REM briefing Oct 2024 - MSA - EJF Oceana

The sector is also estimated to produce revenues of USD 7.8 billion.1 However, the biodiversity that underpins the • Despite progress over the years, current fishing pressure in sustainability of the fishing sector in the the GFCM area of application has led to 58% of fish stocks Mediterranean Sea faces significant challenges, key being overexploited and fishing pressure remains twice what 2 among. [...] jeopardises the livelihoods of coastal communities.4 1 How can electronic monitoring support the fight against IUU fishing and promote effective and transparent fisheries management in the Mediterranean? While it is difficult to determine the exact extent of IUU fishing, conservative estimates attribute up to 20% of the global catch to illicit fishing.5 In some cases, such as demersal and shrimp f. [...] Despite promising initial results on the usefulness of REM to control compliance and support science-based, well- informed and responsive fisheries management, we are yet to witness a general interest by fisheries authorities and decision-makers of GFCM contracting parties in mandating the use of electronic monitoring to support better management and regulatory decisions in the region. [...] 21-22)’.21 The work of the group led to the approval of Recommendation 23-18,22 establishing minimum standards and programme requirements for the use of REM in ICCAT fisheries. [...] These are the first steps towards assessing the potential use of these technologies while taking into account the specificities of fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea and the socio-economic differences across the region.