Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean Strengthens Transparency Requirements for Fishing Vessels - Oceana

Victory | November 30, 2021

Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean Strengthens Transparency Requirements for Fishing Vessels

The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), the regional fisheries management organization covering the Mediterranean and Black Seas, adopted a recommendation to improve its Authorized Vessel List. GFCM member countries are now required to report which vessels are allowed to fish inside Fisheries Restricted Areas, helping authorities spot which fishing vessels are operating within the law and those that are not. This victory is a direct result of campaigning by Oceana, who highlighted the weaknesses of the previous list and secured support for the new recommendation from the EU and other GFCM members. The decision will help ensure that Fisheries Restricted Areas provide real protection to critical fisheries habitats and fragile deep-sea ecosystems.