A decade after anti-IUU fishing pact, Mediterranean and Black Sea overfishing drops

8 June 2026
Responsible Seafood Advocate

Fishing pressure in the Mediterranean and Black Sea has fallen by 50 percent after 10 years of expanded efforts to combat IUU fishing

Fishing pressure has fallen 50 percent in the Mediterranean and Black Sea amid efforts to combat IUU fishing and improve enforcement. Photo by Doğan Alpaslan Demir.

Fishing pressure in the Mediterranean and Black Sea has fallen by around 50 percent since 2013, while overfished stocks have reached their lowest recorded level, according to the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM). The regional fisheries body said the gains coincide with ongoing efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and strengthen fisheries management across the region.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the FAO Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), the first binding international agreement designed to prevent illegally caught fish from entering global markets.

“A decade from the entry into force of the PSMA, Mediterranean and Black Sea countries continue to deliver on international commitments with measurable results,” wrote the GFCM in a press release. “This progress reflects years of cooperation, commitment and investment in stronger management and control systems.”

Among the latest developments, Türkiye is deploying advanced vessel monitoring system (VMS) transponders across more than 850 vessels by the end of 2026. The devices can provide authorities with real-time data on vessel position, speed and activity, as well as generate alerts when vessels enter restricted areas or engage in prohibited fishing activities.

Albania and Montenegro are also expected to deploy new monitoring devices on their fleets later this year, while several countries are developing national action plans to strengthen efforts against IUU fishing. Albania, Georgia and Ukraine have launched initiatives to develop such plans, and Türkiye is expected to follow.

The GFCM is the regional fisheries management organization responsible for the Mediterranean and Black Sea, operating under the framework of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The organization brings together 24 contracting parties and five cooperating non-contracting parties to coordinate fisheries management, enforcement measures and the sustainable development of aquaculture across the region.