Trabzon – The
Central Fisheries Research Institute (SUMAE), operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM), hosted AK Party Trabzon Parliamentarian Vehbi Koç.
Parliamentarian Koç joined SUMAE’s long-running restocking program by releasing
turbot and sturgeon juveniles into the Black Sea. For over 20 years, SUMAE has contributed to ecosystem restoration, protection of endangered species, and biodiversity by releasing around
10,000 juvenile fish annually.
|
 |
During the visit, Koç was briefed on the
Marine Monitoring Program, ongoing for more than 35 years, which collects and analyses data on water quality, pollution, ecosystem health, and biodiversity. He also learned about
fisheries stock assessment studies, conducted using SUMAE’s research vessel, which directly support national fisheries policies and regional management plans.
Koç was informed about SUMAE’s role as a publisher of
internationally indexed scientific journals, receiving thousands of research papers annually from leading universities in Turkey and abroad. These publications contribute to the
global exchange of scientific knowledge in fisheries and marine sciences.
The visit also highlighted SUMAE’s collaborations with the
General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) and its specialized facilities: the
Aquaculture Demonstration Centre, promoting sustainable aquaculture techniques, and the
Otolith Centre, conducting research on fish age, stock structure, and migration dynamics.
Topics discussed included the
blue economy, climate change impacts on marine ecosystems, regenerative aquaculture, and
the future of the fisheries sector.
Deputy Koç emphasized that SUMAE’s work is of strategic importance for the country, noting: “Scientific research and policymakers working together will secure the future of our seas.”
SUMAE officials thanked the deputy and provided details on ongoing national and international projects, climate change mitigation efforts, innovative aquaculture systems, and genetic conservation studies.
