Step-by-step towards more sustainable fisheries in the Mediterranean - 47th GFCM Commission meeting closed today

Rome—The 47th Session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM-FAO) concluded today. The 22 Member countries and the EU issued 12  binding recommendations and 4 resolutions that have the potential to advance sustainable fisheries and protect vulnerable species in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.

Alessio Satta, Director at WWF Mediterranean, said: “While the status of Mediterranean fish stocks clearly improved, still many stocks remain under critical pressure, and the urgency of the situation has compelled countries to take action. We’re encouraging the GFCM Contracting Parties to address overfishing, but now, robust implementation and strong enforcement are essential, alongside firm measures to tackle non-compliance.”

WWF welcomes several key outcomes, including the designation of the long-awaited "Otranto" Fisheries Restricted Area in the Southern Adriatic, the adoption of spatio-temporal closures in two Adriatic areas to protect Norwegian lobster, and roadmaps to safeguard vulnerable ecosystems and essential fish habitats in the Strait of Sicily. The management decision for Adriatic small pelagic stocks is a critical benchmark, and its implementation should carefully consider the socio-economic needs of Adriatic fisheries. 

WWF also applauds the GFCM’s first management measures for Black Sea sturgeons and the inclusion of sturgeons in the regional action plan for vulnerable species.  While additional precautionary measures should have been taken for the depleted spiny dogfish, WWF welcomes the plan to gather data for a Management Strategy Evaluation and develop spatial management for this depleted species in the Black Sea.

Beate Striebel-Greiter, WWF Global Sturgeon lead, “This decision marks a crucial step toward safeguarding sturgeon, bringing hope that with stronger protection, better handling of discards and better reporting of bycatch, these remarkable species group can recover and thrive once again in the Black Sea. Urgent, coordinated action is essential to ensure sturgeons continue to inhabit our rivers and the Black Sea for generations to come.”

WWF remains extremely concerned, however, about the postponement of the decision to protect the Cabliers coral area, as well as about the status of the endangered red coral, the critically endangered European eel, and the overfished Black Spotted Sea bream. We urge all countries to enhance management, monitoring, and reporting for these species, stressing that if conditions do not improve, a complete ban on their fisheries may soon be unavoidable.

Finally, WWF supports GFCM’s decision to also consider small-scale  fisheries data in stock assessments and to develop measures  to mitigate shark and rays bycatch in the Strait of Sicily, a vital step for reducing impacts on these vulnerable species.