Regulating and monitoring marine finfish aquaculture in Turkey

This paper describes marine aquaculture production and the regulation thereof in Turkey. Dominated by the cage farming of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and sea bream (Sparus aurata), shellfish farming is insignificant. Finfish farmers must obtain permits from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) as the main authority responsible for regulating marine finfish aquaculture. In addition, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MEF) controls the compatibility of interactions with the environment while the provincial governments issue permits for marine public property use and organize the leasing procedures. Finfish farming activities are controlled by a number of specific laws and regulations administered mainly through the MARA and the MEF. This article provides a review of the development and present status of the licensing, regulating and monitoring procedures for finfish aquaculture in Turkey. The notable expansion of the finfish aquaculture sector in recent years and the problems created in relation to the current relevant legislation and applications are presented and discussed.