Mediterranean fisheries commission adopts species management plans but punts on deep-sea protections

The Mediterranean Fisheries Commission, part of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, wrapped up its annual meeting in Rome this past October. The main focus of the gathering was to adopt new species management plans, but it chose not to approve fishing restrictions aimed at safeguarding crucial ecological habitats.

Half of the assessed species in the Mediterranean and Black Seas are currently overexploited. The 49th session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) brought together representatives from 23 member countries and the European Union. A key achievement of the meeting included setting long-term harvest strategies for European hake, deep-water rose shrimp, and giant red shrimp in various straits and seas around the Mediterranean.

However, the commission decided to postpone a decision on the establishment of two Fisheries Restricted Areas. One area covers a cold-water coral reef between Spain and Morocco, while the other expands protection for deep-sea habitats. Despite broad agreement on these proposals just a few months earlier, countries were unable to reach consensus, leaving the decisions delayed.

Esther Wozniak, senior policy officer for sustainable fisheries at The Pew Charitable Trusts, expressed disappointment during a press release. She noted that although there was important progress in improving fisheries management, the failure to agree on protecting sensitive habitats was disheartening.