Turkey Links Fishing to the “Blue Homeland” with a New Action Plan
Turkey is putting into effect a new “National Action Plan” to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, presenting it as a tool for protecting marine resources and strengthening controls.
According to a Turkish report, the plan of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is based on FAO standards and provides for stricter surveillance of fishing activities, electronic monitoring of vessels, port inspections, sanctions and greater international cooperation.
However, the point of interest for the Greek side is that Ankara links this particular plan also to the reinforcement of its “sovereign rights” over its continental shelf and its EEZs, effectively incorporating it into the framework of the “Blue Homeland”.
The report also refers to the economic importance of the sector, noting that Turkey’s exports of fish and aquaculture products reached 2 billion dollars in 2024 and exceeded 2.2 billion dollars in 2025.
The reference to the Aegean, the Mediterranean and marine resources shows that Turkey is attempting to present its fisheries policy not only as an environmental or economic issue, but also as part of its broader strategy at sea.
