European Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella called, in Brussels on Thursday 11 May, on EU countries to turn their words into action and to implement the commitments taken recently in Malta to make fishing in the Mediterranean sustainable once again (see EUROPE 11753).
At a press conference after the Fisheries and Agriculture Council, Vella acknowledged that the MedFish4Ever was realistic and ambitious: improving data collection, adopting multiannual management plans for key species, protected marine areas, tackling illegal fishing and improving controls.
Progress is expected from General Fisheries Council for the Mediterranean (GFCM), the commissioner stated. The next GFCM meeting will take place in Montenegro in October. He also called on the countries of the EU to show solidarity with Mediterranean third countries which need to restructure their fishing sectors. “We have to redouble our efforts”, said Spain. The GFCM is the appropriate forum for action at international level, Spain added. France, too, made this remark.
Elsewhere, Sweden highlighted the high-level United Nations conference on protecting oceans and marine resources, to be held in New York from 5 to 9 June. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)