Report | May 28, 2025

NGO priorities for GFCM IN 2025

PRIORITIES FOR GFCM IN 2025; In 2023 the GFCM agreed to put in place a compliance mechanism, which will allow GFCM members to take action against non-compliance with GFCM rules. This compliance mechanism will go into force at the Compliance Committee this November. We call on the GFCM CPCs to tackle 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. 2025 is also the year to kick-start discussions on a new declaration following the 2017 Medfish4ever declaration.

Ahead of the GFCM Working Group on Monitoring and Control Measures (WG MCM) meeting in May, AZIR, ClientEarth, Oceana, The Nature Conservancy and WWF, who work together to protect the Mediterranean Sea against the impacts of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, would like to share with you our priorities. We ask the GFCM to take ambitious measures to tackle IUU fishing, including the proper implementation of and compliance with GFCM recommendations as this 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. Thus, we call the GFCM Contracting Parties (CPCs) to: Read more

French Translation