Fisheries and Biodiversity Conservation

In the videos below, Dr

Takeaways from the case studies

The Mediterranean

Expands across 22 nations, from Western Europe to North Africa, yet occupies only 0.3 % of global ocean volume. Within this confined space it sustains an extraordinary 18 % of the planet’s marine species, including more endemic species than anywhere else on the planet.

Challenges

Sharp losses of seagrass meadows and apex predators, limited protection coverage (9 % MPA designation, of which only 10 % are actively managed), and persistent overfishing that continues to exceed sustainable limits

Solutions

Strengthen and adequately fund existing MPAs before expanding the network, pairing new sites with clear management plans and enforcement capacity.

Align fisheries rules (e.g., gear restrictions, seasonal closures) with conservation targets under the GFCM and MSP/MSFD frameworks.

Foster cross border cooperation platforms, such as MedPAN and MedByCatch, to share data, harmonize monitoring, and build collective compliance.

The Northern Adriatic sea

Its fishing history shaped the culture, marine ecosystems and local economies. Nationally, the governance of environmental and fisheries policies is divided between Italy’s Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry (MASAF).

Challenges

Division of mandates among different competent authorities and across various levels of governance

Despite improved integration of sustainable goals in fisheries policies, their support to biodiversity ones remain indirect.

Solutions

Support and enhance the coordinating role of existing bodies (e.g., Fisheries Districts at the regional level).

Ensure the proper and consistent implementation of EU framework Directives to reduce policy silos and foster the integration of the two policies streams.

Support and capitalise on local initiatives, such as Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGS), to integrate biodiversity goals into sectoral policies.

The French Mediterranean Sea

Professional fishing employs just 0.2 % of the regional workforce (497 vessels, 643 sailors), yet cultural identity and food security keep the sector politically salient. Over half of the shoreline (53 %) falls under formal protection, though a few zones restrict fishing.

Challenges

Approximately 2 % of fish stocks have collapsed, and many partially protected areas lack mechanisms that link fishing pressure to ecological thresholds.

Solutions

Embed mutually reinforcing measures for fisheries and biodiversity within EMFAF funding and the Façade Strategic Document.

Implement targeted, timebound fishery bans to allow recovery of vulnerable species and habitats.

Attach robust environmental criteria and transparency to the allocation of EMFAF grants, ensuring public funds incentivize measurable conservation gains.

The Road to Policy Coherence in the Mediterranean

Governance

Descriptor 6 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive is meant to align fisheries and biodiversity rules, yet enforcement instruments remain scarce, and ministries continue to “speak different languages.” This fragmentation limits any real push toward joint biodiversity and fishery outcomes.

France’s single implementation document, merging Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and MSFD programmes of measures, demonstrates how consolidating mandates streamlines decision-making.

Issue focused expert groups within the GFCM scientific committee, populated by nationally appointed members, provide a template for structured, cross-country dialogue that can translate science into coherent regulation.

Stronger NGO participation is essential for transparency and compliance, ensuring that public interest goals are not lost amid competing sectoral priorities.

Available Tools

While expanding Marine Protected Areas is important, the urgent need lies in making current MPAs more functional. Many lack funding, staffing, and enforcement capacity, and legal instruments to address infractions remain weak or inconsistent. Expansion must go hand‑in‑hand with improved effectiveness and ecological connectivity.

When applied together, Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) offer a powerful structure to balance biodiversity conservation with sustainable fishing. MSP can spatially identify zones for fishing, habitat protection, or ecological restoration, while also advancing broader sustainability goals like energy efficiency in fisheries. Crucially, these frameworks enable much‑needed cross‑sectoral dialogue, but this requires early and meaningful stakeholder engagement, which remains underdeveloped in many countries.

Stakeholder Engagement

Meaningful dialogue with fishers works best when it comes from someone they know and trust. One-on-one conversations, especially by people within the community, help break down resistance and show fishers that their voices and knowledge are valued.

While financial support is available for collaboration between fishers and conservation actors, applying for it often involves complex paperwork. Many managers spend more time on administration than on actual fieldwork, making it harder to turn good ideas into action.

These takeaways are extracted from the online workshop “Fisheries and Biodiversity Conservation: Is a Path to Policy Coherence in the Mediterranean Possible?” organised by s.Pro – Sustainable Projects founding SUBMARINER Network.

It brought together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to explore the complex relationship between fisheries management and biodiversity conservation in the Mediterranean.

With a focus on achieving policy coherence, the session tackled the key challenges of balancing economic development with environmental protection. Participants gained insights into the EU policy framework, discussed findings from related projects, and examined regional case studies.

Dive further

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