Ministers from the EU and involved third countries adopted an action plan in Malta on Wednesday 26 September to support and promote artisan fishing over the next ten years in the Mediterranean and Black Sea (see EUROPE 11755).
In this region, artisan fishing accounts for more than 84% of the fleet and employs 62% of labour on ships (24% of the total value of unloaded fish), but stocks are overfished, threatening the survival of artisan fisheries.
European Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella pointed out that at the moment, 90% of stocks evaluated in the zone are overfished.
NGO Oceana is calling on governments to take tangible action to better understand the work of the artisan fishing fleet using systematic surveillance of ships and registering all catches.
The action plan contains a number of domains of action, such as: - scientific research and data on artisan fishing; - management measures (guaranteeing favourable access for sustainable artisan fisheries, promoting a reduction in by-catches, use of technology, marking engines, strengthening controls and preservation of fish habitat); - value chain; - capacity; - climate and environment (adaptation and reduction plans, support for artisan fishing communities affected by climate change, elimination and recycling of recuperated nets, including rewards for the collection of marine waste). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)