Brussels, 17/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - Commissioner Franz Fischler has welcomed last week's creation of an association bringing together representatives of the fishing industry from eleven Mediterranean countries: Albania, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, France, Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain (see EUROPE of 4 May, p.12). This association, known as Medisamak, has announced its intention of working together with the region's two regional fishing associations, the General Fisheries Council for the Mediterranean (GFCM) and the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
"This is a very encouraging stage on the road sustainable fishing in this region. It appears that the economic actors in the sector in the Mediterranean have agreed to recognise the need for international co-operation to fight against illegal fishing practices", said Mr Fischler. The Commission points out that it encouraged the creation of this kind of association, whilst presenting its action plan for sustainable fishing in the Mediterranean in 2002. In a joint statement adopted at the Venice Conference in 2003, the Fisheries Ministers of the Mediterranean countries supported the initiative.