24.4.2 GFCM Midterm Strategy (2017–2020) and BGI
Following the introduction of the GFCM midterm strategy for the Mediterranean and
the Black Sea fisheries (GFCM 2016), the region has strong ties with the cultural,
social, and economic aspects of fisheries that provide important sources of food and
livelihood for riparian countries and sustain the traditions and the way of life of
many coastal communities. The recent GFCM report “The state of Mediterranean
and Black Sea Fisheries (SoMFi)” (FAO 2018) stated that “About 75 percent of the
Mediterranean and Black Sea stocks assessed are currently fished at biological
sustainable levels, although the percentage has slightly decreased since 2014
(88%)” and with decreasing catches and shrinking fleets at the regional scale
(compared with the average over the 2000–2023 period reported in SoMFi 2016).
The report highlighted main fleet segments, areas, and species of interest and
stressed on the need to improve the existing information, especially for vulnerable
species, in order to have a comprehensive assessment on which to base future
management measures. To solve the situation, the GFCM adopted Resolution
GFCM/40/2016/2 for a midterm strategy (2017–2020) toward the sustainability of
Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries.
The existing challenges in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea fisheries require
the development of tailor-made actions against the backdrop of international commitments toward the sustainability of fisheries as a means to support the livelihood of
coastal communities within a blue growth perspective. The midterm strategy is
framed around the following five targets:
1. Reverse the declining trend of fish stocks through strengthened scientific advice
in support of management.
2. Support livelihoods for coastal communities through sustainable small-scale
fisheries.
3. Curb illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, through a regional plan
of action.
4. Minimize and mitigate unwanted interactions between fisheries and marine
ecosystems and environment.
5. Enhance capacity building and cooperation.
Concerning the target four of the strategy, GFCM stated that healthy and productive marine ecosystems are an important means to support maximum sustainable
yield and to facilitate BGI. It is recognized in this target four that fisheries, as well as
other anthropogenic-driven phenomena, such as climate change or the introduction
of nonindigenous species, can have potentially negative effects on the marine
environment and marine ecosystems.
Target five includes the urgency that contracting and cooperative parties, relevant
intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations and concerned stakeholders,
enhance cooperation to promote sustainable development and BG in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
24 Sustainable Development and Blue Growth in the Alboran Sea: Enabling Ocean. . .
811
Following the introduction of the GFCM midterm strategy for the Mediterranean and
the Black Sea fisheries (GFCM 2016), the region has strong ties with the cultural,
social, and economic aspects of fisheries that provide important sources of food and
livelihood for riparian countries and sustain the traditions and the way of life of
many coastal communities. The recent GFCM report “The state of Mediterranean
and Black Sea Fisheries (SoMFi)” (FAO 2018) stated that “About 75 percent of the
Mediterranean and Black Sea stocks assessed are currently fished at biological
sustainable levels, although the percentage has slightly decreased since 2014
(88%)” and with decreasing catches and shrinking fleets at the regional scale
(compared with the average over the 2000–2023 period reported in SoMFi 2016).
The report highlighted main fleet segments, areas, and species of interest and
stressed on the need to improve the existing information, especially for vulnerable
species, in order to have a comprehensive assessment on which to base future
management measures. To solve the situation, the GFCM adopted Resolution
GFCM/40/2016/2 for a midterm strategy (2017–2020) toward the sustainability of
Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries.
The existing challenges in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea fisheries require
the development of tailor-made actions against the backdrop of international commitments toward the sustainability of fisheries as a means to support the livelihood of
coastal communities within a blue growth perspective. The midterm strategy is
framed around the following five targets:
1. Reverse the declining trend of fish stocks through strengthened scientific advice
in support of management.
2. Support livelihoods for coastal communities through sustainable small-scale
fisheries.
3. Curb illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, through a regional plan
of action.
4. Minimize and mitigate unwanted interactions between fisheries and marine
ecosystems and environment.
5. Enhance capacity building and cooperation.
Concerning the target four of the strategy, GFCM stated that healthy and productive marine ecosystems are an important means to support maximum sustainable
yield and to facilitate BGI. It is recognized in this target four that fisheries, as well as
other anthropogenic-driven phenomena, such as climate change or the introduction
of nonindigenous species, can have potentially negative effects on the marine
environment and marine ecosystems.
Target five includes the urgency that contracting and cooperative parties, relevant
intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations and concerned stakeholders,
enhance cooperation to promote sustainable development and BG in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
24 Sustainable Development and Blue Growth in the Alboran Sea: Enabling Ocean. . .
811