General Fisheries Commission For The Mediterranean 36

The GFCM promotes the development, conservation, rational management and best utilization of living marine resources, as well as the sustainable development of aquaculture in the Mediterranean, Black Sea and connecting waters. This report reviews the intersessional activities of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the Committee on Aquaculture (CAQ) and, on the basis of the results obtained, adopts binding recommendations based on scientific advice for the exploitation of red coral, the mitigation of incidental catches of cetaceans and the conservation of sharks, skates and rays together with a resolution on guidelines for allocated zones for aquaculture. The Commission also endorses the first GFCM Framework Programme for 2013 2018, aimed at enhancing sustainable development and cooperation in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea through a better management of fisheries and aquaculture."

The thirty-first session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) reviewed the intersessional activities of its Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and its Committee on Aquaculture (CAQ) and held the first session of its Compliance Committee. Based on advice from SAC and proposals by Members, the GFCM adopted: three Resolutions, including two related to the GFCM statistical framework and one on the use of the 40 mm square mesh size in the codend of trawlnets. The Commission also adopted binding recommendations on fisheries management, including diamond mesh size of trawlnets and the Pelagos Sanctuary for the conservation of marine mammals, as well as three Recommendations emanating from the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) on bluefin tuna and on transshipment at sea. The GFCM strengthened the mandate of CAQ and adopted a new set up and modus operandi for the subsidiary bodies of the Committee. The Commission decided to strengthen its activities in the Black Sea. It acknowledged the importance of the five regional projects supporting the activities of the Committees and endorsed a series of amendments to its Rules of Procedure. The Commission agreed on its programme of work and adopted its budget for 2007, including the establishment within the Secretariat of a post of Aquaculture specialist.

This report summarizes the discussions held during the forty-sixth session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) and thirteenth session of the Committee on Administration and Finance. [Author] During the session, progress in activities related to fisheries, aquaculture, compliance and other strategic activities was reviewed. [Author] The Commission adopted 24 binding recommendations and ten resolutions related to fisheries management and conservation, aquaculture and compliance. [Author] Finally, the Commission adopted the revised GFCM Financial Regulations as well as its programme of work for the next intersession and approved its autonomous budget for 2024, 2025 and 2026, as well as a number of strategic actions to be funded through extrabudgetary resources. [Author] The Commission also extended the mandate of its current Bureau for two additional years and endorsed the new Bureaus of the Compliance Committee and the Scientific Advisory Committee on Fisheries. [Author]

The Commission reviewed the intersessional activities, mainly the implementation of the recommendations of the twenty-fifth session of GFCM, the recommendation and conclusions of the fourth session of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the activities of GFCM aquaculture networks.

This year's session was marked by substantial steps forward to support the reform process launched in 2009 with the aim to modernize the institutional framework and ensure a more efficient functioning of the commission. In addition the session adopted guidelines on precautionary conservation measures aimed at minimizing undesirable effects on stocks and improving fisheries economic profitability.

This yearly report includes all the decisions adopted by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) and reviews the programme of work and budget agreed for the next intersession.

In 2001, a study on the fisheries regulatory framework of the Western Mediterranean coastal States was undertaken under the aegis of the COPEMED Project; as follow-up, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) commissioned a comparative study covering the entire Mediterranean basin that focused on three issues: (i) access regimes to fisheries resources; (ii) management of fishing effort and fishing capacity; and (iii) monitoring, control and surveillance. The purpose of this study is to provide fisheries managers with information on the principal measures adopted in the region to identify areas where harmonization should be sought, particularly in relation to shared stocks. This paper has been conceived as a working document for States to complete and build upon. Also published in Arabic and in French