EIFAAC Symposium highlights priorities for resilient inland fisheries and aquaculture in Europe

Restoring freshwater habitats, strengthening climate resilience and supporting sustainable freshwater aquaculture through innovation and effective management emerged as key priorities at the 2026 International Symposium of the European Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Advisory Commission (EIFAAC), a statutory body of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 

Held in Riga from 5 to 6 October under the theme Managing and Conserving Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources in a Changing World, the Symposium highlighted the need to translate scientific evidence into practical action. Its conclusions will inform discussions at the Thirty-third Session of EIFAAC, taking place from 7 to 9 October 2026, where policymakers and representatives of EIFAAC Members will discuss priorities for regional cooperation and action.

The Symposium brought together more than 90 scientists, fisheries and aquaculture experts, managers and partners to exchange knowledge and identify priorities for future action. It featured 68 scientific contributions, including 50 oral presentations and 18 posters, covering topics such as climate change and habitat conservation, fish stocking and restoration, river–sea connectivity, aquatic genetic resources, recreational fisheries, citizen science and advances in freshwater aquaculture.

Ģirts Krūmiņš, State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture of Latvia, welcomed participants to the EIFAAC Symposium, held for the first time in Latvia. He emphasized the importance of fisheries and aquaculture as sources of food and for people's livelihoods, recreation, tourism and Latvian culture. 

The Symposium highlighted that climate change is already increasing pressure on inland fish populations, fisheries and aquaculture through changes in temperature, precipitation and hydrology, as well as more frequent extreme events. Maintaining and restoring healthy habitats, ecological flows and connectivity will therefore be essential for strengthening the resilience of fish populations. Participants also stressed that stocking cannot substitute for suitable habitat, natural reproduction and functioning migration routes.

“For more than six decades, the Commission has provided a regional platform for countries and experts to exchange knowledge and experience, identify shared challenges and develop advice for inland fisheries and aquaculture,” said Nabil Gangi, FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, at the opening. “The science–policy relationship is a dialogue: scientists, policymakers, fishers, aquaculture producers, river managers, conservation organizations and communities all bring knowledge that can improve the quality and practicality of decisions.”

New technologies can strengthen monitoring and management when combined with established methods. These include environmental DNA (eDNA), genomics, acoustic telemetry, digital catch reporting and habitat mapping. The Symposium also recognized the valuable contributions of recreational and commercial fishers through citizen science and the sharing of local ecological knowledge.

For freshwater aquaculture, participants emphasized the importance of an enabling and predictable regulatory environment, together with innovation in fish health and welfare, digital technologies, alternative feeds and circular approaches to resource use.

The Symposium was hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture of Latvia and the Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment, in cooperation with EIFAAC.