Aina Afanasjeva today was appointed director of Eurofish, effective 1 May.
She joins the 12-country organization from the European Commission, where she has served in a position in the DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries where she is managing the implementation of EU structural funds programs in the fisheries sector in different member states since 2005.
Previously, she was deputy director of the Latvian fisheries administration for nine years. Afanasjeva was one of the key representatives on the Food and Agriculture Organization's Eastfish project and its successor, Eurofish, established in 2002 to help develop fisheries, aquaculture and the seafood trade in eastern and central Europe.
"One of the main challenges for Eurofish in the coming years," said Afanasjeva, "is to take into consideration the interest of all Eurofish member countries and to meet the expectations of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in the region with their different needs, especially in facilitating trade relations and ways to get better value for fisheries and aquaculture products, as well as promoting traditional and new fisheries products."
"I am encouraged by the support of Eurofish member countries and also by the new countries that we look forward to welcoming soon in the organization," she added.
Eurofish member countries include Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Romania, Spain and Turkey. Hungary and Poland participate in Eurofish but are not yet ratified.
February 26, 2009
