"This is a historic moment for Ukraine," said Taras Vysotsky, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, at the GFCM meeting in November.
Photo: FAO-GFCM/Carlos Diaz
Ukraine has been formally welcomed as a full member of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), the FAO's fisheries and aquaculture management organization that works to conserve and sustainably manage the living marine resources in the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
The country is now the twenth-fourth contracting party to the Commission, which described the new membership as "marking a significant step forward in regional cooperation in the Black Sea."
“This is a historic moment for Ukraine. Full participation in the work of the GFCM opens up new opportunities for the development of fisheries, aquaculture and the conservation of marine ecosystems of the Black Sea," said Taras Vysotsky, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.
"We are ready to actively participate in the implementation of the GFCM's mission – the effective management of bioresources and support for the sustainable development of coastal communities,” Vysotsky added.
Ukraine has previously been involved in the GFCM as a "non-contracting" party since 2015, making significant contributions to to regional fisheries initiatives for assessing and restoring Black Sea commercial stocks.
Its work in this area also included supporting the development of sustainable aquaculture through capacity-development programmes.
GFCM said Ukraine has also participated in regional dialogues to strengthen fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance, and has already aligned its national legislation with GFCM standards.
Coinciding with Ukraine's joining of the organisation, the GFCM has also announced it has etablished a new Scientific Advisory Committee for the Black Sea, as a result of the evolving work in the region.
