Alboran Sea fisheries management is implemented at different geographical
levels from international to local arena so that cooperation is guaranteed and specific
local/national issues are appropriately met for. The highest geographical level
involves three types of regional oceans governance mechanisms: regional sea programs, regional fisheries management organizations (RFMO), and large marine
ecosystem mechanisms (Rochette et al. 2015).
The Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) under the framework of the Convention
for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution in 1976 (Barcelona
Convention - UNEP 2019) was the first regional sea program of the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) to manage the Mediterranean Sea and consequently the Alboran Sea. The MAP initially included a mandate toward the elimination and prevention of pollution and the conservation of biodiversity, especially
through the creation of marine protected areas, of coastal maritime zones of riparian
state parties and the areas beyond their jurisdiction.
The MAP has been developed from the beginning within the framework of the
Barcelona Convention. The MAP Phase II (1995) was an important milestone
toward broader objectives, which are to ensure the sustainable management of
natural marine and land resources and to integrate the environment in social and
economic development, and land-use policies; to protect the marine environment
and coastal zones, through prevention of pollution, and by reduction and as far as
possible, elimination of pollutant inputs whether chronic or accidental; to protect
nature, and protect and enhance sites and landscapes of ecological or cultural
value; to strengthen solidarity amongst Mediterranean coastal states, in managing
their common heritage and resources for the benefit of the present and future
generations; and to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life. Moreover,
the adoption of an ecosystem approach has been introduced since 2008.
RFMOs are mechanisms through which states or organizations that are parties
work together towards the conservation, management, and/or development of fisheries. RFMOs present in the Alboran Sea are the General Fisheries Commission for
the Mediterranean (GFCM, 1952 to the present) under the framework of the United
Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT, 1967 to the present). They are
both RMFOs that can establish legally binding conservation and management
measures for contracting parties that include all riparian countries of the Alboran
Sea (EU member states, Morocco, and Algeria).
ICCAT aims to maintain the populations of tuna and tuna-like fishes (the
Scombriformes with the exception of the families Trichiuridae and Gempylidae
and the genus Scomber) and such other species of fishes exploited in tuna fishing
within the Convention area that are not under investigation by another RFMO.
ICCAT permits the maximum sustainable catch for food and other purposes
according to the preamble of the Convention. The area covered are international
waters of the Atlantic Ocean, including the adjacent seas.
ICCAT has provided a comprehensive compendium of management recommendations and resolutions in force in the Alboran Sea international waters that mainly
include the following:
752
J. J. García-del-Hoyo and D. Castilla-Espino
levels from international to local arena so that cooperation is guaranteed and specific
local/national issues are appropriately met for. The highest geographical level
involves three types of regional oceans governance mechanisms: regional sea programs, regional fisheries management organizations (RFMO), and large marine
ecosystem mechanisms (Rochette et al. 2015).
The Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) under the framework of the Convention
for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution in 1976 (Barcelona
Convention - UNEP 2019) was the first regional sea program of the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) to manage the Mediterranean Sea and consequently the Alboran Sea. The MAP initially included a mandate toward the elimination and prevention of pollution and the conservation of biodiversity, especially
through the creation of marine protected areas, of coastal maritime zones of riparian
state parties and the areas beyond their jurisdiction.
The MAP has been developed from the beginning within the framework of the
Barcelona Convention. The MAP Phase II (1995) was an important milestone
toward broader objectives, which are to ensure the sustainable management of
natural marine and land resources and to integrate the environment in social and
economic development, and land-use policies; to protect the marine environment
and coastal zones, through prevention of pollution, and by reduction and as far as
possible, elimination of pollutant inputs whether chronic or accidental; to protect
nature, and protect and enhance sites and landscapes of ecological or cultural
value; to strengthen solidarity amongst Mediterranean coastal states, in managing
their common heritage and resources for the benefit of the present and future
generations; and to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life. Moreover,
the adoption of an ecosystem approach has been introduced since 2008.
RFMOs are mechanisms through which states or organizations that are parties
work together towards the conservation, management, and/or development of fisheries. RFMOs present in the Alboran Sea are the General Fisheries Commission for
the Mediterranean (GFCM, 1952 to the present) under the framework of the United
Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT, 1967 to the present). They are
both RMFOs that can establish legally binding conservation and management
measures for contracting parties that include all riparian countries of the Alboran
Sea (EU member states, Morocco, and Algeria).
ICCAT aims to maintain the populations of tuna and tuna-like fishes (the
Scombriformes with the exception of the families Trichiuridae and Gempylidae
and the genus Scomber) and such other species of fishes exploited in tuna fishing
within the Convention area that are not under investigation by another RFMO.
ICCAT permits the maximum sustainable catch for food and other purposes
according to the preamble of the Convention. The area covered are international
waters of the Atlantic Ocean, including the adjacent seas.
ICCAT has provided a comprehensive compendium of management recommendations and resolutions in force in the Alboran Sea international waters that mainly
include the following:
752
J. J. García-del-Hoyo and D. Castilla-Espino