Fishery Indicators for Policy Use in the Mediterranean and Black Sea

Introduction

In order for the quality and productivity of the fishery resources of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea to be at least maintained and preferably restored to their full potential, urgent action needs to be taken across all fronts/sectors within the framework of Ecosystem Approach to Management (EAM) of human activities. The latter approach is reflected in the reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and is compatible with the overall aim of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) of all marine waters of the EU by 2020. The Mediterranean and Black Sea are marine ecosystems having their origins in the ancient Sea of Tethys. However, as more or less closed basins, with relatively small size compared to the open oceans, their ecological features and dynamics are heavily influenced by adjacent terrestrial ecosystems and basin-wide processes (especially inputs from rivers). Their capacity to provide a rich variety of marine natural resources sustained human livelihoods for millennia. However, during the last century both seas suffered catastrophic ecological collapses mainly due to direct or indirect human activities, leading ultimately (and quite rapidly) to the destruction of fisheries on which many coastal communities depended for their economic well being. Other consequences also arose, including impacts on human health and loss of biodiversity. Today, Black Sea exhibits a rather simplified ecosystem, with fewer trophic levels and inter-specific interactions than they had before. This reduction of ecological complexity impairs the natural buffering capacity of the seas to absorb further shocks (not least from impending climate change) and calls for urgent research and development of appropriate natural resource management tools. The EU has recognized through its Marine Strategy Directive that there is a need for a gradual transition from the current fragmented management and exploitation of marine natural resources to a mature integrated management, including strategies for the implementation of the ecosystem approach at regional level, reconciling short-term economic objectives with long-term ecosystem sustainability objectives. In addition, the Bird and Habitat Directives requires member states to establish and manage a system of sites, including marine areas that will ensure favourable conservation status for vulnerable species and habitats. Following these concepts, the structure of this book chapter includes three sections which aim to provide information on (1) the Status and Trends of the Mediterranean fishery resources, (2) the Legal framework and (3) the use of indicators to address emerging policy needs.