Dr. Eng. Cătălin BURLUI (Suceava Forestry Directorate), at FERM 2025: “Mountain fish farming is the bridge between tradition, nature, and sustainable development”
100 economic opportunities for the development of the Moldova Region on the A7 Highway route
REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM MOLDOVA 2025
19th Edition – Vatra Dornei, July 9–13, 2025
Thematic Panel:
Agriculture and Mountain Economy – Sustainable Development and Local Resource Valorization
Speaker:
Eng. PhD. Cătălin Burlui – representative of “Suceava Forestry Directorate”
Topic of intervention:
“Fish Farming and Mountain Fisheries”
Between July 9–13, 2024, the annual edition of the Regional Economic Forum Moldova (FERM) was held in Vatra Dornei, a landmark event for the economic, social, and infrastructural development of the region. The event brought together decision-makers, experts, representatives of central and local public administration, investors, NGOs, and international organizations from Romania, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, EU member states, the Western Balkans, the Middle East, and Asia.
Within Panel 9 – Mountain Economy and Agriculture, Eng. PhD. Cătălin Burlui, representative of the Suceava Forestry Directorate, delivered an intervention dedicated to fish farming and mountain fisheries, highlighting the strategic role of this sector in the sustainable development of the mountain economy.
Tradition and experience in mountain fish farming
The Suceava Forestry Directorate manages a series of traditional trout farms, which capitalize on the natural resources of the mountain area. Among them:
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Pojorâta Trout Farm – operational since 1896, with 18 basins and a water surface of 2,496 sqm. Here, brook trout (30%) and rainbow trout (70%) are raised, with an average annual production of approximately 11 tons of market trout.
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Brodina Trout Farm – functional since 1947, with 9 basins and 1,170 sqm of water surface, producing around 5.5 tons of rainbow trout annually, with experimental projects for the breeding of indigenous trout.
The processes of producing fry involve either purchasing embryonated eggs from imports or manual extraction of eggs from breeding females, a method ensuring genetic diversity and long-term adaptability.
Natural fisheries and conservation of living resources
In addition to trout farms, the Suceava Forestry Directorate manages 13 natural fisheries in mountain waters, administered according to the fundamental principle of sustainable conservation and exploitation of aquatic living resources.
According to the regulations developed by the National Forest Administration – Romsilva, recreational fishing is permitted annually between April 1 and September 30, within a strictly regulated framework to prevent overexploitation and maintain the ecological balance of habitats.
Economic and touristic values
Mountain fish farming is not only a source of high-quality food but also an element of touristic and economic attractiveness. Trout farms, along with natural fisheries, can generate integrated silvotourism offers: sport fishing, tastings of local products, educational and recreational activities.
Thus, the mountain area of Bucovina has the potential to become a hub of attraction for tourists passionate about nature, traditional gastronomy, and outdoor activities.
Conclusions and development directions
The intervention of Eng. PhD. Cătălin Burlui emphasized that mountain fish farming is an essential link in the region’s economy, contributing both to food security and biodiversity conservation, as well as to rural development through tourism and related investments.
The Suceava Forestry Directorate promotes a model based on balance between exploitation and conservation, ensuring the long-term sustainability of aquatic resources.
At the Forum, the presentation was received as a plea for the integration of mountain fish farming into regional development strategies, in line with European objectives regarding the green economy, biodiversity, and the resilience of local communities.
