In a SWOT analysis of the Romanian fishery sector, while its “Strengths” lie
with the country’s undeniable abundance of fish, the “Threats” that appear to be
lurking in the Danube’s muddy waters point to the rather unfair competition that
Romania is facing on the international markets. Thus, out of the four kilos of fishery
products being consumed by every Romanian person in 2016, only 0.56 kg were
produced locally, with the rest of the 3.44 kg being imported (National Agency for
Fishery and Aquaculture 2016).
41.4 Conclusions
1. After all the national assets – land, natural resources, domestic and foreign trade
enterprises etc. i.e. the entire economy – were nationalised without any reparations to their previous owners, the totalitarian state grew extremely wealthy.
2. The country’s economic resources that had become state property allowed for
nationwide investments to be made in the country’s heavy industry, in particular
and also in the agricultural sector.
3. There were insufficient raw materials allocated for the gigantic investment
projects being envisaged by the country’s leaders; moreover, the management
was poor hence the overall inefficiency that plagued the country as a whole. In
spite of this, Romania registered economic growth up until the mid 1980s after
which the country went into decline and bankruptcy ensued. Given the worsening economic climate it is remarkable to note that Romania’s debt to international foreign creditors was extinguished at an inhumanely high cost inflicted on
its population which suffered extreme austerity and famine.
4. The so-called ‘successes’ registered in the country’s agriculture and aquaculture
had extremely high costs attached to them all of which was done in the context of
chronic inefficiency.
5. After 1990, during the country’s transition to a market economy, all of the
totalitarian state’s accumulated wealth was transferred to the private sector
while the rest of its assets were wasted as a result of poor management.
6. This led to the paradoxical situation in which the overwhelming majority of the
population of a country with plentiful mineral, natural and water resources is
currently living on the brink of indigence without any hope of a better future.
References
Bologa AS (2000) Regional reseach and management developments in the Black Sea. In: Ocean
yearbook 14. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago/London, pp 515–519
Bologa AS, Charlier RH (2011) Romanian marine centennial. J Coast Res:364–367
Cioroianu A (2013) Cea mai frumoasa ˘ poveste. C^ ateva adeva ˘ruri simple despre istoria Rom^ anilor.
Editura Cartea Veche, București, p 287
41 Land and Water in Romania’s Food Economy
683
with the country’s undeniable abundance of fish, the “Threats” that appear to be
lurking in the Danube’s muddy waters point to the rather unfair competition that
Romania is facing on the international markets. Thus, out of the four kilos of fishery
products being consumed by every Romanian person in 2016, only 0.56 kg were
produced locally, with the rest of the 3.44 kg being imported (National Agency for
Fishery and Aquaculture 2016).
41.4 Conclusions
1. After all the national assets – land, natural resources, domestic and foreign trade
enterprises etc. i.e. the entire economy – were nationalised without any reparations to their previous owners, the totalitarian state grew extremely wealthy.
2. The country’s economic resources that had become state property allowed for
nationwide investments to be made in the country’s heavy industry, in particular
and also in the agricultural sector.
3. There were insufficient raw materials allocated for the gigantic investment
projects being envisaged by the country’s leaders; moreover, the management
was poor hence the overall inefficiency that plagued the country as a whole. In
spite of this, Romania registered economic growth up until the mid 1980s after
which the country went into decline and bankruptcy ensued. Given the worsening economic climate it is remarkable to note that Romania’s debt to international foreign creditors was extinguished at an inhumanely high cost inflicted on
its population which suffered extreme austerity and famine.
4. The so-called ‘successes’ registered in the country’s agriculture and aquaculture
had extremely high costs attached to them all of which was done in the context of
chronic inefficiency.
5. After 1990, during the country’s transition to a market economy, all of the
totalitarian state’s accumulated wealth was transferred to the private sector
while the rest of its assets were wasted as a result of poor management.
6. This led to the paradoxical situation in which the overwhelming majority of the
population of a country with plentiful mineral, natural and water resources is
currently living on the brink of indigence without any hope of a better future.
References
Bologa AS (2000) Regional reseach and management developments in the Black Sea. In: Ocean
yearbook 14. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago/London, pp 515–519
Bologa AS, Charlier RH (2011) Romanian marine centennial. J Coast Res:364–367
Cioroianu A (2013) Cea mai frumoasa ˘ poveste. C^ ateva adeva ˘ruri simple despre istoria Rom^ anilor.
Editura Cartea Veche, București, p 287
41 Land and Water in Romania’s Food Economy
683