FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia

The Mediterranean and the Black Sea: Fisheries sustainability concerns remain, but overfishing drops to its lowest level in a decade, while aquaculture feeds more people

New report by FAO’s General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean reveals strong advances in sustainability and recovery of key stocks

28/11/2025
Although fisheries sustainability in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea remains a source of 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 report released today by FAO’s General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM).