FAO finds Turkey is the ”big fish” in European markets

The rising number of fish farms in Turkey has helped the country rise in the European market, according to new data. The country has raised its share in the European sea bream and sea bass market to 25 percent, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). One out of every four sea bream and sea brass consumed in Europe is imported from Turkey, the FAO said. The country also leads the salmon and trout market in Europe. Turkey's aquaculture production this year is expected to be 200,000 tons, mainly sea bream, sea bass, trout and tuna. Much of this sea bream and brass is exported to Europe, while almost all of the tuna is sold to Japan. Turkey has risen to third in world aquaculture production, behind only China and India, according to the FAO.