The first national event in Moldova was held online on 14 December 2023. It brought together approximately 40 participants including researchers, experts, national authorities and academia. Organised as a joint regional stakeholder event between Moldova and Romania, this gathering allowed Moldova to benefit from Romania’s expertise in fisheries and aquaculture policies, given Romania’s status as an EU Member State and Moldova’s candidate country status.
The event had several objectives. Firstly, it aimed to adopt and incorporate Romania's best practices, leveraging its experience in aligning the national legal framework for fisheries and aquaculture with EU legislation and standards. Additionally, it sought to facilitate discussions among participants and experts with a focus on aquaculture and fisheries, covering prevailing trends and challenges. Lastly, the event aimed to identify potential partnerships and establish the foundation for future cross-cutting initiatives.
Moldova faces key challenges in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. On its path to EU accession, the country needs to harmonise policies and legislation according to EU standards, enhance institutional cooperation and prepare stakeholders for new legislative and regulatory frameworks. Although Moldova does not have a fishing fleet, the country has laid the legal ground to oversee inland fisheries and aquaculture products, aligning with the EU Common fisheries policy (CFP) principles. A national programme to consolidate and make the aquaculture sector grow sustainably is waiting for approval. Moldova also shared the objective of implementing measures to securely introduce foreign and locally absent species into aquaculture.
Participants highlighted the importance of learning from Romania's experience and adopting best practices. The event successfully established connections between institutions and started collaborative initiatives for research and cooperation between national authorities. It provided valuable insights into the dynamics of fisheries and aquaculture in Moldova and Romania, actively addressing challenges and identifying future avenues for implementation.
Looking forward for what’s coming up next for Moldova!