90% of fish stocks in Mediterranean ‘overfished’

European Commissioner for Fisheries Maria Damanaki has called for enhanced cooperation among countries in the Mediterranean on fishing sustainability.

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council met in Brussels yesterday under the new Italian presidency. Acknowledging overall improvement in the fisheries sectors in Europe, Damanaki said 27 fish stocks are sustainably fished.

However, the same cannot be said for fishing activities carried out in the Mediterranean Sea, where 90% of the stocks are overfished.

“We are lagging behind in the Mediterranean and the stock is not in a good shape. 90% of the fish stocks are overfished,” Damanaki said.

Through the help of the new Italian presidency, Damanaki said the Council must find a solution by working directly with fishermen as well as other non-EU member states in the Mediterranean.

“We cannot leave the situation as it is, because after some years there will no more fish in the Mediterranean,” the Commissioner warned.

She added that cooperation with Mediterranean countries “is not always easy”.

Malta-based NGO fish4tomorrow urged the Maltese government and the Maltese MEPs to ensure that the state of the Mediterranean fish stock improves, by also heeding and supporting scientific advice and research.

“Malta must increase enforcement against illegal and unreported fishing in Maltese waters and place emphasis on small scale artisanal fishers who fish in sustainable ways,” the NGO said.

The fish4tomorrow campaign is currently working on ways to promote buying and easing sustainably caught fish.