At the 47th annual meeting of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), held in Rome from 4 to 8 November, the EU and its neighbourhood countries adopted a number of important measures, including a restricted area off the coast of Albania, as announced by the European Commission on Monday 11 November.
The GFCM has therefore decided to create the first fisheries restricted area (FRA) shared between the EU and Albania in order to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems, in particular vulnerable bamboo coral (Isidella elongata) and essential habitats for demersal species (red shrimp, red gambon). This area, which is located in the Otranto Channel in the Adriatic Sea, will thus be closed to bottom trawling operations. It also defines a buffer zone within which fishing activities are restricted. This fisheries restricted area is the eleventh established by the GFCM, and is comparable in size to a country like Luxembourg.
The adoption of this new FRA, in addition to the existing Jabuka Pomo FRA, makes the Adriatic the Mediterranean sub-region with the most extensive seabed protection.
In accordance with EU rules, the GFCM has consolidated conservation measures for European eel and red coral through its EU-funded research programmes.
The GFCM agreed as well to collaborate on the collection of scientific data concerning future management and conservation measures for sensitive species, such as piked dogfish and sturgeon, and to adopt a total regional fishing ban on sturgeon in marine waters. Finally, the GFCM’s members also undertook to step up the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
The GFCM comprises the EU, 19 Mediterranean states and three Black Sea states. On 9 and 10 December, the European fisheries ministers are due to draw up the measures relating to the GFCM’s fishing opportunities for the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, in addition to the 2025 fishing quotas in EU waters (see EUROPE 13519/25). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)