The Eurofish 2026 Conference addressed technology, digitalization, and value-addition strategies. Bringing together nearly 200 industry professionals from Europe and surrounding regions in Istanbul, the event covered a wide spectrum from regenerative agriculture practices in the field to energy efficiency in feed mills.
Ebubekir Gizligider
Deputy Minister of
Agriculture and Forestry
Catering to the fisheries and aquaculture sector, the "Eurofish International Conference: Processing, Certification, and Trade in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Business" was held in Istanbul in cooperation with the Eurofish International Organisation and the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The opening session of the two-day event, which brought industry representatives together, commenced with speeches by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ebubekir Gizligider, Director General of Fisheries and Aquaculture Turgay Türkyılmaz, and Eurofish Director Marco Frederiksen. The opening highlighted the transformative process the seafood industry is undergoing under the shadow of global food crises and climate change.
Turgay Türkyılmaz
In the technical sessions of the conference, the use of robotics, data optimization, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications in both upstream and downstream production lines featured prominently. A smart aquaculture presentation by a Japanese technology firm, blending satellite data and artificial intelligence, introduced solutions of close relevance to the feed sector. Optimizing feed, the largest cost item in aquaculture operations, through AI-backed appetite analysis and remote feeding systems stood out as a critical innovation for reducing waste and ensuring environmental sustainability. Furthermore, the significance of decentralized digital tools that support local production models against global logistics crises was emphasized.
Marco Frederiksen
Throughout the event, macro topics such as commercial dynamics, e-commerce trends, the success story of Turkish salmon, and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, which entered into force in 2025, were also discussed. Regarding value addition, innovative process designs applied in cod fishing in Greenland and sardine and tuna processing trends in Croatia were shared. While the importance of certifying sustainability claims by accredited bodies was emphasized, it was stated that traceability standards must be aligned globally to prevent unfair competition.
Concluding with a field trip to a modern seafood processing facility in Istanbul, the organization demonstrated that processing, sustainability, and technology have now become completely interdependent.