Although fisheries sustainability in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea continues to be a concern, the percentage of overfished stocks has dropped to its lowest level in a decade – a milestone that coincides with aquaculture’s rapid expansion as a major source of aquatic foods in the region, according to a new report from FAO’s General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM).
The 2025 State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries (SoMFi) report, produced with contributions from more than 700 regional experts, demonstrates that strong cooperation and evidence-based management are paying off. Fishing pressure has been cut by half over the past 10 years and key stocks are recovering.
At the same time, marine and brackish aquaculture now accounts for more than 45% of aquatic food production, reaching 940,000 tonnes in 2023. Together, fisheries and aquaculture and their value chain produced 2.06 million tonnes of aquatic foods, generated US$21.5 billion and supported 1.17 million jobs.
“Stocks are not yet where we would like them to be, but they are beginning to recover thanks to science-driven management action and strong stakeholder engagement, while aquaculture, if done responsibly, is proving it can help meet future demand for aquatic foods,” said Manuel Barange, Assistant Director-General and Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the FAO. “Maintaining these efforts will be crucial to conserve ecosystems, strengthen livelihoods and ensure the region’s food security through what we call a Blue Transformation.”
Fishing pressure down 50%
The report, the most comprehensive to date, assessed 120 stocks across the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. It found that between 2013 and 2023, fishing mortality fell sharply while the biomass of assessed commercial species increased by 25% , thanks to stronger, evidence-based fisheries management.
Progress is visible in several key commercial species. Red mullet and giant red shrimp show reductions in fishing mortality. Species under specific management plans show a larger than average recovery: common sole in the Adriatic has seen a 42% drop in fishing mortality and a 64% rise in biomass since 2019; turbot in the Black Sea has shown an 86% reduction in fishing mortality and a 310% increase in biomass since 2013.
However, sardine stocks have been subjected to sustained overexploitation over time and still show signs of biomass depletion. European hake, with high variability across subregions, shows modest signs of biomass recovery despite a 38% decrease in fishing mortality since 2015.
“These results build on regional commitments such as the MedFish4Ever and the Sofia Declarations, and reflect countries’ strong commitment to sustainability,” said Milena Mihaylova, Head of Unit for Fisheries Management in the Mediterranean and Black Sea at the European Commission. “But we cannot assume the work is done. Greater collaboration and continuous action are still needed to ensure long-term sustainability, also at the social and economic levels.”
Despite this progress, 52% of assessed stocks in the region remain overfished. This is a major improvement from a decade ago, when 87% of stocks were overfished, but still too high for a healthy marine ecosystem. Other challenges also persist, including enhancing compliance with adopted measures, an ageing workforce and unequal profitability, along with discards and incidental catches of vulnerable species, particularly in identified hot spots across the region.
Aquaculture growth and innovation
For the first time, SoMFi 2025 provided a detailed overview of aquaculture in the region, showing a fast-expanding sector. When freshwater production is included, aquaculture generates $9.3 billion and produces nearly 3 million tonnes of aquatic food. Marine and brackish water aquaculture alone is worth $5.2 billion, directly employing 113 000 people.
Production is highly concentrated in a small number of species: just 11 account for 99 percent of total output, led by gilthead seabream (34.5%) and European seabass (29.7%). Similarly, only eight countries produce 95.5% of the region’s farmed aquatic food, with Turkey (400,000 tonnes), Egypt (147,000 tonnes) and Greece (139,000 tonnes) leading the way. As a result, aquaculture has become the region’s fastest-expanding source of aquatic food and a growing pillar of food security and coastal livelihoods.
“As aquaculture continues to grow, a coordinated approach is essential to ensure that the sector remains sustainable, productive, competitive and profitable. At the same time, it should preserve ecological services, ensure animal welfare and contribute to inclusive socioeconomic development in coastal communities,” said Ahmet Seremed, Chairman of the Board of the Central Union of Aquaculture Producers in Turkey.
Yet, significant challenges persist, GFCM states, insisting the aquaculture sector should reduce its environmental impacts, ensure appropriate animal health and biosecurity practices, while navigating fragmented and complex regulations and fostering its social acceptability.
Meeting future demand
The report notes that the demand for aquatic foods in the region is expected to rise due to growing populations and changing consumer preferences. To ensure that everyone has access to healthy aquatic foods, while keeping pace with consumption trends, the report estimates that production will need to increase by 14-29% by 2050, to allow all countries to maintain current per capita consumption rates in the region.
“Aquatic foods, fishers and fish farmers have always played a key role in the region’s coastal communities,” said Miguel Bernal, Executive Secretary of the GFCM. “We need to make sure they continue to do so in the future, through cooperation and effective management.”
