Overfishing in Mediterranean reaches lowest level in ten years

(MENAFN) Overfishing in the Mediterranean and Black Sea has reached its lowest point in ten years, according to a recent UN report.

“Although fisheries sustainability in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea remains a source of concern, the percentage of overfished stocks has dropped to its lowest level in a decade, a milestone that coincides with aquaculture’s rapid expansion as a major source of aquatic foods in the region,” the report stated, issued by the UN’s General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM).

The 2025 State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries (SoMFi) report examined 120 stocks over the period from 2013 to 2023, finding that fishing mortality has decreased significantly while the biomass of evaluated commercial species has risen by 25%.

Fishing pressure in the region has fallen by half over the past decade, allowing several key fish stocks to start recovering. The report noted that the proportion of assessed stocks classified as overfished has declined to 52%, compared with 87% ten years ago—a marked improvement, though still above the threshold needed for a fully healthy ecosystem.

Aquaculture has also expanded rapidly, now providing over 45% of the region’s aquatic food output, amounting to 940,000 tonnes in 2023. Together, fisheries and aquaculture contributed 2.06 million tonnes of aquatic foods.

“Stocks are not yet where we would like them to be, but they are beginning to recover thanks to science-driven management action and strong stakeholder engagement, while aquaculture, if done responsibly, is proving it can help meet future demand for aquatic foods,” said Manuel Barange, FAO Assistant Director-General and Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

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