A group of European Union and Mediterranean countries have agreed to develop and adopt a new MedFish4Ever Declaration in 2027 to guide efforts on rebuilding Mediterranean fish stocks.
“A decade after adopting the #MedFish4Ever Declaration, we are evaluating its progress and agreeing on a common path ahead to safeguard fisheries in the Mediterranean. This will pave the way toward an updated Declaration in 2027,” E.U. Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis said in a social media statement.
The initial MedFish4Ever Declaration was signed in 2017, with 16 countries agreeing to a 10-year vision on reversing the decline of Mediterranean fish stocks.
“This came at a time when the vast majority of stocks in the region were overexploited and the sector was showing signs of crisis, with decreasing catches and employment,” the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) said in a statement. “Since then, thanks to the cooperation of all stakeholders involved, MedFish4Ever has turned the tide in the region, unifying [fisheries management] and reversing overfishing trends, resulting in a 60 percent overall reduction in fishing pressure in the Mediterranean. Aquaculture was also part of the solution, growing by 41 percent in the Mediterranean in the six years following the historic Declaration.”
Still, E.U. officials noted that “over half of assessed stocks remain overfished,” with illegal fishing, fleet overcapacity, climate change, and economic hardships remaining significant challenges for the region.
Accordingly, representatives from Mediterranean nations met in Cyprus 5 May to agree on updating the MedFish4Ever Declaration next year, prioritizing stronger governance, science-led recovery, a fair transition to support small-scale fishers, climate resilience, and solidarity and partnership.
