[ EVENTS ] Status of fisheries and aquaculture in selected Balkan and Caucasus countries
Closer dialogue would benefit all stakeholders Eurofish International Organisation and the FAO Regional Office in Central Asia organised a series of three webinars on the fisheries and aquaculture sector in five countries in the Balkans and the Caucasus. The webinars were moderated by Haydar Fersoy, FAO REU and representatives from Eurofish. The purpose of the webinars was to gain an understanding of fisheries and aquaculture in the countries, to exchange experiences, highlight the challenges and opportunities, and foster a dialogue between stakeholders.
T
he first webinar on 22 September featured Albania and Armenia and among the points it highlighted was the need for closer cooperation both between and within countries. Arben Kipi, Assistant FAO Representative in Albania, pointed to the need for coordinating policies and actions in the different countries in the region for the sustainable development of the sector, while Roland Kristo, Deputy minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in Albania highlighted the importance of close dialogue between administrative bodies and the private sector.
Freshwater trout is grown both in Albania and Armenia The sector in the two countries differs in that Armenia is landlocked while Albania has a growing marine aquaculture industry, but freshwater trout is cultivated in both countries, and imports are a significant source of fish and seafood. In Armenia, trout and sturgeon dominate the production of fish thanks to favourable climatic conditions and abundant ground water. However, Levon Ter-Isahakyan, Head of the Department of Primary Agricultural Production, reported that the sector was
Investors interested in establishing processing facilities in Albania will be welcomed with a low-tax regime and little bureaucracy (archive photo of an Albanian processing company).
looking for ways to increase efficiency by using less water encouraged by the government’s support programme for water saving equipment. But, despite the support, the size of the investment is a deterrent, he said, as it increases costs and eats into margins. Fish cultivation is also of strategic interest as farms are established in rural areas both on the plains and in the mountains and are
often the only source of employment for the local population. Tigran Aleksanyan, Deputy Head of the Department, Ministry of Economy, added that farmers are diversifying the species cultivated, investing in African catfish production. This is a hardy and popular species in other European countries where it is typically grown in recirculation systems using relatively warm water. The fish farming industry started
in the 70s and has over the years acquired significant experience in production and management. Some 40 of the fish produced is exported—chiefly to Russia, USA, and Canada. However, artesian groundwater reserves in the Ararat valley, the largest agriculture and fish farming zone in Armenia, have been over-exploited and the government is looking for knowhow to ensure the sustainable use of this resource.
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