the design of systems such as tanks and ponds on different scales, it serves as a sustainable alternative that provides employment and food supply for regions without direct access to seas and inland waters.

In Turkey, the aquaculture sector is supported by the government. In this context, funding for the aquaculture sector began in 2003, and by 2012, these subsidies had reached a total of 736 million TL (Republic of Turkey Ministry of Development, 2014). Today, under the policies and targets of the 11th Development Plan, it is planned to ensure the continuity of support for the aquaculture sector, increase production and export volumes, and encourage production by identifying new potential aquaculture areas (Republic of Turkey Presidency of Strategy and Budget, 2019). In line with all these objectives, a total support payment of 91 million TL was provided to aquaculture producers in 2023 (Republic of Turkey Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 2024). The scope of support and unit payment amounts for 2023 are presented in Table 1.

Table 1. Fisheries and Aquaculture Support in Turkey in 2023 (Republic of Turkey Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 2024).

Support Scope	Paid Unit Price (TL)	Paid Unit Price (U.S. Cent)
Trout Fish Farming	1,00-1,50 TL/kg	2,82-4,23 U.S. Cent/kg
Breeding of New Fish Species	3,00 TL/kg	8,47 U.S. Cent/kg
Closed-System Production	2,00 TL/kg	5,65 U.S. Cent/kg
Carp Fish Farming	1,50 TL/kg	4,23 U.S. Cent/kg
Mussel Farming	0,10 TL/kg	0,28 U.S. Cent/kg

 

As in Turkey, supports are also provided worldwide to promote aquaculture. In this context, various countries allocate funds for aquaculture projects and fisheries, grant tax reductions to aquaculture producers, and provide education and technical support in the field of aquaculture. For example, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offers research grants for aquaculture projects. The supported research projects focus on sustainable aquaculture systems and include both recirculating (closed-loop) and open systems, as well as topics such as shellfish farming, new species, and alternative feed research (NOAA, 2025).  The supported projects may include partnerships between institutions and organizations such as private sector entities, research institutions, and universities. Additionally, through various grant programs offered by NOAA, incentives are provided for innovative products and processes of small businesses. Moreover, the European Commission has large-scale grant support programs for the aquaculture sector (European Commission, 2025). The scope of these support programs includes topics related to sustainable aquaculture.

The “Aquaculture Demonstration Centers (ADC)” established in different regions of the Mediterranean and Black Seas by the Mediterranean General Fisheries Commission, a subunit of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), operate as technical units providing the necessary training for stakeholders in the fisheries sector. In this context, training sessions on aquaculture production are organized for women, youth, and small-scale producers. Currently, there are three active ADCs in Egypt, Romania, and Turkey (FAO, 2024b).

Aquaculture production systems generate protein-rich, healthy, and high-quality products. For example, the production of various fish species, shellfish, mollusks, and aquatic plants can be achieved through aquaculture. Additionally, when effective waste management is implemented in aquaculture production systems, it becomes a highly environmentally friendly source of food. The environmental impacts of aquaculture production systems generally focus on eutrophication caused by nitrogen and phosphorus in the feed used in aquaculture, chemicals and drugs used during aquaculture, energy and fossil fuel consumption, water usage, and fish waste (Briones-Hidrovo et al, 2023).  It is possible to prevent and reduce the environmental impacts in aquaculture production systems. For example, the inclusion of bivalve species, such as mussels and oysters, which filter the water by feeding on waste, is proposed as a beneficial solution to prevent pollution caused by the use of nitrogen and phosphorus-rich feed in aquaculture systems (Aslan & Gül, 2018).

Aquaculture is a sector that utilizes various equipment and is open to technological developments. The use of technological equipment for water quality monitoring, disease control in farmed fish, tracking environmental conditions, and monitoring environmental impacts increases the efficiency of aquaculture facilities while contributing to sustainable aquaculture practices. Today, technological equipment such as drones, water quality monitoring and control systems, and pool cleaning and circulation systems are used in aquaculture. The use of drones in aquaculture production facilities enables various tasks such as disease detection in aquatic products, water quality monitoring, tracking environmental impacts, and counting aquatic species (Tabakoğlu & Erbaş, 2023). With water quality monitoring and control systems, various quality parameters, such as oxygen levels, temperature, and pH, are automatically monitored in the facility (Dikel, 2023).

1.1.2. The Connection Between Aquaculture and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

One of the most important issues today across all fields is “sustainability,” which is also a valuable topic to consider in the seafood production sector. Overfishing and the depletion of fish stocks in regions that depend on seafood fishing for their livelihoods and food supply are damaging marine ecosystems. This situation necessitates specific goals and policies to ensure sustainability in seafood production. In this context, the concept of “Blue Transformation” has come to the forefront for sustainable aquaculture.

“Blue Transformation” is a concept that refers to efforts by countries, institutions, and communities to ensure sustainability in seafood production by focusing on food security, nutrition, and the provision of economically accessible and healthy food for all, based on aquatic systems. It utilizes existing knowledge and tools on these issues (FAO, 2022). This concept not only supports the provision of equitable and adequate aquatic food in environmental, economic, and social terms, which are the three main components of sustainability, but also emphasizes ensuring access to aquatic food for the entire population, including disadvantaged groups. It aims to prevent food waste, contribute to improving the income of vulnerable communities, and highlight resilience in aquatic food systems in the face of changing climate conditions (FAO, 2022). The FAO has provided a roadmap to guide its members in achieving “Blue Transformation.” In this context, actions that can be taken within aquaculture, fisheries, and the value chain have been outlined. The items of the “Blue Transformation” roadmap are listed in Table 2.

Table 2. Blue Transformation Roadmap

BLUE TRANSFORMATION ROADMAP
AQUACULTURE	FISHERIES	VALUE CHAINS
Objective: Sustainable aquaculture intensification and expansion satisfies global demand for aquatic food and distributes benefits equitably.	Objective: Effective management of all fisheries delivers healthy stocks and secures equitable livelihoods.	Objective: Upgraded value chains ensure the social, economic, and environmental viability of aquatic food systems.
Targets:	Targets:	Targets:
– Effective global and regional cooperation, planning and governance in Blue Transformation.	– Effective policies, governance structures, and institutions support fisheries.	– Efficient value chains that increase profitability and reduce food loss and waste.
– Innovative technology and management support the expansion of sustainable and resilient aquaculture systems.	– Equitable access to resources and services enhances the livelihoods of fishers and fish workers.	– Transparent, inclusive, and gender-equitable value chains support sustainable livelihoods.
– Equitable access to resources and services delivers new and secures existing aquaculture-based livelihoods.	– Effective fisheries management systems address ecological, social, and economic objectives while considering trade-offs.	– Fisheries and aquaculture products access international markets more effectively.
– Aquaculture operations minimize environmental impact and use resources efficiently.	– Fishing fleets are efficient, safe, innovative, and profitable.	– Increased sustainable consumption of sustainable aquatic food, particularly in areas with low food and nutrition security.
– Regular monitoring and reporting of the growth and the ecological, social, and economic impacts of aquaculture development.		– Increased access to healthy, safe, and high-quality aquatic food.
Reference : FAO. 2022. Blue Transformation – Roadmap 2022–2030: A vision for FAO’s work on aquatic food systems. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc0459en

 

At the 2015 Sustainable Development Summit, the United Nations member countries adopted the “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs), which present 17 main goals and 169 sub-targets for achieving sustainable development by 2030. The topic of “Sustainable Management of Aquaculture Production Systems” is connected to many of these goals. In this context, the research being conducted on this subject particularly contributes to the following four key Sustainable Development Goals:

• Goal 2: Zero Hunger
• Goal 5: Gender Equality
• Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• Goal 14: Life Below Water

1.1.2.1. GOAL 2: Zero Hunger

Under Sustainable Development Goal 2, eight sub-targets have been identified. The research in question is particularly relevant to Sub-target 2.3. Sub-target 2.3 of Sustainable Development Goal 2 is stated as: “By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers, by ensuring secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and value-added opportunities, as well as non-agricultural employment” (United Nations, 2025).

Within the scope of this sub-target, in 2023, support payments totaling 91 million TRY were provided to aquaculture producers in Turkey to encourage aquaculture production and support producers (Republic of Turkey Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 2024).

1.1.2.2.GOAL 5: Gender Equality

Under Sustainable Development Goal 5, nine sub-targets have been defined. The research in question is particularly related to Sub-target 5.a. Sub-target 5.a (the 7th sub-target) states: “Reforms should be made to ensure that women have equal rights to economic resources, ownership of land and other forms of property, control over assets, access to financial services, inheritance, and natural resources, in accordance with national laws” (United Nations, 2025). For the sustainable management of aquaculture production systems, it is essential that both women and men of all age groups are equally able to actively work in aquaculture production facilities. Additionally, they should be in a position to sustain their livelihoods and ensure food supply through this mode of production.

There are studies that focus on the role of women in the aquaculture production value chain in connection with Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Nasr-Allah et al., 2020). In the study conducted by Nasr-Allah et al., employment opportunities at different stages of the aquaculture value chain in Egypt, from product supply and production to trade and sales, were evaluated through a survey (Nasr-Allah et al., 2020).

The aquaculture value chain in Egypt includes employment opportunities at various stages, such as in hatcheries and feed factories for product supply, in aquaculture facilities for production, with wholesalers and middle-class traders in trade, and with fish markets, fish traders, fishermen, and street vendors in sales. According to the study, it was found that men are predominantly employed at all stages of the aquaculture production value chain. Specifically, there is no female employment in jobs at feed factories, hatcheries, and aquaculture facilities. However, women are involved in the seafood trade stage (Nasr-Allah et al., 2020).

1.1.2.3.GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Under Sustainable Development Goal 6, eight sub-targets have been defined. The research in question is particularly relevant to Sub-target 6.a (the 7th sub-target). Sub-target 6.a states: “By 2030, increase international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water-related activities and programs, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling, and reuse technologies” (United Nations, 2025).

1.1.2.4. GOAL 14: Life Below Water

Under Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water, ten sub-targets have been established. The research in question is particularly relevant to the sub-target 14.2, sub-target 14.4, sub-target 14.6. , sub-target 14.7., sub-target 14.b and sub-target 14.c.

Under Sustainable Development Goal 14, Sub-target 14.2, the aim is: “By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration to restore them to health and productivity” (United Nations, 2025). Ensuring the environmental sustainability of aquaculture production systems is crucial in achieving this target.

Under Sustainable Development Goal 14, Sub-target 14.4, the goal is: “By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and destructive fishing practices, and implement science-based management plans to restore fish stocks to levels that can produce the maximum sustainable yield, as soon as possible, and at least to levels that support the biological characteristics of the fish” (United Nations, 2025). Aquaculture helps conserve fish stocks and prevents overfishing.

Under Sustainable Development Goal 14, Sub-target 14.6, the goal is: “By 2020, reaffirming that special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries is an integral part of the World Trade Organization (WTO) fisheries subsidy negotiations, to prohibit certain types of fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and refrain from introducing new subsidies for such purposes” (United Nations, 2025).

Under Sustainable Development Goal 14, Sub-target 14.7, the goal is: “By 2030, increase the economic benefits to small island developing states and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism” (United Nations, 2025).

Under Sustainable Development Goal 14, Sub-target 14.b, the goal is: “Provide access of small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets” (United Nations, 2025).

Under Sustainable Development Goal 14, Sub-target 14.c, the goal is: “As reminded in paragraph 158 of the ‘The Future We Want’ conference outcome, and as stated in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides a legal framework for the protection and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, to strengthen the application of international law to conserve and sustainably use oceans and their resources” (United Nations, 2025).

 

References

Ahmad, A., Sheikh, A., Hasan, H., Othman, A., & Ismail, N. (2021). Aquaculture industry: supply and demand, best practices, effluent and its current issues and treatment technology. J. Environ. Manag., 287, 112271. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.1

Aslan, S., & Gül, E. (2018). Su ürünleri yetiştiriciliğinin önemi ve çevresel etkileri-Elazığ ili örneği. DÜMF Mühendislik Dergisi, 849-858.

Briones-Hidrovo, A., Quinteiro, P., & Dias, A. C. (2023). Investigating the environmental sustainability of a seabass and seabream aquaculture system in Portugal based on life cycle and nexus approaches. Science of the Total Environment, 164195.

Dikel, S. (2023). Endüstriyel Akvakültürde Mekanizasyonun Vazgeçilmez Gerekliliği. S. Dikel (Ed), İ. Demirkale (Ed),Su Ürünleri Yetiştiriciliğinde Teknoloji Kullanımı ve Çevresel Etkileri (s. 5-22). İKSAD Yayınevi. DOI:10.5281/zenodo.10122987

European Commission. (2025, March 15). EU Aquaculture Assistance Mechanism-Funding. European Commission. https://aquaculture.ec.europa.eu/funding

FAO. (2022). Blue Transformation – Roadmap 2022–2030: A vision for FAO’s work on aquatic food systems. Roma. doi:https://doi.org/10.4060/cc0459en

FAO. (2023). The State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries 2023-Special Edition. Roma: General Fisheries Comission for the Mediterranean. doi:https://doi.org/10.4060/cc8888en

FAO. (2024a, Aralık 28). Definiton of Aquaculture. Annex I – Glossary: https://www.fao.org/4/x2410e/x2410e07.htm#TopOfPage

FAO. (2024b). The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024 – Blue Transformation in action. Rome: FAO. doi:https://doi.org/10.4060/cd0683en

Nasr-Allah, A., Gasparatos, A., Karanja, A., Dompreh, E., B. , Murphy, S., Rossignoli, C., M., Michael, P., Charo-Karisa, H. (2020). Employment generation in the Egyptian aquaculture value chain:implications for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Aquaculture, 734940.

NOAA. (2025, March 15). Aquaculture Funding Opportunities and Grants. NOAA Web Page: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/aquaculture/aquaculture-funding-opportunities-and-grants

Republic of Turkey Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. (2024). Product Report – Aquatic Products 2024. Ankara: Research Publications. https://arastirma.tarimorman.gov.tr/tepge

Republic of Turkey Ministry of Development. (2014). Tenth Development Plan (2014-2018) Special Expert Commission Report – Aquatic Products. https://www.sbb.gov.tr/ozel-ihtisas-komisyonu-raporlari/

Republic of Turkey Presidency of Strategy and Budget. (2019). Eleventh Development Plan (2019-2023). https://www.sbb.gov.tr/kalkinma-planlari/

Tabakoğlu, Ş. S., & Erbaş, C. (2023). Su Ürünleri Yetiştiriciliğinde İnsansız Sistem Teknolojilerinin (Drone) Kullanımı. S. Dikel (Ed), İ. Demirkale (Ed), Su Ürünleri Yetiştiriciliğinde Teknoloji Kullanımı ve Çevresel Etkileri (s. 169-192). İKSAD Yayınevi.

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United Nations. (2025, January 3). Turkey Sustainable Development Goals. United Nations. https://turkiye.un.org/tr/sdgs