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More than twenty countries and the European Union adopted 21 measures to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine living resources in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea today. 

Following a week of intense discussions, the members of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), adopted a series of binding recommendations and resolutions addressing regional priorities.  

Concerted action to ensure a sustainable future for fisheries 

Fisheries and aquaculture have been key social and economic drivers in the region for millennia. The last ten years have finally witnessed improvements in the status of stocks suffering from ever-increasing anthropogenic pressures. With 75 percent of fish stocks subject to overfishing (SOMFI 2020), the sustainable management of resources has been a priority for countries, in order to ensure the food security and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people. 

©GFCM/Intissare Aamri

The decisions made today include the reinforcement of a research programme on rapa whelk, measures addressing the management of European eel, red coral, blackspot seabream, giant red shrimp, blue and red shrimp and turbot, as well as catch limits, temporal or geographical closures and bans on recreational fisheries.  

Improving the culture of compliance 

As the effectiveness of adopted recommendations relies on their systematic transposition into national legislation by countries, the GFCM also strives to build a culture of compliance and mutual trust and to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.   

For the first time ever, countries have fixed general rules regulating transhipments at sea in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, entailing a complete prohibition except in cases of force majeure. 

Furthermore, upon the successful completion of a pilot phase, management measures to curtail IUU fishing were reinforced with the operationalization of long-term permanent inspection schemes valid until 2030. The schemes encourage joint efforts between several countries to organize inspections, provide means and human capacity and harmonize practices and procedures.  

Finally, the GFCM logbook established in 2010 was updated with new requirements in line with recent GFCM priorities. Fishers now play a more essential role in providing information – reported in vessel logbooks – on the possible bycatch of vulnerable species during fishing operations. 

Turning invasive species into an opportunity to conserve marine ecosystems and protect livelihoods

More than 1 000 non-indigenous species have been identified as occurring in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Over half of these fish, jellyfish, prawns and other marine species have established permanent populations and are spreading, causing concern over the threat they pose to marine ecosystems and local fishing communities. 

©GFCM/Claudia Amico

Today, the Commission agreed to launch a pilot study in the eastern Mediterranean, which is considered a hotspot for non-indigenous species, towards developing a model to be exported to the rest of the region. A Mediterranean-wide observatory will also be created in Türkiye with the objective of fostering regional discussions on best practices for the management of NIS. 

An institution equipped to enable countries to make informed decision on fisheries 

This week marked the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the GFCM. The event, opened by the Albanian Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, H.E. Frida Krifca, and the Director of the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, Dr Manuel Barange, speaking on behalf of the FAO Director-General, used the occasion to recall the evolution of the GFCM into its current form as a modern, efficient and effective regional fisheries management organization. 

"The history of the GFCM is ripe with achievements. What has remained constant is the support provided by FAO to the GFCM, which has ultimately allowed it to evolve into a Commission responsive to the needs of its Members,” said Dr Barange.  

©GFCM/Intissare Aamri

“It has been the work of all of us and our predecessors that has led us to the point where we are today,” added Roland Kristo, Chairperson of GFCM and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. “It is now up to all of us to guide the GFCM ahead into the future, better equipped than ever before but also facing some of the steepest challenges in our history.” 

Countries entrust the leadership of the GFCM to a scientist of international stature 

After a selection process overseen by the FAO management and GFCM members, the FAO Director-General proposed Dr Miguel Bernal as the new GFCM Executive Secretary. The nomination of the Spanish national was unanimously approved by the GFCM Members this week. He will be responsible for the implementation of the policies and activities of the GFCM, managing its Secretariat on behalf of the Members.  

Biennial results on the state of fisheries coming up in December 

The eyes of the fishing community are now focused on December 7, when an update on the state of fisheries in the region will be published, confirming whether we are on the right track to address the critical status of the region’s fisheries in the face of numerous pressures on the ecosystem, from climate change to plastic pollution.  

Join the conversation on Twitter #GFCMSession #GFCMat70

Decisions taken

Resolution GFCM/45/2022/1 on empowering women in the aquaculture sector

Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/1 on a multiannual management plan for European eel in the Mediterranean Sea, amending Recommendation GFCM/42/2018/1

Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/2 on a management plan for the sustainable exploitation of red coral in the Mediterranean Sea, amending Recommendation GFCM/43/2019/4

Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/3 on a multiannual management plan for the sustainable exploitation of blackspotseabream in the Alboran Sea (geographical subareas1 to 3), repealing Recommendations GFCM/44/2021/4, GFCM/43/2019/2 and GFCM/41/2017/2

Resolution GFCM/45/2022/4 on the launch of a roadmap for the establishment of a fisheries restricted area in the Cabliers coral mound in the Alboran Sea (geographical subareas 3 and 4) with a view to adopting adequate protection and management measures

Resolution GFCM/45/2022/2 on a research programme on jellyfish in the western Mediterranean (geographical subareas 1 to 3)

Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/4 on a multiannual management plan for the sustainable exploitation of demersal stocks in the Strait of Sicily (geographical subareas12to16), repealing Recommendations GFCM/44/2021/12 and GFCM/42/2018/5

Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/5 on a multiannual management plan for the sustainable exploitation of giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp stocks in the Strait of Sicily (geographical subareas12to16), repealing Recommendations GFCM/44/2021/7and GFCM/43/2019/6

Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/6 on a multiannual management plan forthe sustainable exploitation of giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp stocks in the Ionian Sea (geographical subareas19to21), repealing Recommendations GFCM/44/2021/8and GFCM/42/2018/4

Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/7 on a multiannualmanagement plan for sustainable demersal trawl fisheries targeting giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp in the Levant Sea (geographical subareas 24to27), repealing Recommendation GFCM/42/2018/3

Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/8 on the implementation of afishing effort regime for key demersal stocks in the Adriatic Sea in 2023 (geographical subareas 17 and 18),stemming from Recommendation GFCM/43/2019/5

Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/9 on a multiannual management plan for turbot fisheries in the Black Sea (geographical subarea 29), amending Recommendation GFCM/43/2019/3

Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/10 on a regional research programme for rapa whelk fisheries in the Black Sea (geographical subarea 29), amending Recommendation GFCM/42/2018/9

Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/11 on the establishment of a set of minimum standards for fisheries restricted areas in the GFCM area of application

Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/12 on the establishment of a set of minimum rules for sustainable recreational fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea

Resolution GFCM/45/2022/3 on the implementation of the Regional Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea

Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/13 on the establishment of a GFCM logbook,amending Recommendation GFCM/35/2011/1

Recommendation  GFCM/45/2022/14 on the regulation of transshipment in the GFCM area of application

Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/15 on an international joint inspection and surveillance scheme outside the waters under national jurisdiction in the Strait of Sicily (geographical subareas 12 to 16), amending Recommendation GFCM/41/2017/8 and repealing Recommendation GFCM/42/2018/6

Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/16 on an international joint inspection and surveillance scheme outside the waters under national jurisdiction in the Ionian Sea (geographical subareas 19to21)

Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/17 on information contained in the GFCM record of authorized vessels over 15 metresin the GFCM area of application, amending Recommendation GFCM/33/2009/6 and repealing GFCM/44/2021/18