Harvest season has begun in northeastern Turkey, where salmon raised at Demirözü Dam are now being prepared for export. The majority of the production is bound for Russia.

The harvest season has opened at Demirözü Dam in Bayburt, Turkey, where salmon and trout are raised in cage systems. Known for its cold, clean waters, the dam has hosted aquaculture activities for years. Producer Orhan İşi, who has been engaged in fish farming since 1992, has expanded production with modern methods since 2015. His team is currently hauling fish from cages, grading them, and preparing them for both domestic and international markets.

According to İşi, about 90% of their production is exported, with the majority consisting of salmon weighing over one kilogram. “Eighty percent of our production goes to Russia,” he noted to Anadolu Agency. This year, the farm’s large-size salmon output reached nearly 265 tons. Producers emphasize that Bayburt’s cold climate and pristine water enhance the taste and quality of the fish.

Commissioned in 2003, Demirözü Dam has a storage capacity of 62 million cubic meters. While it provides irrigation for local agriculture, it also plays a vital role in expanding freshwater aquaculture in the region.

Producers manage every stage of the cycle in-house, from hatchery to harvest, and also supply juvenile salmon for marine cage farms. With demand rising, they are tightening logistics and cold chain systems to ensure swift delivery to international tables. Expanding salmon output is also driving growth in feed supply, fry production, veterinary services, and cold chain logistics across the aquaculture value chain.

Turkey’s aquaculture industry has gained strong momentum in recent years. According to data released by TurkStat in June, total fisheries production exceeded 1 million tons in 2023, with aquaculture accounting for 55% of the volume.