Fisheries technology encompasses the production and evaluation of economic aquatic organisms from all types of aquatic environments through fishing and aquaculture. Focusing primarily on the production via aquaculture, conservation, and food utilization of economic species in marine and fresh waters, this field aims to highlight sustainability through controlled production and to provide maximum benefit to the economy. The groups of organisms it covers consist primarily of fish, followed by bivalve mollusks, arthropods (shrimp, crab, etc.), and algae.

The objective of the department is to educate graduates who will work using scientific methods, possess applied technical knowledge in their field, follow technological innovations, and guide the market. Furthermore, it aims to train professionals who can adapt to new emerging approaches in the world, assist engineers in large enterprises to increase efficiency, and assume responsibility in this regard within small enterprises.

Fisheries is one of the four sub-sectors, along with plant production, animal production, and forestry, within the agriculture and agriculture-based industry branch. Our existing water resources, the export potential of the produced goods, and the employment opportunities provided from production to marketing make the fisheries profession highly attractive in our country. Renowned for the production and food processing of aquatic organisms, this sector is one of the two fastest-growing sectors in Turkey.

A significant portion of the sector's production is carried out in the Marmara Region. Due to its seawater and coastal characteristics, the Marmara Sea and the Çanakkale Strait form the migration route for many fish species. Thanks to the rich nutrient content of its water, it allows for bivalve production, and due to the structural characteristics of submarine rocks, it enables natural sponge beds and sponge aquaculture. For instance, there are initiatives by 10 private sector production projects in the region aiming to obtain approval from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for bivalve aquaculture and processing.

The goal of the Fisheries Technology Department within Çanakkale Applied Sciences is to contribute to the aquaculture and fisheries sector, which is distributed across the Çanakkale region and possesses high production potential. It also aims to transform the region into a "center of attraction" through new technological applications directed at production and evaluation. The department intends to raise well-equipped experts by offering students scientifically and sectorally practice-oriented training.

• In parallel with the needs of enterprises engaged in the hunting, aquaculture, and processing of marine and freshwater organisms in Turkey, the vocational and technical education needs of individuals will be met.

• A positive impact will be made on meeting the quality workforce needs of the existing fisheries sector in the region.

• Young individuals will be educated who can bring new applications arising along with technological developments in the international arena into our country's sector.

Mission

The mission of our department is to educate researchers and practitioners needed by the fisheries sector. We aim to graduate innovative and creative individuals who complement their field of work with vocational knowledge, are equipped with a practice-oriented infrastructure rather than just theoretical knowledge, can use computers, meet sector needs, track current sector-related problems, possess problem-solving skills, are prone to teamwork, are ready for competition, and love their profession and country. Additionally, conducting academic studies for the development of this sector constitutes our mission.

Vision

The future goals of the department are to contribute to the sector within the framework of fisheries technology by training expert personnel who can transfer their theoretical knowledge into practice regarding marine and freshwater aquaculture and processing, and to become a scientific center at national and international levels through R&D studies.

Goals

As the Department of Fisheries Technology, our goal is to contribute both to the protection of our natural resources and to the development of the fisheries sector through research we will conduct in marine and inland waters, primarily in the Marmara Sea. Through the education we provide, we aim to raise innovative and broad-minded technologists who possess an awareness of securing maximum sustainable benefits from organisms living in aquatic environments.

Career Opportunities for Graduates

Due to the framework of their educational curriculum, graduates of the Fisheries Technology Department have the opportunity to find employment in all kinds of national and international enterprises. These enterprises include aquaculture companies, fishing firms, processing facilities that produce food from cultured and harvested aquatic products, and supplier companies that produce various materials needed in these sectors.

In addition to the private sector, our graduates can find employment opportunities in public institutions and organizations such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization (KOSGEB). Qualified and well-trained intermediate staff are highly demanded, especially in the private sector. The department's practice-oriented educational approach will grant graduates the status of qualified personnel in the sector. Furthermore, since the department is a 4-year undergraduate program, graduates hold the right to pursue postgraduate education.

Employment opportunities for students graduating from this department are as follows:

• On ocean-going fishing vessels,

• In companies engaged in marine fish aquaculture,

• In companies engaged in freshwater fish aquaculture,

• In companies engaged in algae, plankton, or seaweed cultivation,

• In companies engaged in shellfish and mollusk aquaculture,

• In firms operating in the field of harvesting/fishing in marine and inland waters,

• In companies related to marine energy,

• In diving-related companies.

There is a major shortage in our country regarding the employment opportunities mentioned above. Since graduates will specifically hold the status of qualified intermediate staff, they will not face difficulties finding a job in our country's fisheries sector, which is economically growing day by day.