Mediterranean Fishing Vessels Required to Obtain Permanent Identification Numbers to Increase Transparency | Oceana

Victory | November 30, 2025

Mediterranean Fishing Vessels Required to Obtain Permanent Identification Numbers to Increase Transparency

The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean agreed to new transparency measures for all fishing vessels measuring 20 meters (~65 feet) or more in length, following campaigning by Oceana and our allies. Specifically, vessels will be required to have International Maritime Organization (IMO) numbers. An IMO number is a permanent and unique identifier that stays with a vessel throughout its lifespan, even if its name, flag, or ownership change. This makes it much harder for vessels to hide their identity, increasing transparency and helping authorities to prevent illegal fishing in the Mediterranean, one of the most overexploited seas in the world.