Source: European Parliament
The Western Mediterranean management plan[1] (MAP) aims to secure a sustainable and profitable future for the sector relying on healthy fish stocks. The Commission has worked with all stakeholders to implement gradually the MAP since its adoption by the co-legislators in 2019.
While the fishing opportunities adopted by the Council have gradually reduced trawling effort since 2020, numerous flexibilities alleviated the reduction, such as additional fishing days granted by the compensation mechanism. Moreover, European financial assistance is available to those fishers who opt in.
The Commission proposal for the 2025 fishing opportunities was based on the best available scientific advice provided by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries[2] (STECF) and extended the compensation mechanism.
Taking all available data and models into account, the STECF advice shows that several stocks are outside of safe biological limits and drastic catch reductions are needed for stocks to recover. For 2025, the Council decided to keep the reductions proposed by the Commission, while expanding the compensation mechanism.
The socioeconomic specificities of the Western Mediterranean fisheries were considered during the negotiations of the MAP, and the co-legislators agreed to postpone the achievement of sustainable fisheries to 2025[3].
The Commission has worked based on STECF socioeconomic analyses that conclude how ambitious management measures will rapidly pay off with healthier stocks and increased sector profitability.
In 2024, the Commission had extensive discussions with all stakeholders. The Commission will continue working with Member States, scientists[4] and the fishing sector for the implementation of the MAP.
- [1] Regulation (EU) 2019/1022 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 establishing a multiannual plan for the fisheries exploiting demersal stocks in the western Mediterranean Sea and amending Regulation (EU) No 508/2014. OJ L 172, 26.6.2019, p. 1-17.
- [2] STECF Expert Working Group EWG 24-10 (https://stecf.jrc.ec.europa.eu/documents/d/stecf/tors_ewg_24-10) and STECF Expert Working Group EWG 24-12 (https://stecf.jrc.ec.europa.eu/documents/d/stecf/ewg_24-12_tor_westmed_fisheries-management).
- [3] A 5 year derogation compared to other sea basins, for which the legal requirement to achieve sustainable fisheries had to be achieved by 2020 at the latest.
- [4] providing the latest data and models available.