Arch. Biol. Sci., Belgrade, 67(3), 909-920, 2015 DOI:10.2298/ABS140307052B EXPLOITATION OF FISHING RESOURCES IN SUCEAVA COUNTY: PROFITABILITY ANALYSIS (RB/T) OF SPECIALIZED FARMS IN A MOUNTAINOUS REGION Ionel Bostan1,*, Dorel Mates2, Elena Hlaciuc1, Veronica Grosu1, Marian Socoliuc1, Bogdan Andronic3, Marius Ciubotariu1, Anisoara Apetri1, Gheorghe Morosan1 and Camelia Mihalciuc1 1 Doctoral School of Economics, Stefan cel Mare University, Suceava, Romania 2 Doctoral School of Economics, West University, Timișoara, Romania 3 Faculty of Economic Sciences, Danubius University, Galati, Romania *Corresponding author:
[email protected] Abstract: Aquaculture is an economic sector that has rapidly grown in recent years, due to European programs and the support provided for this activity. Given this accelerated development and the attention this sector receives on an interna- tional level, this paper focuses on identifying the growth factors in the sector and highlighting certain general aspects of its development in Romania, followed by an analysis of the available data on the exploitation of fishing resources in Suceava County in terms of performance. Key words: aquaculture; fishing; environment/ecology; European policies/instruments; profitability; assets; investments. Received March 7, 2014; Accepted July 1, 2014 INTRODUCTION healthy choices for EU citizens, as well as the fact that this is a dynamic sector whose development will cre- Fish farming and aquaculture in the European Union ate jobs and decent standards of living for fishermen is one of the food production sectors that has devel- (EC, 2013a). The efforts of the European Commission oped at a rapid pace, supplying almost half of the fish have targeted a radical change in this sector (Dam- and seafood quantities consumed worldwide (EC, anaki, 2014), encouraging EU member states to de- 2013a).