Mediterranean countries sign historic political pact on ocean governance and fisheries management - Oceana

Mediterranean countries sign historic political pact on ocean governance and fisheries management

Press Release Date: March 30, 2017

Location: Valletta, Malta

Contact:

Anna Baxter | email: abaxter@oceana.org
Anna Baxter

Valletta, Malta Today ministers and high-level representatives from Mediterranean countries have signed a historic declaration to address the fisheries crisis in the region. The ministerial declaration, Malta MedFish4Ever, will be the blueprint for cooperation and sustainable development of fisheries for all coastal states in the Mediterranean over the next 10 years. The agreement comes just months before the global Our Ocean Conference 2017, which will take place in October and will be hosted by the EU for the first time. 

Oceana welcomes the political pact, which will now see countries commit to follow scientific advice, to ensure the sustainability of resources and the recovery of heavily overfished stocks.

“This Declaration really is one for the history books. There is finally a political commitment to sort out Mediterranean fisheries once and for all. Rebuilding Mediterranean fish stocks and managing them sustainably will bring back fish to the Mediterranean Sea, where the potential for more food, more jobs and economic growth is massive. We trust that governments are serious and that they will take initiative and action to match the challenge. Oceana stands by ready to offer its support to implement the MaltaMedFish4Ever declaration”, said Lasse Gustavsson, executive director of Oceana in Europe.

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