Brussels, 10/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - In the Mediterranean, 93% of fish stocks are overfished by EU and third country vessels and urgent action is needed, emphasised a number of those taking part in a seminar on the state of stocks in the Mediterranean zone in Catania (Sicily) on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 February.
Decision-makers and the industry are divided on the measures that need to be taken, even though it is clear that the 2008 regulation on fishing in the Mediterranean has not been able to redress the alarming situation with regard to the resource.
“We need to act”, stated European Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella at the seminar. He set out the tools available following the reform of the common fisheries policy (CFP), including the regionalisation of decision-making on fisheries, an improved framework for data collection, new technologies (drones) for monitoring, the ban on discarding fish at sea and multiannual management plan for the western Mediterranean (the Commission is drafting a proposal on this management plan). The commissioner pointed out that fishing is not the only cause of the deterioration in the Mediterranean's fisheries resources: there are also pollution and climate change.
Acting with third countries. The problem is not specific to the countries of the northern shoreline, “some stocks are shared with neighbouring countries”, Vella noted. He plans “to discuss the management of these stocks” with them and to work to bring about their political agreement on a joint conservation programme. The CFP “lets member states act together, in regional groupings, to manage their shared resources”.
Vella hopes “to bring together the fisheries ministers of all the Mediterranean countries during the international “Seafood” exhibition in Brussels in April”. Additionally, he announced, “I will travel to several key partnership countries to get their commitment, to try to find solutions and to evaluate the many opportunities that the 'blue economy' can offer”.
NGOs have grounds for concern. WWF calls, not for emergency measures, but for long-term solutions, such as co-management (where responsibility for managing fisheries activities is shared between government and fishermen). It also believes that engaging the governments of Mediterranean fishing nations (EU and non-EU) as well as regional organisations is a key factor. Oceana argues that emergency measures are required, including closures for all stocks with fishing mortality levels that are far from becoming sustainable in the short term, as well as long-term measures, such as: - reducing fishing mortality; - protecting nursery and spawning grounds; - improving the selectivity of fishing gear; - putting in place appropriate monitoring control and surveillance tools. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur et Fathi B'Chir)