Call for the Compliance Committee of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) to Increase Transparency and Effectively Tackle Non-Compliance Cases and IUU Fishing

ClientEarth, Environmental Justice Foundation, Oceana, The Pew Charitable Trusts, The Nature Conservancy, and WWF, organizations working together to protect the Mediterranean Sea from 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. They urge 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 depend 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.