Freshwater ecosystems accommodate 40 percent of the world’s fish species and contribute directly to the food security of rural households. With 11.47 million tonnes per year, inland fisheries account for 12 percent of the global fish catch, according to the latest numbers from the FAO.

Still, the sector has not unleashed its full potential in Europe and Central Asia, as river habitats face serious ecological, economic and regulatory challenges.

These topics will be discussed today and tomorrow at a conference in Bucharest on river habitat restoration for inland fisheries in the Danube River basin and adjacent Black Sea areas, organized jointly by FAO, EUROFISH, and other partners.