Fischler tevreden na overeenkomst-"Medisamak" over trans-Mediterrane samenwerking inzake visserij (en)

"The creation, last week in Tunis, of a trans-Mediterranean association of fisheries organisations is a very encouraging development in the search for sustainable fisheries in this region. Clearly, Mediterranean stakeholders agree on the need for international co-operation to combat illegal fishing practices," commented Franz Fischler, Commissioner responsible for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries. The European Commission encouraged the creation of such an association in its 2002 proposal on an Action Plan for sustainable fisheries in the Mediterranean as part of the drive to increase stakeholders' involvement in the fisheries management process. This initiative received the support of the Ministerial Conference, held in Venice in November 2003. The new association, Medisamak, which has received financial support from the European Union, currently gathers organisations from 11 Mediterranean coastal states: Albania, Algeria, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Spain and Tunisia.

Despite its age-old fishing tradition, the Mediterranean is one of the regions where fisheries management has not yet been fully developed. Yet, given the specific characteristics of the region's fisheries which involve fleets from both Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean countries, international co-operation is needed now more than ever to ensure the long-term future of the Mediterranean fishing industry. Such co-operation will allow for the adoption of a common approach to fisheries management in the Mediterranean.

Two Regional Fisheries Organisations, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) and the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) are relevant to Mediterranean fisheries. In a joint declaration at the 2003 Venice Conference, fisheries ministers from the Mediterranean states agreed to revive the GFCM with a view to encouraging multilateral co-operation. Medisamak has indicated that it is open to any national fisheries organisations in the Mediterranean and envisages working with both GFCM and ICCAT.

Last week's meeting in Tunis was organised by Europêche, the Association of national organisations of fishing enterprises in the European Union.