GFCM celebrates its 70th anniversary

The 45th session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was held in Tirana, Albania, from 7 to 11 November 2022 and was attended by delegates from 22 contracting parties, 2 cooperating non-contracting parties, 2 non-contracting parties, representatives of 13 intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organizations, FAO, and the GFCM Secretariat.

The 45th session also celebrated the 70th anniversary of the GFCM. Ms Frida Krifca, the Albanian Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, and Dr Manuel Barange, Director of the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, opened the event presenting the evolution of the GFCM into its current form as a modern regional fisheries management organization. Their speeches acknowledged the role of FAO, under whose auspices GFCM was founded and managed.

Countries ban transhipments at sea

During the session contracting parties including the European Union adopted a series of binding recommendations and resolutions addressing reinforcement of a research programme on rapa whelk, measures for the management of European eel, red coral, blackspot seabream, giant red shrimp, blue and red shrimp and turbot, as well as catch limits, temporal or spatial closures, and restrictions on recreational fisheries. Of 21 measures, 19 were presented by the European Union—for the management and control of fisheries, aquaculture, and the protection of sensitive habitats in the Mediterranean and Black Sea. The EU also supports the implementation of measures and the new ‘GFCM 2030’ strategy with an annual grant of EUR 8 million. For the first time ever, countries have fixed general rules regulating transhipments at sea in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, entailing a complete prohibition except in cases of force majeure

Furthermore, upon the successful completion of a pilot phase, management measures to curtail Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing were reinforced with long-term permanent inspection schemes valid until 2030. The schemes encourage joint efforts among countries to organize inspections and surveillance, provide means and human capacity, and harmonise practices and procedures. Finally, the GFCM logbook established in 2010 was updated with new requirements in line with recent GFCM objectives and priorities. Fishers now play a more essential role in providing information reported in vessel logbooks on the bycatch of vulnerable species (seabirds, sea turtles, marine mammals, Chondrichthyans, sponges, and corals) during fishing operations. Moreover, more than 1,000 non-indigenous species have been identified in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Over half of these fish, jellyfish, prawns, and other marine species have established permanent populations and are spreading, threatening marine ecosystems and local fishing communities. GFCM members agreed to launch a pilot study in the eastern Mediterranean that is considered a hotspot for non-indigenous species, towards developing a model to be exported to the rest of the region.

A Mediterranean-wide observatory will be created in Turkey.

Resolution to empower women in aquaculture passed

Based on a proposal made by Egypt, the session adopted a resolution on empowering women in the aquaculture sector aiming to encourage CPCs (cooperating non-contracting party) to develop national and sectoral strategies and policies to support the empowerment of women in the aquaculture sector.

Miguel Bernal is the new GFCM executive secretary

After a selection process overseen by the FAO management and GFCM members, the FAO Director-General proposed Dr Miguel Bernal as the new GFCM Executive Secretary. The nomination of the Spanish national was unanimously approved by the GFCM Members this week. As Executive Secretary, Miguel Bernal will be responsible during five years, for the implementation of the policies and activities of the GFCM. On behalf of GFCM contracting parties, he will manage the Secretariat, administer the GFCM autonomous budget, ensure coordination with relevant FAO Divisions and Units, promote the role of the GFCM in relevant fora, secure extra-budgetary funds, and maintain formal relationships with contracting parties, partners, and other stakeholders.