The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), which is part of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), held its annual meeting in Rome from October 26 to 30. During this 49th session, representatives from 23 member countries and the European Union came together. They approved new management plans aimed at protecting certain well-known fish species. However, they did not implement anticipated fishing restrictions that would safeguard crucial ecosystems. Currently, around half of the evaluated species in the Mediterranean are considered overfished.
The commission made progress by establishing long-term harvest strategies for three species: European hake, deep-water rose shrimp, and giant red shrimp. These plans were focused on specific areas, including the Strait of Sicily and the Ionian Sea between Greece and southern Italy.
Despite these achievements, the commission chose to delay decisions on two proposed Fisheries Restricted Areas. One area would protect a cold-water coral reef located between Spain and Morocco, while the other would extend protections for deep-sea regions. Observers noted that there had been widespread support for these proposals just months before. Esther Wozniak, a senior policy officer at The Pew Charitable Trusts, expressed disappointment that countries could not agree on the fishing restrictions intended to protect sensitive habitats, leading to a postponed decision.
What do you think about the commission’s outcomes regarding fish species management and habitat protections?
Sources:
Source: Mongabay Animals, by Autumn Spanne