EU and neighbourhood countries agree first EU-Albania fisheries restricted area and other measures to protect Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries and biodiversity

During the 47^th annual meeting of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), which took place on 4-8 November in Rome, the EU and neighbourhood countries agreed on important measures in favour of sustainability of the Mediterranean and theBlack Sea.

They include the creation of a first fisheries restricted area (FRA) shared between the EU and Albania to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems, which will notably protect the vulnerable bamboo coral and essential fish habitats of demersal species. The adoption of this new FRA, in addition to the existing Jabuka Pomo FRA, establishes the Adriatic as the subregion with the highest coverage of seabed protection in the Mediterranean.

Following the EU's lead, the GFCM consolidated conservation measures for European eel and red coral, based on successful EU-financed GFCM Research Programmes. The GFCM also agreed to work together on gathering scientific data for future management and conservation measures for sensitive species such as picked dogfish and sturgeon and adopting a total regional fishing ban for sturgeon in marine waters. Finally, GFCM members also committed to strengthened fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Executive Vice-President in charge of the European Green Deal, Maroš Šefčovič, said: “I welcome the progress made with our Mediterranean regional partners on the sustainable management of our shared stocks. By promoting a zero-tolerance approach to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and the management principles of the common fisheries policy, we are ensuring a level playing field for all operators in the region.”

The GFCM has a critical role in fisheries governance as it notably adopts binding recommendations for fisheries management and aquaculture development in the Mediterranean and Black Sea. It comprises the EU, 19 Mediterranean states and three Black Sea states.

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