Report | May 8, 2024

Call for the Compliance Committee of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean to increase transparency and effectively tackle non-compliance cases and IUU fishing

Ahead of the 17th session of the Compliance Committee (CoC) of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) in Rome, Italy, ClientEarth, Environmental Justice Foundation, Oceana, The Pew Charitable Trusts, The Nature Conservancy and WWF, who work together to protect the Mediterranean Sea against the impacts of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, are calling on the GFCM to take ambitious measures to tackle IUU fishing and all cases of non-compliance with existing GFCM obligations, and to act on evidence of such activities with deterrent sanctions. This is a prerequisite for ensuring the survival of the Mediterranean’s unique biodiversity and the communities that rely on marine resources. Ambitious action against IUU fishing,  including the proper implementation of and compliance with GFCM recommendations is crucial to rebuild fish stocks in the Mediterranean and Black Seas to sustainable levels, as 58% of Mediterranean fish populations remain subject to overfishing.