The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized, in collaboration with partner organizations of the Black Sea region and in close coordination with the Bulgarian Government, the “High-level conference on Black Sea fisheries and aquaculture.” (Sofia, Bulgaria, 6-7 June 2018)
Following the political will expressed by the high-level representatives that attended the successful High level conference towards enhanced cooperation on Black Sea fisheries and aquaculture, held in Bucharest, Romania (24-25 October 2016) and marked by the adoption of the Bucharest declaration, the same countries met again in order to further strength governance and regional cooperation.
The Conference was organized around an expert meeting comprising three sessions on select fisheries and aquaculture regional priorities. The sessions addressed in particular issues related to marine scientific research on Black Sea fisheries, sustainability of aquaculture and stakeholder engagement in the small-scale fisheries sector. The expert meeting was followed by a high-level session, where progress made since the Bucharest Declaration was reviewed and new strategic actions for the Black Sea region were identified.