At its annual meeting last week, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) secured the first international harvest strategy adoption of 2025. They selected a harvest control rule (HCR) for blackspot seabream in the Alboran Sea that had been tested with management strategy evaluation (MSE) and is expected to meet or exceed the Commission’s rebuilding objective. The seabream stock is critically depleted, at just 5% of its unfished level and well below the agreed limit reference point, so adoption of a long-term, science-based management plan is an important step forward.
The good news is that the most precautionary HCR was adopted (specifications in image), and it is projected to grow the stock above the limit reference point by 2030 with greater than 50% probability and achieve full recovery to the target level by 2045 with 91% probability. The bad news is that the two parties that fish the stock, Morocco and the European Union, could not agree to immediate implementation of the rule, accepting only a 56% reduction in catch for 2026 to 49.1 t rather than the 3.9 t limit dictated by the HCR. This phased-in HCR application may be ok, but it was not tested by the scientists, so it is likely that it will delay recovery and may risk the success of the measure. Still, adoption is a positive step, and the proper implementation will be reconsidered at the 2026 annual meeting. Once properly implemented, the HCR will represent GFCM’s first-ever rebuilding plan, a momentous step for a body where more than half of the assessed fish stocks are classified as overfished.
The blackspot seabream HCR joins the GFCM’s first two HCRs adopted last year for Adriatic sardines and anchovies, showing impressive progress in harvest strategy development. Those two stocks also provided GFCM with clear evidence about the utility of this approach, as the new catch limits for 2026 followed the outputs of the HCRs and were adopted with minimal discussion. An ambitious workplan aims to advance HCRs for an additional 11 stocks over the next 2 years, but only half of those intend to include thorough MSE testing in the initial development. The three HCRs adopted to date were developed using MSE, so the potential move away from this testing at GFCM is concerning. Untested HCRs cannot be reliably expected to achieve management objectives for the stock and fishery.
Red shrimp in the Ionian Sea and Strait of Sicily, in addition to dolphinfish, are prioritized for MSE testing in 2026. Rapa whelk in the Black Sea is also on the list, but given it’s an invasive species, the environmental benefits of an MSE-tested harvest strategy are a bit more opaque. If these 4 stocks are the focus for 2026, hopefully the other 7 stocks in the MSE workplan will benefit from more robust MSE testing in 2027-28.
With its first three HCRs adopted in just 13 months, GFCM has a lot to be proud of. Going forward, the body should continue to prioritize rigorous MSE testing since MSE is central to securing many of the benefits of the harvest strategy approach. Further, GFCM should evolve toward adoption of fully specified management procedures, which include not just an HCR but also the data collection and assessment methods used to drive the HCR. This ensures consistent application of the HCR and therefore greater confidence in the expected performance.
Esther Wozniak, a senior manager for The Pew Charitable Trusts’ international fisheries program, said:
“Blackspot seabream is severely depleted and in need of immediate action. Although GFCM members adopted a precautionary, science-based approach to recover the species, they postponed its implementation and set fishing limits for 2026 that are much too high, and are based on short-term motivations rather than their newly adopted rules. This decision will delay recovery of this important fishery and may complicate future steps to implement stronger catch limits.
For several species, GFCM members have a track record of allowing years of overfishing before reaching agreement to rebuild fisheries. This has recently begun to change, which is why the decision to delay implementation on blackspot seabream is disappointing. Only continued, cooperative efforts to implement harvest strategies can guarantee the future health of all of GFCM’s valuable and ecologically important species.”
The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) made history last week by adopting harvest control rules for Adriatic sardines and anchovies, the first for this organization. Until now, the only international harvest strategy in the Mediterranean was the Atlantic bluefin tuna management procedure adopted by ICCAT.
Grantly Galland, a project director for The Pew Charitable Trusts’ international fisheries program, said:
“Sardines and anchovies in the Adriatic Sea are the first beneficiaries of a move to sustainable, science-based harvest strategies in the region. This week, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) adopted these new rules, which should prevent overfishing of these valuable fish populations. Given that over half the species managed by the Commission are overfished, this is an encouraging step, and the commitment to more harvest strategies in the future will help rebuild and maintain fisheries’ health over time.”
Pre-Agreed Catch Limits for Sardines
The first of the two harvest strategies applies to Adriatic sardines, a species critical to the region’s fishing industry and ecosystem. Under the new rule, pre-agreed catch limits will replace the need for annual quota negotiations. This state-of-the-art management approach aligns fishing activity with the boom and bust of sardine populations, helping to maintain a stable fishery that can be sustained over time. By reducing the uncertainty of year-to-year negotiations, GFCM is helping prevent overfishing and ensuring a more consistent supply, benefiting both fish populations and the fishers who rely on them.
Anchovy-Specific Harvest Strategy
In parallel, GFCM has also implemented a harvest strategy tailored explicitly for anchovies. This pre-set catch limit will similarly protect anchovy populations from the pressures of overfishing, ensuring that catch levels remain within sustainable bounds. Anchovies, like sardines, are an essential species both ecologically and economically for the region, and this modern management approach provides the framework needed to support their recovery and long-term health. By putting science at the forefront of decision-making, GFCM is paving the way for resilient fishery management that secures the future of anchovy stocks in the Adriatic.
A Positive Step for the Future of the Mediterranean
Sardines and anchovies in the Adriatic are now at the forefront of sustainable fisheries management, setting a new standard for GFCM’s commitment to implementing harvest strategies across the Mediterranean. These newly adopted HCRs mark a significant advance but will require additional agreements on data inputs and assessment methods to evolve into a fully operational and robust harvest strategy. There’s still work to be done, and these initial steps are expected to spark a ripple effect that benefits both biodiversity and the fishing economy in the region.
With these measures, the GFCM demonstrates its dedication to science-based fisheries management, inspiring similar actions in other Mediterranean fisheries. Blackspot seabream is next on the list for GFCM’s harvest strategy development, showing that this progress for sardines and anchovies is just the beginning. By adopting these HCRs, the commission is paving a path to restore the Adriatic’s marine ecosystem and secure a resilient future for this vital fishing region.
The Mediterranean Sea is already home to one of the more well-known harvest strategies – adopted for Mediterranean bluefin tuna in 2022. Fishing for that species has been at high levels for thousands of years, and the harvest strategy implemented by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas should allow for long-term sustainability of today’s fisheries. Now, another regional fisheries management organization with jurisdiction over most of the fisheries in the Mediterranean has an opportunity to adopt its first two harvest strategies.
The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) has its annual Commission meeting next week, from the 4th to the 8th of November in Rome, Italy. Among other items, the group has an opportunity to adopt harvest control rules (HCRs) for sardines and anchovies in the Adriatic. If members – led by the European Union, Albania, and Montenegro – can agree to adoption this year, it will represent a big step forward for GFCM and for fisheries in the region.
Currently, more than half of the stocks in the Mediterranean are subject to overfishing, but the Commission is making strides to reverse some of those downward trends, and fishing has been reduced to sustainable levels for one of its iconic stocks, the European hake in the Strait of Sicily. Now, the opportunity to adopt HCRs for fisheries targeting the commercially- and ecologically important sardine and anchovy populations in the Adriatic can further demonstrate positive action at the GFCM. These small pelagic species not only support processing industries throughout the area, but they provide important forage for other wildlife. A precautionary HCR should preserve their role in the ecosystem.
While the HCRs under consideration by the Commission have been tested through management strategy evaluation and generally follow Commissioners’ guidance, it would be good to include the other components of a full management procedure (MP) when considering adoption. Recording the fisheries indicators and assessment methods that are needed to implement the HCR is best practice. If these items are not adopted this year, that should be a priority for GFCM during the early implementation phase.
In addition to these proposed HCRs, GFCM should continue its commitment to developing and adopting harvest strategies by following the advice of its scientists and advancing work on the blackspot seabream in the western Mediterranean, the European hake and benthic shrimp fisheries in the Strait of Sicily, and the dolphinfish (or mahimahi) across the whole region. These actions will require support and leadership from the European Union, Morocco, and Tunisia, among others.
GFCM has already demonstrated a commitment to adopting harvest strategies for its priority stocks, a big step in the right direction for fisheries management in the Mediterranean. If they are successful in adopting or advancing all these efforts, next week’s meeting will be one to remember.