Overview of GFCM activities related to the MSFD

Miguel Bernal

Marine Strategy Coordination Group

Brussels, 12th – 13th November 2013

GENERAL FISHERIES COMMISSION FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN

GFCM - Palazzo Blumenstihl, Via Vittoria Colonna 1, 00193, Rome, Italy – www.gfcm.org – gfcm-secretariat@fao.org

General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean

Objectives:1949 Constitutive Agreement under FAO Article XIVCompetence over the Mediter-ranean and Black Sea and connecting waters24 Members: 19 Med, 3 BS, Japan and UEPower to adopt binding decisionsSteering provided by a Bureau composed of a Chairperson and 2 Vice-ChairpersonsAnnual session, intersessional work done by subsidiary bodies and coordinated by Secretariat

Ensure long-term sustainability of living marine resources, sustai-nable development of aquaculture and protection of sensitive habitats.

GFCM functioning

Strong cooperation with FAO regional projectsCooperation with other RFMOs and international organizations through several MoUs

Decision-making mechanisms for fisheries

1st GFCM FWP - Concepts

5 Work Programmes (4 thematic, 1 geographical) with actions and activities

Implemented through multi-annual and multi-donor ad hoc arrangements with donors

Will rationalize interventions related to capacity building and technical assistance in GFCM Members

“A strategic framework to support the objectives of the Task Force (2013-2018)”

1st GFCM FWP - The Work Programmes

GFCM Framework Programme, 2013 activities

WP01

• Testing the feasibility of GFCM guidelines for management plans

• IUU fishing, MCS and regional fleet• Indicators on the status of exploited marine

populationsWP0

2• Strengthen data collection in the Mediterranean

and Black Sea

WP04

• Enhancing the development of artisanal fisheries

WP05

• Concerted Actions for Lebanon

Sustainable Use of the Marine Biological Resources:

A supportive tool for the synergic implementation of the MSFD and the ECAP Initiative

Joint project with the Italian Ministry of Environment Project started on November 2013, expected duration is 18th

months. The implementation area is the Mediterranean, with an expected

case study to be defined. Project is primarily related to MSFD descriptor 3, but also 1 and 4,

and is linked with the MSFD view on internacionalization and harmonization with third countries and Regional Seas Conventions

Project also expect to benefit from collaboration with UNEP-MAP for the definition of targets and indicators for the EcAp (through existing MoU between GFCM and UNEP-MAP)

Sustainable Use of the Marine Biological Resources:

A supportive tool for the synergic implementation of the MSFD and the ECAP Initiative

State of exploited populatio

ns

GFCM reference points

UNEP-MAP

indicators

EU MSFD

indicators

Objectives:i) harmonize criteria to

define environmental targets

ii) determine the status of exploited marine populations, taking into account relevant socio-economic aspects, and

iii)design monitoring requirements to ensure maintenance of good environmental status.

Sustainable Use of the Marine Biological Resources:

A supportive tool for the synergic implementation of the MSFD and the ECAP Initiative

Project is to be executed in 3 phases, objectives of the first phase include: Comparative analysis of the existing frameworks related to the

definition, monitoring and proposed measures toward the Good Environmental Status,

Agree on the implementation of a case study in order to: Evaluate harmonized indicators that could be used both in EU and non-EU

members which could ensure the minimum requirements of MSFD, EcAp process and GFCM fisheries assessment and management objectives;

Analyze the monitoring requirements for these indicators and Evaluate the efficiency of different measures to advance towards GES.

Prepare a roadmap to implement the next phases of the project

Thank you for your attention !

GENERAL FISHERIES COMMISSION FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN

MSCGBrussels, 12th – 13th November 2013