Report | May 31, 2016

VME protection: What is needed? 40th Session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean

The protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) has been a legal obligation for RFMOs since 2008, with specific requirements laid out under United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolutions 59/25, 61/105 and 64/72. However, GFCM lags far behind other RFMOs in fulfilling these obligations. GFCM measures to protect VMEs are limited to three fisheries restricted areas (FRAs) and a prohibition on trawling below 1000 m. Most VMEs in the Mediterranean are therefore entirely unprotected.

VMEs are classified based on their:

  • Uniqueness or rarity
  •  Functional significance
  •  Fragility
  • Life history characteristics
  •  Structural complexity
Download

BECOME A WAVEMAKER

Sign up today to get weekly updates and action alerts from Oceana.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT WITH A DONATION

We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.

Donate Here

Oceana in Europe gratefully acknowledges EU funding support.

Employment Opportunities
Contact
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use

REGIONAL SITES:

International
United States
United Kingdom
Chile
Canada
Belize
Philippines
Brazil
Peru
Mexico
Ghana

FIND OCEANA