The countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea are meeting on Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 June in Marrakech to review progress towards ensuring sustainable fisheries in the Mediterranean.
Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella will participate on behalf of the European Commission in the high-level conference on this subject of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM).
Mr Vella recalled that the countries concerned had adopted the MedFish4Ever declaration in 2017, which provided for a series of actions to restore fish stocks. “We have made significant and concrete progress towards delivering our ambition to achieve sustainable fisheries”, says the Commissioner. The Commission cites “ambitious” measures taken in the management of fishing activities, the protection of biodiversity, controls and the fight against illegal fishing. “Further action is urgently needed”, the Commission admits.
The NGO Oceana calls on the countries of the region to “protect critical fish habitats to ensure the future of fishing in the world's most overexploited sea” (80% of stocks are overexploited). Oceana has provided a tool including examples of regional and national fisheries areas which have been closed to protect breeding areas. To consult this tool: https://eu.oceana.org/en/essential-fish-habitats-viewer (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)