BURDUR — Trout and Turkish salmon farmed at the Karacaören Dam Lake in Burdur’s Bucak district are attracting strong demand from international markets, with a significant share of production exported overseas.
According to data from the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, 80% of the trout produced in floating cages at the dam lake is shipped abroad. The lake, built on the Aksu River between the Taurus Mountains, is known for its natural beauty as well as its favorable conditions for aquaculture, including high water quality, a large surface area, and suitable depth.
A total of 16 aquaculture facilities operate at Karacaören Dam Lake, where fish are raised without human contact and fed twice daily in line with European standards. Fish growth is regularly monitored using automated measuring systems.
Juvenile fish weighing between 5 and 20 grams are placed in cages in November. By May, those reaching 350 grams are marketed as trout, while fish weighing 2 kilograms or more are sold as Turkish salmon.
The trout and Turkish salmon are exported under cold-chain logistics to several countries, including Russia, the Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, Romania, France, Japan, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates. The facilities hold European-standard food safety certifications, ensuring compliance with international quality requirements.
Deputy Chairman of the Burdur Inland Fisheries Producers’ Association and aquaculture engineer Muhammet Çıtırkısaid that the fish are packaged at processing plants before export.
“A large portion of the fish we produce is exported abroad,” Çıtırkı told Anadolu Agency, highlighting the growing international demand for Turkish aquaculture products.
Source: Anadolu Ajansı/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök