The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (Gfcm) proposes a common mechanism for controlling activities at sea
The European Union is taking strong measures to protect our seas and ensure fair fishing practices in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, following the significant progress made during the annual session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (Gfcm) held last week in Malaga. For the first time, reports the Federation of the Sea, the Gfcm has agreed to introduce a mechanism to monitor and ensure compliance with regional fisheries measures. If regional measures are not complied with, the Gfcm will require the countries of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea to remedy the identified deficiencies.
The Gfcm has also agreed to require larger vessels – over 20 meters – to display their international identification number on the outside of the vessel while fishing on the high seas, as proposed by the EU. This facilitates the monitoring of fishing vessel activities and ensures that all fishermen follow the same rules. This is an important achievement, as it promotes fairer conditions for all fishermen. This agreement will help combat illegal fishing, which harms fish stocks and threatens the livelihoods of all fishermen.
