Evaluation of fish production, gross domestic product and food security in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea

The aquaculture industry contributes significantly to the economic growth of countries, both in terms of food security and sectoral economic gains. This study examines the relationship between marine fish farming and the economic growth and food security of countries bordering the Mediterranean. Data from 10 Mediterranean countries was evaluated between 2012 and 2022. To ensure co-integration in dynamic forecasts, fish export and import values, gross domestic product, and food security index were examined by countries around the Mediterranean Sea, and the correlation between these data was assessed on a country-by-country basis. Findings in the present study addressed a strong correlation between marine fish production and gross domestic product for Türkiye (R= 0.91), Egypt (R= 0.93), and Spain (R= 0.91), with moderate correlation for Morocco (0.61), and Greece (R= 0.60). Also, high correlation was found between export and gross domestic product for Türkiye (R= 0.97) and Morocco (R= 0.78), and moderate correlation for Greece, France, Spain, and Italy (R= 0.63, R= 0.61, R= 0.60, and R= 0.55, respectively). Strong correlation between fish import and average dietary energy requirement was recorded for Morocco, Italy, France, and Spain (R= 0.85, R= 0.83, R= 0.82, and R= 0.74, respectively), whereas moderate correlation was found for Türkiye (R= 0.62), and remarkably lower correlation for Greece and Egypt (R= 0.41, R= 0.25, respectively). Results of this study provide remarkable information that may help policymakers and aquaculture managers in promoting new aquaculture investments by economic strategies for improving fish production and achieving long-term food security the Mediterranean, supplying a significant amount of the global food demand.