Report | June 9, 2016
The GFCM at a glance. Rebuilding Mediterranean fish stocks
Scientists from FAOGFCM have assessed 34 stocks in the Mediterranean Sea (9 small pelagic and 25 demersal, Black Sea excluded). In the case of small pelagic stocks (sardines, anchovies), 7 out of 9 stocks are overexploited or at risk of overexploitation. Twenty-two demersal stocks, such as hake or shrimp, are overfished
In 1952, a GFCM agreement to manage shared fish stocks in the Mediterranean Sea entered into force. More than six decades later, fish stocks under GFCM purview remain unmanaged and overexploited.
This situation will come to an end once and for all this year. A new GFCM agreement will come out of the 38th meeting of the Contracting Parties, which will be held on the 19-24 of May, in Rome, Italy. This is a historic step towards the sustainable management of Mare Nostrum, and shows a clear recognition of the need for more effort from Mediterranean countries to guarantee a better future for their fisheries sectors.

