Rome – Although fisheries sustainability in the Mediterranean and
the Black Sea remains a source of concern, the percentage of overfished stocks has
dropped to its lowest level in a decade, a milestone that coincides with
aquaculture’s rapid expansion as a major source of aquatic foods in the region,
according to a report released today by FAO’s General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM).
The 2025 State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries (SoMFi) report, produced
with contributions from more than 700 regional experts, demonstrates that
strong cooperation and evidence-based management are paying off. Fishing
pressure has been cut by half over the past 10 years and key stocks are recovering.
At the same time, marine and brackish aquaculture now accounts for
more than 45 percent of aquatic food production, reaching 940 000
tonnes in 2023. Together, fisheries and aquaculture and their value chain produced
2.06 million tonnes of aquatic foods, generated $21.5 billion and supported
1.17 million jobs.
“Stocks are not yet where we would like them to be, but they are beginning
to recover thanks to science-driven management action and strong stakeholder engagement,
while aquaculture, if done responsibly, is proving it can help meet future
demand for aquatic foods,” said Manuel Barange, Assistant Director-General and
Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations (FAO). “Maintaining these efforts will be crucial to
conserve ecosystems, strengthen livelihoods and ensure the region’s food
security through what we call a Blue
Transformation.”
Sustainable management delivers: fishing pressure down 50 percent
The report, the most comprehensive to date, assesses 120 stocks
across the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, indicating that between 2013 and
2023, fishing mortality fell sharply while the biomass of assessed commercial
species increased by 25 percent, thanks to stronger, evidence-based
fisheries management.
Progress is visible in several key
commercial species. Red mullet and giant red shrimp show clear reductions in
fishing mortality. Species under specific management plans show a larger than
average recovery: common sole in the Adriatic has seen a 42 percent drop
in fishing mortality and a 64 percent rise in biomass since 2019; turbot
in the Black Sea has shown an 86 percent reduction in fishing mortality
and a 310 percent increase in biomass since 2013.
However, sardine
stocks have been subjected to sustained
overexploitation over time and still show signs of biomass
depletion. European hake, with high variability across subregions,
shows modest signs of biomass recovery despite a 38
percent decrease in fishing mortality since 2015.
While insufficient, these
improvements follow a decade of accelerated action by GFCM Members, who since
2013 have adopted 11 management plans, established 11 fisheries restricted
areas, and launched 18 research programmes and pilot studies to inform
decision-making.
“These results build on regional
commitments such as the MedFish4Ever and the Sofia Declarations, and reflect
countries’ strong commitment to sustainability,” said Milena Mihaylova, Head of Unit for
Fisheries Management in the Mediterranean and Black Sea at the European
Commission. “But we cannot assume the work is
done. Greater collaboration and continuous action are still needed to ensure
long-term sustainability, also at the social and economic levels.”
Despite this progress, 52 percent
of assessed stocks in the region remain overfished. This is a major improvement
from a decade ago, when 87 percent of stocks were overfished, but still too
high for a healthy marine ecosystem. Other challenges also persist, including enhancing
compliance with adopted measures, an ageing workforce and unequal
profitability, along with discards and incidental catches of vulnerable
species, particularly in identified hot spots across the region.
Aquaculture driving growth and innovation
For the first time, this edition of SoMFi provides a detailed
overview of aquaculture in the region, showing a fast-expanding sector. When
freshwater production is included, aquaculture generates $9.3 billion and
produces nearly 3 million tonnes of aquatic food. Marine and brackish water
aquaculture alone is worth $5.2 billion, directly employing 113 000 people.
Production is highly concentrated in
a small number of species: just 11 account for 99 percent of total output,
led by gilthead seabream (34.5 percent) and European seabass (29.7 percent).
Similarly, only eight countries
produce 95.5 percent of the region’s farmed aquatic food, with Türkiye
(400 000 tonnes), Egypt (147 000 tonnes) and Greece (139 000
tonnes) in the lead. As a result, aquaculture has become the region’s
fastest-expanding source of aquatic food and a growing pillar of food security
and coastal livelihoods.
“As aquaculture continues to grow, a coordinated approach is
essential to ensure that the sector remains sustainable, productive,
competitive and profitable. At the same time, it should preserve ecological
services, ensure animal welfare and contribute to inclusive socioeconomic
development in coastal communities,” said Ahmet Seremed, Chairman of
the Board of the Central Union of Aquaculture Producers in Türkiye.
Yet, significant challenges persist. The aquaculture
sector should reduce its environmental impacts, ensure appropriate animal
health and biosecurity practices, while navigating fragmented and complex regulations
and fostering its social acceptability.
Meeting future demand
The report notes
that the
demand for aquatic foods in the region is expected to rise due to growing
populations and changing consumer preferences. To ensure that everyone has
access to healthy aquatic foods, while keeping pace with consumption trends,
the report estimates that production will need to increase by 14-29 percent
by 2050, to allow all countries to maintain current per capita consumption
rates in the region.
“Aquatic foods, fishers and fish farmers have
always played a key role in the region’s coastal communities,” said Miguel
Bernal, Executive Secretary of the GFCM. “We need to make sure they continue to
do so in the future, through cooperation and effective management.”
About the report
Produced every two years, SoMFi draws on
official data from GFCM Members and the latest scientific assessments. It
serves as a key reference for policymakers, tracking the state of the region’s
stocks, the performance of its fleets and farms, and progress toward
sustainability goals.
