Seafood has been at the center of Mediterranean cultures for thousands of years. Aquaculture and commercial fisheries play an important role in the main economic activities in the Mediterranean. Amateur fishing is also developing rapidly. However, about 80% of the fish reserves accessible today are threatened by overfishing. In the last 50 years, 34% of the spreading areas of Posidonia seagrass meadows, which are very important habitats for the development of fish stocks, have disappeared in the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean is also in a plastic pollution trap.
The fisheries sector consists of many different stakeholders, from large industrial operators to small-scale tradesmen, who use different fishing gear for each species.
The contribution of the fishing industry to the regional economy is very important. According to 2016 data from the Mediterranean General Fisheries Council (GFCM), the collective value of Mediterranean fishing activities is estimated at $3 billion.
The rapid decrease in reserves will not only affect the underwater ecosystem, but will also threaten the food security of human communities living in the vicinity and dependent on the sea for survival.
Urgent measures need to be taken to prevent excessive and illegal fishing in the Mediterranean;
Establishment of effective monitoring and control systems
Supporting more sustainable fishing methods
Supporting small-scale fisheries
Long-term and regionally focused planning based on fisheries
Use of managed marine areas to protect flag species and habitats
Regulation of amateur fishing
A conscious consumption approach needs to be developed.
WWF-Turkey carries out the “Small-Scale Fisheries Joint Management Project”, which aims to increase sustainable fishing practices by ensuring the sustainability of small-scale fisheries, improving income sources of fishermen and their participation in fisheries-related management processes.
SMALL FISHERIES JOINT MANAGEMENT
The Turkish pilot areas of the Project, carried out in 9 countries in cooperation with the WWF Mediterranean Office on the scale of the Mediterranean Basin, are Foça and Mordoğan (İzmir), Kaş (Antalya) and Erdemli (Mersin). In the pilot areas, with the contribution of the experienced experts of the Project Advisory Board, relevant stakeholders, especially the fishermen, come together, the cooperatives are informed and basic evaluation studies are carried out. National and regional technical trips are organized to observe good practice examples on site.
RESPONSIBLE FISHERY CONSUMPTION PROJECT FOR THE BENEFIT OF PEOPLE, OCEANS AND CLIMATE
WWF-Turkey also discusses the traceability content of the Fisheries Consumption Project (FF2) for the Benefit of People, Oceans and Climate (FF2), which is carried out in 17 countries under the coordination of the WWF-Austria Office, aimed at promoting the understanding of conscious consumption for sustainable fisheries.
The project aims to contribute positively to economic, social and environmental impacts by improving the understanding of seafood consumption and production methods in Europe and developing countries. The project implementation is based on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
As SALTATOR, we follow and support the work of the World Wildlife Fund.
