Steady Decline Noticed in Mediterranean Fish Stocks

A new research emphasizes on the need for strict monitoring of the Mediterranean fish activities as the fisheries resources in the Mediterranean has shown a steady decline.

According to the finding reported in the Cell Press journal Current Biology, several varieties of fish stock in the Mediterranean Sea are being overexploited due to overfishing.

The report evaluated nine fish species and found that due to increased demand for fish, the fishing pressure in the Mediterranean was intensified from 1990-2010. The sad part is that it is mostly the juveniles that are being caught; if they were allowed to reach maturity and reproduce at least one, it would have led to a drastic improvement in the Mediterranean fish stocks.

Cautious management and monitoring have stabilized and enhanced the state of fisheries resources in few parts of Europe. Similar stringent monitoring of fishing activities, better enforcement of fisheries regulation and advanced management plan is needed in the Mediterranean waters.

"It is time for the European Union and regional governments to start taking Mediterranean fisheries research and management more seriously," said Paraskevas Vasilakopoulos of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research. "Bigger investments are needed to improve Mediterranean fisheries research through the collection and analysis of good quality data regarding the biology and exploitation of Mediterranean fish stocks."

The analysis highlighted that the rate of exploitation had steadily increased as selectivity deteriorated and the stocks dwindled.

According to the species-specific simulation models, the stocks would have been stronger to fishing and reproduce higher yield if they were harvested a few years after the fish attained the reproductive maturity.  This includes fish like hake and red mullet.

Researchers assume that the reason why Mediterranean fisheries is overlooked is the vast diversity of species and gears that is used to trap fish in comparison to fisheries of the northeast Atlantic. Also, the fishing vessels used function on small scale on a vast coastline due to which it gets difficult to monitor the fisheries.  

"The European Common Fisheries Policy that has assisted in improving the state of NE Atlantic fish stocks in the past 10 years has failed to deliver similar results for Mediterranean stocks managed under the same policy," the researchers write. "Limiting juvenile exploitation, advancing management plans, and strengthening compliance, control, and enforcement could promote fisheries sustainability in the Mediterranean."