Brussels hosts explanatory meeting on fisheries with Ukraine and Moldova

MOSCOW. May 31 (Interfax) - Ukraine in 2023 carried out an initial assessment of its implementation of European Union legislative acts in the Fisheries and Aquatics Chapter, Ukrainian media cited Deputy Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Vitaly Golovnya as saying at an explanatory meeting between the European Commission and Ukrainian and Moldovan representatives as part of the Ukrainian legislation official screening process.

Ukraine has taken numerous steps to reform its fisheries sector, the Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry said. Its key measures included formulating a development strategy for the industry, laying the groundwork for digitalizing industry management processes and simplifying fishing business procedures, as well as efforts to ensure that it is no longer a shadow industry. Conditions have also been created for building a European-style system to combat illegal, unaccountable and uncontrolled fishing. The aquaculture data collection system has also been updated.

"We attach great importance to the introduction of mechanisms for tracing aquatic biological resources, reforming fisheries science system, fishery data collection, control over fishing, and creating conditions for encouraging investments in aquaculture production," Golovnya said.

The deputy minister also touched upon international cooperation in fisheries management in marine waters of adjacent jurisdiction, including Ukraine's integration into the Black Sea fisheries management system and membership in the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean.

Explanatory meetings with the European Commission are part of the process for verifying the compliance of legislation of Ukraine as an EU candidate country, the ministry said.