Ministers from EU and non-EU countries around the Mediterranean are expected to adopt an ambitious political declaration in Malta on 30 March to ensure the survival of fishing communities and, especially, to rebuild fish stocks (see EUROPE 11752).
EUROPE has seen a draft version of the MedFish4Ever declaration, which may undergo some changes. The declaration is likely to contain ambitious elements to ensure that fishing activities work towards delivering maximum sustainable yield (MSY) by 2020. The Mediterranean countries will be expected to implement a “regional capacity plan” which will ensure balance between the fish resource and the fishing fleet capacity.
The goal is, by 2020 at the latest, to manage all key fisheries by means of multi-annual plans for the management of fish stocks to ensure that MSY is achieved. The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) will be asked to approve the list of key species to be covered by these management plans in 2017. Management measures will be developed to phase out discards at sea and to increase the selectivity of fishing gear, for example, limiting fishing efforts, total allowable catches and technical measures.
Marine protected areas. Stronger action will be introduced to protect vulnerable species and sensitive habitats, with particular attention to be paid to cetaceans, turtles, seabirds, sensitive sea-floor habitats, including in marine protected areas. Developing zones where fishing is restricted and marine protected areas is also proposed. The goal is to ensure effective protection for at least 10% of the Mediterranean by 2020.
It is expected that ministers will pledge to ensure that, for all the main Mediterranean stocks there will be appropriate data gathering and regular scientific assessment that take account of the impact of sport fishing and external factors, such as pollution by 2020.
Ministers are expected to pledge swiftly to establish a set of rules to ensure effective management of sports fishing in the Mediterranean. The declaration will also contain measures to be taken to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)