The Current Situation, Problems and Proposed Solutions of Aquarium Businesses in Erzurum Province

This research was conducted to reveal the general situation of aquarium businesses operating in Erzurum, identify current problems and propose solutions to these issues. It was observed that the 10 active aquarium businesses in the province were concentrated in three central districts. A questionnaire, consisting of both open-ended and closed-ended questions tailored to the research objectives, was administered to these 10 businesses through face-to-face interviews. The research findings indicated that 60% of the aquarium businesses were tenants, all personnel were male, the owners were older and more experienced than the employees, and 70% of them were university graduates. It was determined that all operators sourced their fish domestically, made retail sales, experienced an increase in sales during the winter months, sold a total of 9 fish species, with Japanese (Carassius auratus) and guppy (Poecilia reticulata) fish being the most sold, and that the most common disease observed was white spot disease, affecting 80% of the fish. The majority of operators (60%) stated that aquarium cooperatives should be established. Among the most significant problems identified were high feed and material costs, high rent and electricity expenses, and low customer demand. In light of the data obtained, it has been concluded that organizing activities to increase interest in the aquarium sector nationwide and providing financial and educational support to entrepreneurs by public institutions and universities would be beneficial for the development of the sector and the resolution of existing problems.