A Data-Driven Analysis of Romania’s Freshwater Fisheries Production

Fishing has been an important activity since ancient times, providing people with a vital source of food. However, this practice was limited to specific periods when certain fish species were most accessible, usually during migration or spawning seasons. To overcome these limitations and secure a steady supply of fish, people began breeding various species in controlled environments such as lakes and ponds. This led to the development of aquaculture, which focuses on the controlled breeding, and the qualitative and quantitative improvement of fish resources through selective breeding and proper feeding. In Romania, the earliest documented evidence of fish farming originates from the southern, south-eastern, and central regions, where pond-based systems were established. The country covers a total area of 238,400 km², of which approximately 4% consists of freshwater bodies; notably, more than one-quarter of this area is represented by the Danube River and the Danube Delta. The present study investigates the spatial distribution of freshwater fish farms across Romania and provides an analysis of the predominant farmed species together with their production volumes.