Environment minister calls for 'ecosystem-based approach' to fishing

Sustainable development minister Josè Herrera addresses the issue of sustainable fishing in speech at GFCM meeting

Jose Herrera at the GFCM meeting
Jose Herrera at the GFCM meeting

Sustainable development minister Josè Herrera delivered a speech at the 40th Session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) where he addressed the issue of sustainable fishing.

“Great efforts have been made in order to build what is now a veritable compendium of recommendations under the international framework provided by the GFCM,” he said.

“Despite this, the situation is far from a sustainable one with most stocks which were assessed, showing that they are overexploited,” he added.

He said that to counteract this trend, further efforts are required in order to reach the goals and objectives set.

The minister pinpointed an integrated approach in managing fisheries within ecologically meaningful boundaries to obtain sustainable fisheries and similtaneously increase natural capital. “We need to reach an ecosystem-based approach in our fisheries management by minimising the environmental impacts of fishing activities as possible.”

To support his arguments, the minister outlined the great socio-economic importance of fisheries at the small-scale level and to coastal populations.

“The sector employs hundreds of thousands of people directly, and through the secondary processing sector. In order to do so there must be sound foundations based on a healthy ecosystem to sustain such economic growth.”

He concluded by emphasising the precarious situation for fisheries in the Mediterranean.

“It risks undermining all we have worked for. Most of the assessed Mediterranean fish stocks have been shown to be heavily overfished; at times even up to six times the mortality limit.”

In relation to this, the minister suggested his solution for such a state.

“To reverse this we need to have a good international ocean governance framework with everyone on board. Collective collaboration towards one common goal is key to such an achievement.”