Fisheries and aquaculture legislation varies throughout the Mediterranean region and the information about them is scattered and difficult to find. Usually, national legislations of GFCM CPCs use different formats and these formats are only accessible in their national language.  Furthermore, access to the documentation on legislation can be very limited, particularly for those without any legal background. Apart from this, there is a lack of repositories/databases collecting information at the regional level on living marine resources and marine ecosystems. ​

There is a need for a transparent and user-friendly way of getting information about a country’s legislation regarding fisheries and aquaculture for fishers, practitioners, administrators, scientists, law specialists and any other person needing an easy access to such information. The GFCM Regional Repository (GFCM-Lex) will provide reliable information on the basis of relevant legal instruments for the management of living marine resources and  ecosystems and binding recommendations adopted by the GFCM. Information on national legislation will be enriched by the contribution of fisheries stakeholders at national level.

• Provide a single access point to national legislation on the conservation of marine living resources and ecosystems in the in the GFCM area of application.
  
  
• Contribute to knowledge sharing, capacity building and development in the field of conservation of marine living resources and ecosystems.
  
  
• Promote a better understanding of existing linkages between the national legislation in place and binding recommendations adopted by the GFCM.
  
  
• Offer a coherent approach to national legislation on the conservation of marine living resources and ecosystems through the identification of key areas:
  • Aquaculture-fisheries interactions
  • Access regimes to fisheries resources
  • Conservation and management
  • Monitoring, control and surveillance

With the financial support of :