Fishing pressure has been reduced by half over the past ten years, and key stocks are recovering in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, according to the 2025 edition of the report The State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries (SoMFi) released this past weekend.
According to the report, prepared by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) under the FAO, “while the sustainability of fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea remains a concern, the percentage of overexploited stocks has reached its lowest level in 10 years, a significant milestone that coincides with the rapid expansion of aquaculture as a major source of aquatic food in the region.”
Described as “the most comprehensive assessment to date, covering 120 stocks in the Mediterranean and Black Sea,” the report indicates that between 2013 and 2023, “fishing mortality has significantly decreased while the biomass of assessed commercial species has increased by 25%, thanks to more rigorous, evidence-based management.”
The document notes “visible progress” for several key commercial species, including red mullet and deep-water rose shrimp, as well as a “better recovery” for common sole in the Adriatic Sea and Black Sea turbot. “Nevertheless, sardine stocks, which have been subjected to sustained overexploitation over time, still show signs of biomass depletion,” the report adds.
Tunisia: Positive Trade Balance
According to the report, Tunisia continues to maintain a positive trade balance for fisheries products (0.26), although its net export ratio has slightly declined compared to 2020.
Tunisia was the third-largest producer in the region in 2023 (93,514 tonnes) and over the 2022–2023 period (96,800 tonnes, or 9.2% of regional production). The report highlights the economic and social importance of fisheries in Tunisia, which hosts 5 of the 10 largest ports in terms of Mediterranean landings and active vessels. The country is also the leading employer of personnel on fishing vessels among all GFCM member states, representing 40,500 jobs (combining industrial and artisanal fisheries).
On average, GFCM countries employ about 0.09% of their coastal populations at sea (approximately 1 fisherman per 1,100 inhabitants). In Tunisia, this proportion is much higher, reaching nearly 0.5%.
Artisanal fisheries account for 37% of marine capture fisheries revenues and 75% of onboard employment.
Regarding aquaculture, “regional growth recorded in 2020–2021 and 2022–2023 was driven by a few major producers, although local declines were observed.”
Tunisia’s production fell by approximately 15% due to climate-related factors. Nevertheless, the country remains one of the region’s leading producers and ranks eighth in aquaculture production in marine and brackish waters, with more than 20,400 tonnes in 2023.
The report also emphasizes Tunisia’s role in implementing GFCM management plans for certain species and in management-focused research, notably regarding European eel, red coral, common dolphinfish, blue crab, and recreational fishing. Tunisia is considered “a key player” in the MedSea4Fish Program.
Source: African Manager
