On Friday 10 November, NGOs welcomed the decision by Mediterranean states to create a system of sanctions that will enable the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) to take action against countries that engage in overfishing or illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).
The binding recommendation adopted by the GFCM at its meeting last week in Croatia “will finally allow the organisation to act against Member States that fail to adhere to its conservation measures, using a system that will go into force in 2025”, explains a joint press release from Oceana, ClienEarth and the Environmental Justice Foundation. The 22 GFCM Member States (plus the EU) will now be able to “take action if a member fails to stop its trawl fleet from fishing in no-trawl areas, or if a member does not respect GFCM rules on fishing gear or catch restrictions”, according to the NGOs.
The new mechanism will ensure that cases of non-compliance are followed up with appropriate and proportionate measures, according to the European Commission. To consolidate joint efforts in the Mediterranean and ensure that measures produce results on the ground, a patrol vessel from the European Fisheries Control Agency will be permanently deployed again this year.
Thanks to the efforts of the EU and more than 12 other coastal states, the GFCM unanimously adopted a total of 34 joint measures. The EU will support the implementation of the GFCM’s measures and 2030 strategy with an annual grant of €8 million.
New catch documentation systems for red coral in the Mediterranean and turbot in the Black Sea will help to identify the origin of fishery products, ensuring better conservation of these emblematic species.
Further information: https://aeur.eu/f/9jd (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)