Association International Initiatives for Cooperation (IIC) is starting the implementation of DANUBE SED LOOP, a new project dedicated to sustainable fish farming and freshwater ecosystem restoration in the Lower Danube region. Over 24 months, the project will bring together scientific expertise, local knowledge and community action to improve the management of aquaculture ponds.
DANUBE SED LOOP addresses the growing accumulation of sediment and excess nutrients in fish ponds, which affects water quality, biodiversity and the livelihoods of local producers. Its pilot activities will focus on the Galați–Tulucești area in Romania. The partnership brings together organisations from Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine. It is coordinated by ICDEAPA Galați, the Research and Development Institute for Aquatic Ecology, Fisheries and Aquaculture. Alongside IIC, the partners include the local authority of Tulucești, the Agency of Sustainable Development and European Integration “Lower Danube Euroregion” and YUG STONE.
The project will combine controlled sediment removal with constructed wetlands that help retain nutrients and improve water quality. It will also test ways to reuse extracted sediment, including potential applications in biogas production and soil improvement. Scientific monitoring will assess the effectiveness and environmental safety of the proposed solutions. The project aims to restore at least 10 hectares of aquaculture ponds and reduce nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in pilot ponds by at least 30%.
Local fish farmers and communities will help shape the solutions from the beginning. As a project partner, IIC will lead community engagement and support cooperation between farmers, local authorities, researchers and civil society organisations. Our initial work will include mapping fish farmers and other relevant stakeholders in the project area and identifying their needs, challenges and interest in participating. Through consultations and participatory workshops, we will help translate local experience into practical proposals for sustainable pond management.
IIC will also facilitate the development of a Pond Stewardship Contract, an agreement defining shared responsibilities and good management practices. This will give local stakeholders a framework for continued cooperation and care for the ponds. Together with the scientific partners, we will contribute to training activities that help farmers and local authorities apply the project’s findings.
IIC will coordinate communication and dissemination, making the results accessible to practitioners, communities and decision-makers. We will also contribute to guidance and tools that support the use of the project’s approach in other parts of the Danube–Black Sea region. Through cooperation with the SoS2LearnDBS initiative, the partnership will exchange knowledge and experience with other community-led actions. The project contributes to the objectives of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” by supporting ecosystem restoration, pollution reduction and the circular use of resources.
Follow our website for updates on project activities, opportunities to participate and results from the pilot sites.
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