EC consults on recommendations for Mediterranean area

The European Commission has prepared recommendations for the Mediterranean and plans to implement fisheries conservation and management measures adopted in 2021 and 2022 into European Union law. By the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM). The first implementation of GFCM protection and management measures came through Regulation (EU) No. 1343/2011, amended, among other things. in 2015, 2019 and 2023 by Regulations (EU) 2015/21022, 2019/9823 and 2023/2124, respectively.

In order to consult on the implementation of the 2021-2022 GFCM measures into EU law, the European Commission has prepared a proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/2124 of the European Parliament and of the Council of October 4, 2023. On certain fishing regulations in the agreement area of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean. The proposal on May 2, 2024. through June 27, 2024. is subject to consultation with all interested parties. The feedback received will be posted on the European Commission ‘s website and will be taken into account in the development of the final form of this initiative.

General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)

The GFCM is the regional organization for the GFCM. fisheries management. He is responsible for the management of fishery resources in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. The parties to the agreement are the European Union and 10 member states, such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Spain and Romania. The main objectives of the GFCM are the development, conservation, rational management and optimal use of living marine resources and the sustainable development of aquaculture in the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

The GFCM Commission is authorized to adopt binding decisions (recommendations) on fisheries conservation and management in its area of competence. GFCM decisions are mainly directed to the parties to the agreement, but also impose obligations on operators (e.g., ship masters).

EC and recommendations for the Mediterranean area

The EC is tasked with ensuring that EU law is consistent with measures that constitute international obligations, including GFCM decisions, once they enter into force. It is important that EU fishing activities outside its waters be based on the same rules and standards as internal ones, while promoting fair competition among EU and third-country operators.

Since the GFCM decisions adopted in 2021 and 2022. are not yet covered by current EU law, it has become necessary to implement them into the legal system to ensure uniform and effective application throughout the EU. Therefore, the EC has prepared a proposal for a regulation, which is the fifth implementation of the GFCM recommendations into EU law. In addition, as the applicant points out, it takes into account the objectives of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy, as well as other international commitments made by the EU.

What is the scope of the EC proposal?

The proposal prepared by the EC addresses the following issues:

• sustainable fisheries conservation and management;
• The impact of fishing activities on certain marine species in the Mediterranean and Black Sea areas.

It also includes technical measures on:

• sustainable exploitation of European eel and red coral in the GFCM agreement area;
• mitigating incidental catches of seabirds, sea turtles and cetaceans in the GFCM agreement area;
• Conservation of dandelions, sharks and skates in the GFCM agreement area.

In addition, the provisions of the proposal introduce:

• into Union law certain measures concerning fishing for small pelagic stocks in the Adriatic Sea;
• New regulations for sprat and spiny dogfish in the Black Sea;
• Two new chapters on transhipment and recreational fishing in the area under the GFCM.

GFCM recommendations adopted in 2021 and 2022.

GFCM in 2021 and 2022. adopted the following recommendations at its annual meetings:

• GFCM/44/2021/2 on the establishment of a fishing restriction area in the Jabuka/Pomo deep-sea area in the Adriatic Sea, amending Recommendation GFCM/41/2017/3 and GFCM/44/2021/5 on the establishment of a fishing restriction area in the Gulf of Lions to protect spawning aggregations and sensitive deep-sea habitats, repealing Recommendation GFCM/33/2009/1;
• GFCM/44/2021/9 on management measures for the sustainable exploitation of sprat in the Black Sea;
• GFCM/44/2021/10 on management measures for sustainable fishing of common spiny dogfish in the Black Sea;
• GFCM/44/2021/13 on mitigating the impact of fisheries on seabird conservation in the Mediterranean;
• GFCM/44/2021/14 on mitigating fishing impacts on sea turtle conservation;
• GFCM/44/2021/15 on mitigating the impact of fisheries on cetacean conservation;
• GFCM/44/2021/16 on additional mitigation measures to protect elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean Sea;
• GFCM/44/2021/17 on a regional research program on a fishing certificate system for turbot in the Black Sea;
• GFCM/44/2021/19 on the establishment of a list of vessels alleged to have engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, rescinding Recommendation GFCM/43/2019/8;
• GFCM/44/2021/20 on the establishment of a multi-year management plan for the sustainable exploitation of small pelagic species in the Adriatic Sea;
• GFCM/45/2022/1 concerning the multi-year management plan for European eel in the Mediterranean Sea, amending Recommendation GFCM/42/2018/1;
• GFCM/45/2022/2 on management plan for sustainable exploitation of red coral in the Mediterranean Sea, amending Recommendation GFCM/43/2019/4;
• GFCM/45/2022/3 on the multi-year management plan for the sustainable exploitation of red seabream in the Alboran Sea, rescinding recommendations GFCM/44/2021/4, GFCM/43/2019/2 and GFCM/41/2017/2;
• GFCM/45/2022/4 establishing a multi-year management plan for the sustainable exploitation of bottom stocks in the Strait of Sicily, rescinding recommendations GFCM/44/2021/12 and GFCM/42/2018/5;
• GFCM/45/2022/5 on a multi-year management plan for the sustainable exploitation of stocks of deep-sea red shrimp and pale red deep-sea shrimp in the Strait of Sicily, rescinding recommendations GFCM/44/2021/7 and GFCM/43/2019/6;
• GFCM/45/2022/6 on a multi-year management plan for the sustainable exploitation of stocks of deep-sea red shrimp and pale red deep-sea shrimp in the Ionian Sea, rescinding recommendations GFCM/44/2021/8 and GFCM/42/2018/4;
• GFCM/45/2022/7 on a multi-year management plan for sustainable bottom trawl fisheries targeting deep-sea red shrimp and pale red deep-sea shrimp in the Levantine Sea, rescinding Recommendation GFCM/42/2018/3;
• GFCM/45/2022/12 on establishing a set of minimum rules for sustainable recreational fishing in the Mediterranean Sea;
• GFCM/45/2022/11 on the establishment of a set of minimum standards for restricted fishing areas in the area subject to the GFCM;
• GFCM/45/2022/14 on regulating transshipment in the area under the GFCM;
• GFCM/45/2022/15 and GFCM/45/2022/16 on international joint inspection and surveillance programs outside waters under national jurisdiction in the Strait of Sicily and the Ionian Sea.