Local fish farming and rural development – a topic for dialogue between researchers, fish farmers and authorities

A round table discussion on the topic „Local fish farming and rural development” was organized by the Institute of Zoology of the Moldova State University on 20 February 2026 in Albinețul Vechi commune, Fălești district. The event brought together representatives of local public authorities, fish farmers (including JSC Ghidrin, LTD Zucalex) and locals from the villages of Albinețul Vechi, Musteața, and Năvârneț (Fălești district). Round table aimed to strengthen the commitment and capacity of local public authorities and the population of cross-border regions regarding the development of ecological fish farming, the prevention and reduction of environmental pollution, and the conservation of biological diversity in the Prut River basin.

The program of the event included communications on the diversity of aquatic organisms and their use in assessing the quality of surface waters (PhD Lucia Bilețchi), water quality requirements in fish farming (PhD Natalia Borodin), fish farming technologies in the Republic of Moldova (Dr.Hab. Dumitru Bulat), fish wintering as an important technological link in ensuring the growth process (PhD Denis Bulat).

In the discussion session, moderated by academician Elena Zubcov, some results of the analysis of water samples collected in the summer and autumn of 2025 in ponds located in the Falesti, Glodeni and Rascani districts were presented. Participants expressed their concern about such problems as the clogging of ponds, fish diseases in the winter season, the pollution of aquatic ecosystems with wastewater, and the lack of resources for solving the environmental problems in the region.

Round table was organised within the project ROMD00578 „Ensuring the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems by ecological fish farming” - EcoFishFarm (The Interreg VI-A NEXT Romania-Republic of Moldova Programme 2021- 2027, financed by the European Union and co-financed by the participating countries in the Programme). The project beneficiaries are the Moldova State University and the Iasi University of Life Sciences. More details about the project are available at https://zoology.usm.md/en/ecofishfarm.

The EcoFishFarm project team members express their sincere gratitude to the employees of the mayoralty of Albinețul Vechi commune, led by Mayor Serghei Colesnic, for their responsiveness, hosting the event and their significant contribution to its smooth running.
 

Lucia Bilețchi, PhD, Assoc.Prof.