Skopje, 3 June 2023 (MIA) – North Macedonia has joined the European Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Advisory Commission (EIFAAC) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as its 37th member.

In a press release, FAO said the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy Ljupcho Nikolovski, informed FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu, about the decision.

“The Macedonian inland fisheries and aquaculture sector is small but important for the country, with a fish production of around 2 500 tonnes per year. The aquaculture production of primarily trout and carp species takes place in ponds, rivers, and lakes. The Ministry has a target to double the aquaculture production by 2030 to increase domestic food security in line with the National Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development 2021–2027 and the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2018–2023),” said the Organization in the press release.

According to Minister Nikolovski, the membership provides an opportunity to join regional projects on inland fisheries and aquaculture, access to knowledge and scientific advice, and transfer of aquaculture technologies and innovations.

The Permanent Representative of North Macedonia to FAO, Lidija Popandonova said innovating the aquaculture sector to increase its aquatic food production and make it more resilient to the challenges of climate change is a priority for the country. She added that she expects that EIFAAC’s experts will help to enhance the technological capacity of the North Macedonian aquaculture businesses to produce fish in a sustainable manner and to restock natural waters with indigenous species.

In the coming years, the 37 members of the Commission will, among others, collaborate to promote innovation and digitalization, and strengthen rural livelihoods, as well as to support sustainable natural resources management and facilitate resilience in the food and agriculture sectors. Ultimately, the work of the European Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Advisory Commission will contribute to addressing food insecurity and reducing all forms of malnutrition.

“The EIFAAC Management Committee, Technical and Scientific Committee, Members and the Secretariat all welcome North Macedonia as new member and look forward to developing a strong relationship with the country on inland fisheries and aquaculture subjects,” said the press release.

EIFAAC was established as a regional fishery body by the FAO Council in 1957 and has been an important intergovernmental forum for collaboration and information exchange on inland fisheries and aquaculture among all European countries. The next session of EIFAAC will be hosted by the Government of Croatia in 2024. 

Photo: MIA Archive