GFCM High-level conference towards enhanced cooperation on Black Sea fisheries and aquaculture: a declaration to boost regional cooperation in the sector, 24-25 October 2016, Bucharest, Romania

Ministers and high-level representatives from the Black Sea region recently gathered in Bucharest on the occasion of a GFCM High-level Conference towards Enhanced Cooperation on Black Sea Fisheries and Aquaculture where they unanimously adopted a declaration to enhance their cooperation in tackling the most urgent challenges to achieving sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. For the first time in the region, this declaration marks a strong political commitment to adopt a common and collaborative approach to promote the rational exploitation of marine living resources and sustainable aquaculture development, to fight against illegal practices and to mitigate threats to the marine environment. All the Black Sea riparian countries, as well as other important actors in the region, recognized that regional cooperation and synergies were essential for facing the many challenges in the sector. The Bucharest Declaration, as well as the results achieved by the Conference, are particularly relevant in the aftermath of the entry into force of the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (PSMA). Through these outcomes, an important step has been made towards the wider ratification and implementation of the PSMA in the region. The High-level Conference was also marked by two important milestones. In light of its increasing interest in GFCM activities in the Black Sea region, the Republic of Moldova took this opportunity to officially request the status of cooperating non-contracting party to the GFCM, as a potential preliminary step towards full membership. Furthermore, a memorandum of understanding was signed between GFCM and Ukraine. This mechanism should enhance the capacity of national experts and institutions dealing with fisheries and aquaculture. More than 100 participants representing GFCM contracting parties (Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Turkey and the European Union), cooperating non-contracting parties (Georgia and Ukraine) and non-contracting parties (Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Republic of Moldova, Serbia and the Russian Federation) attended the event together with representatives of international organizations and non-governmental organizations with competency in the region.