Two fish farms in Iași County were recently visited within the EcoFishFarm project

A group of researchers from the Institute of Zoology, Moldova State University, have travelled to Iași county on 11-12 November 2025 within the ROMD00578 project "Ensuring the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems through ecological fish farming" (acronym - EcoFisFarm). Together with the project partner - Iasi University of Life Sciences – a research expedition was organized, which had as its destination two fish farms in Iași County - Podul Iloaiei and Delta Moldovei.

The researchers sampled water and planktonic organisms (bacterio-, phyto- and zooplankton), in order to establish the ecological state of the ponds, primarily those in which the fish are going to winter. The health of the cyprinid fish was assessed on site, through a general examination, and samples were also taken for more detailed analysis in laboratory conditions.

The researchers had the opportunity to discuss face-to-face with farmers about the technologies used for fish rearing and reproduction, ways to stimulate the natural productivity of ponds, combining fish farming with amateur-sport fishing, etc.

In addition, hydrochemical and hydrobiological samples were collected from the Bahluieț River, which supplies water to the Podul Iloaiei fish farm.

The valuable information obtained within this expedition, as well as others that will follow both on the territory of Romania and the Republic of Moldova, will be included in a report on the ecological state of the investigated ponds, which will serve as scientific ground for the development of a joint management framework plan regarding the development of ecological fish farming.

EcoFishFarm project is focused on the fortification of research and innovation in the field of protection and conservation of biodiversity, development of ecological aquaculture. The project is carried out within 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, and refers to the priority 1 of the programme - Green Communities.

The project budget is equal to 264 878.50 EUR, of which 90% is the EU contribution

More details on the Interreg NEXT Romania-Republic of Moldova Programme are available at the address https://ro-md.net, and on the EcoFishFarm project – at https://zoology.usm.md/en/ecofishfarm.

Text: Lucia Bilețchi, project manager
Photo: Lucia Bilețchi, Liviu-Dan Miron, Elena Zubcov, Nina Bagrin, Denis Bulat