Benefits to sector in both countries

On 23 June 2022 the European Council granted the Republic of Moldova EU candidate country status. This development follows the signing in 2014 of an EU Republic of Moldova Association Agreement, which included a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). The agreement provided the basis for stronger political association and economic integration and promotes common values and enhanced cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Exploiting the closer political relationship between the Republic of Moldova and the EU, sh farmers from Romania and the Republic of Moldova decided to enhance their dialogue and share good practices on the sector’s organisation and development. On 15 and 16 March 2023, the National Fish Farmers’ Association from the Republic of Moldova invited the Romanian Fish Farmers Association, ROMFISH, to a meeting in Chişinău with sh farmers, scientists from the “AcvaGenResurs” Institute and government authorities. e purpose of the meeting was to discuss aquaculture related issues including speci c legislation and administrative procedures, the role of pond aquaculture in biodiversity management, access to space for sh farmers, and means to increase the resilience of the sector as an important contributor to food security in the region.

e participants also sought to identify solutions to the multiple challenges that inhibit aquaculture development.

Collaboration covers several areas within aquaculture

At the talks, the two national organisations decided to intensify and widen their cooperation to support the development of the aquaculture sector in both countries. The cooperation will focus on drafting adequate national legislation to encourage aquaculture activities including adding value to primary production, developing marketing tools and campaigns for consumer information, implementing prophylactic measures on fish farms, disease mitigation, exchanging information, trading broodstock for various farmed species, arranging reciprocal study tours for farmers in both countries, strengthening communication and economic exchanges between the two organisations, and supporting participation in international events, such as the International Carp Conference, the sixth edition of which will be held in Hungary from 30 August to 1 September this year.

Fish farming has much in common in the two countries e Republic of Moldova has at least 4,000 ponds with a total area of 20,000 ha available for sh production which consists mainly of common carp reared in polyculture with Asian carps to better exploit the ponds’ natural trophic potential. As in Romania, pond sh farming has a long tradition going back to about the fourteenth century. Yearly aquaculture production hovers around 12,000 tonnes and per capita consumption is 10.8 kg/ year, according to the National Programme for Aquaculture Strengthening and Development in the Republic of Moldova 2020–2030 produced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development, and Environment.

Following the meeting a joint press conference was held by Gheorghe Gheorghiu, President of the National Fish Farmers’ Association of the Republic of Moldova and Cătălin Platon, President of ROMFISH to explain the nature and purpose of the meeting.

C ă t ă lin Platon, ROMFISH, asrom sh@gmail.com