A new strategy for strengthening fisheries management in the Mediterranean was outlined by EU Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella at the Seafood Expo Global (SEG 16), held in Brussels.
More than 80 representatives from EU institutions, European regions, business, and NGOs gathered at the European Commission stand at SEG 16 for the launch of the #MedFish4Ever campaign, at which Vella called for concerted action at international level to address the overexploitation of the region’s fisheries, stating that 93 percent of the fish stocks assessed are overexploited.
This was, he said, an issue with both environmental and social implications as it represented a clear threat to the way of life of fishing communities around the Mediterranean.
The Commissioner told SEG 16 attendees there were many reasons for the poor state of these fisheries, including pollution and climate change, but stressed there was no doubt that extensive overfishing was one of the key causes.
It was equally true that the true state of many stocks was unknown because there was only very partial data, yet the gaps in knowledge should not be used as an excuse to delay action, said Vella.
He warned that if action wasn’t taken immediately, there was a “serious risk” that stocks would decline beyond the point of no return and fishermen would have nothing left to catch.
Reversing the trend and keeping the livelihoods of many coastal communities would require an exceptional effort, but was still possible, said Vella.
He also indicated that the EU is willing to take the lead in seeking solutions along with southern and eastern Mediterranean neighbors and had already hosted a meeting with fisheries ministers from countries bordering the Mediterranean to discuss the EU concerns.
Zakia Driouich, secretary general at the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries; Javier Garat, president of European fisheries association Europeche; and Marco Lambertini, director general of WWF International, joined Vella in his call for action at SEG 16.
They all underlined the importance of working together to return fish stocks to good health and ensure a future for Mediterranean fishermen, including cooperation between EU and non-EU countries, as well as between government, civil society and fishermen. Furthermore, they agreed on the importance of taking policy decisions based on science, and on the resulting need to invest in gathering more and better data.
"Following a fishing crisis in 2003, Morocco has put in place a fisheries strategy focusing on two key elements: sustainability and conservation measures. Our aim is to have 95 percent of fisheries under a management plan by 2020 – currently we are at 91 percent. But the Mediterranean is a shared area and the health of the Mediterranean is therefore a shared concern. We need a shared vision, and I therefore thank Commissioner Vella for this initiative," said Driouich.
