The Republic of Moldova joins the Rome Agreement to combat illegal fishing
As a candidate country for accession to the European Union, the Republic of Moldova joins international efforts to prevent and deter illegal fishing. Parliament ratified the agreement signed in Rome in 2009 in two readings.
Tatiana Nistorică, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, told the plenary session on March 5 that by joining this agreement the Republic of Moldova aligns its national policies with international standards for the sustainable management of aquatic resources.
“The agreement adds an extra safeguard against the risk that illegal fishery products enter the market. In this way, the Republic of Moldova strengthens its image as a responsible state that supports sustainable development and sound environmental governance,” the state secretary stressed.
Although the Republic of Moldova does not operate an ocean fishing fleet, it imports significant quantities of fishery products for domestic consumption. By joining the agreement, the country will prevent illegal fishing products from entering the market.
The agreement entered into force on June 5, 2016 and stands as the first international treaty that addresses illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in a systematic way. Membership will help prevent potential trade sanctions on fishery products exported from the Republic of Moldova to the EU market.
The treaty remains open to both coastal and landlocked states. More than 70 countries and regional fisheries management organizations currently take part in it.
