In an effort to promote sustainable aquaculture in the Black Sea region, a preliminary meeting of the newly established CMA Technical Group (TG) on Sustainable Aquaculture took place online on 26 September.
Attendees and Topics
Representatives from DG MARE, BSAM (Black Sea Assistance Mechanism team), the CMA Romanian Coordinator, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, as well as the nominated experts from the CMA countries kicked off work of the group.
Discussions centred on the main aquaculture topics to be addressed, such as governance, capacity building, best practices, and pilot projects involving traditional and new aquaculture methods. This preliminary meeting paves the way for the first in-person meeting of the group, planned at the CMA Stakeholder Conference in Bucharest on 23 November, 2023. Here, experts will meet to define strategies and discuss common initiatives for the year to come.
Focus on Collaboration and Expertise
The TG aims to foster collaboration at both the EU and regional level. A key outcome of the TG's collective effort will be the development of an action plan for sustainable aquaculture in the Black Sea, and a comprehensive roadmap. These are intended to serve as a strategic framework, providing guidance for the group's activities.
During discussions on Tuesday, participants emphasized the significance of knowledge sharing in areas such as species and environment conservation, sustainable practices, and innovative aquaculture techniques. TG members bring in diverse expertise, drawing from their experience addressing specific challenges and opportunities in their respective countries and regions.
Furthermore, TG members, supported by BSAM, will look for funding opportunities to support their suggested initiatives and proactively seek collaboration with other regional initiatives like the TGs activated under the WestMed and the Atlantic sea-basin strategies.
Next Steps
Preparations for the first-in person meeting of the group in November include a hands-on online workshop, where experts will present the state of aquaculture developments in their country, share expectations on objectives of the groups, and discuss potential initiatives. This shared knowledge will guide future discussions and cooperation.
The journey towards a sustainable aquaculture in the Black Sea continues!