ROMANIA
can be gained from this exercise, for example, that the best octopus comes from Morocco, sardines have different fat content at different times of the year, Norwegian mackerel is the best to cook and so on. There are other advantages to being involved in all the links in the supply chain. As a distributor he can get hold of small quantities of products that can first be tested in the restaurant and then if they are popular can be ordered in larger volumes. Being his own supplier means he earns both when buying the product and when selling it on. The restaurant earns money, promotes the consumption of fish and seafood, and is also used for market surveys and as a testing ground for new products. Price information and the relation between prices and volumes also become apparent when buying for the restaurant and the shop. Studying consumers enables the employees at the restaurant to tailor their responses to the individual so that whatever the background she or he leaves the
restaurant satisfied with the food and the service. Promotions are done on social media that target all kinds of age groups and they generate visits by people of various social and economic backgrounds, whom the restaurant has to be prepared to serve. Costin Cuzdrioreanu has plans to use the restaurant to promote the sales of fish and seafood through the shop. This will also promote the Victorita Pescarita brand, which is important as another two restaurants, one near the sea and another near the mountains, are being considered.
would also have an impact on the taste, so other solutions may have to be found. Another activity that the family is involved in is processing though this is currently fairly basic – gutting, filleting and steaks. There is also some smoking and the extraction of roe from carp. Costin Cuzdrioreanu has ideas about developing the processing side of the activities with support from the EMFF, but it’s a difficult business he says and not everyone wants to be involved in it partly
Developing processing activities is desirable, but difďŹ cult
Victorita Pescarita
Mr Cuzdrioreanu would also like to start selling the products, such as the roe salads and the marinades, through retailers and at other restaurants. However, because there are no conserving agents the shelf life is short at 30 days. Adding more salt may prolong the shelf life, but
Sos. Andronache nr. 17, Sector 2, Bucharest Romania Tel.: +40 764 400402 pescaritavictorita@yahoo.com Owner: Costin Cuzdrioreanu Activity: Restaurant for ďŹ sh and seafood
because the range of products is more limited than can be produced from pork or chicken, the other animal proteins with which fish competes. An expansion of activities, whether it is the restaurant or the processing, will depend, however, on being able to find employees with the right combination of qualifications. So far this has not been easy, but Mr Cuzdrioreanu is optimistic that with the right incentives he will get the people he needs to help grow the business.
RO-FISH The Organisation of Processors, Importers, and Distributors of Fish from Romania Tel.: +40 21 2406731 costiana@costiana.ro www.costiana.ro President: Marian Constantin Cuzdrioreanu
The Romanian Fisheries Association focuses on improving the legal framework governing ďŹ sh farming
Crafting aquaculture-friendly legislation There are some 500 ďŹ sh farming companies in the Romanian aquaculture sector ranging from small to large. The biggest have over 1,000 ha of pond surface while the smallest may have only a few tens of hectares. Some of the companies are organised into associations, of which there are two, RomďŹ sh, the Romanian Fish Farmers’ Association, and since 2011, the Romanian Fisheries Association.
U
nder the leadership of Ms Mariana Munteanu the Romanian Fisheries Association has been functioning since 2015. The following year it was recognised by the Ministry of Agriculture 46
and Rural Development as a Producer Organisation, which typically have functions such as guiding producers towards sustainable aquaculture, helping to match market supply and demand, and encouraging the
creation of added value. Today the association is a member of the Monitoring Committee for the Operational Programme for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs and of the Advisory Committee for the Fisheries Sector in the
Romanian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The association has 45 members, of which three members are producers of nets and aquaculture equipment, and one, the
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