Mediterranean Fisheries Commission Adopts Species Management Plans, Delays Deep-Sea Protection

The 49th session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) concluded on October 30 in Rome with the adoption of long‑term harvest strategies for European hake, deep‑water rose shrimp and giant red shrimp in the Strait of Sicily, the Ionian Sea and the Levantine Sea. The meeting brought together 23 member states and the European Union. Despite these gains, the commission postponed decisions on two Fisheries Restricted Areas: a cold‑water coral reef between Spain and Morocco and an expansion of deep‑sea protection. The proposals had previously enjoyed broad agreement, but countries could not reach consensus this year. With half of assessed Mediterranean species overexploited, the delay means that sensitive habitats remain open to fishing while species‑specific management plans take effect.