The Regional Plan of Action to monitor and mitigate interactions between fisheries and vulnerable species in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (RPOA-VUL) was adopted in 2023 through Resolution GFCM/46/2023/4. It represents a collective commitment by GFCM Contracting Parties and Cooperating non-Contracting Parties (CPCs) to monitor, manage, and reduce the impacts of fisheries on vulnerable species across the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
The RPOA-VUL sets out a 2024–2030 work plan with short- and mid-term targets. CPCs are expected to implement actions at national level, while coordination and progress review are ensured annually by the GFCM through its Working Group on Vulnerable Species (WGVul) and relevant subsidiary bodies. The plan supports a progressive management approach whereby monitoring and testing of mitigation solutions inform the development of operational guidance and their integration into fisheries management frameworks.
The RPOA-VUL does not replace existing GFCM recommendations on vulnerable species, but rather provides a strategic and operational framework to support their coordinated implementation, testing and progressive strengthening.
Purpose and scope
The RPOA-VUL aims to:
- Reduce and, where possible, eliminate the incidental catch and mortality of vulnerable species such as elasmobranchs, sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals.
- Mitigate depredation by marine megafauna on fishing gear and catch, addressing both conservation concerns and socio-economic impacts on fisheries.
- Strengthen monitoring systems, improve scientific knowledge, and develop innovative mitigation solutions that can be applied in fisheries operations.
Vulnerable species covered by the plan include, inter alia, marine mammals (cetaceans), sea turtles, seabirds, elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) and, in the Black Sea, sturgeons.
Its scope covers all marine waters under the GFCM’s mandate, with implementation aligned to the GFCM 2030 Strategy and existing recommendations on species conservation.
The RPOAVUL operationalizes GFCM 2030 Strategy Target 1 “Fisheries and ecosystems: healthy seas and productive fisheries” by providing a structured framework to reduce and mitigate incidental catches of vulnerable species, support the testing of technical and spatial mitigation measures, and strengthen monitoring and data collection in support of ecosystem based fisheries management.
The plan is structured around three mutually reinforcing areas of action:
Monitoring
- Enhance data collection on bycatch and depredation events.
- Map high-risk areas and periods based on fishing activity and species distribution.
- Improve knowledge on species biology, habitats, and the socio-economic impacts of interactions.
Management
- Test and progressively adopt mitigation measures, such as gear modifications, time-area restrictions, and acoustic deterrents.
- Identify and manage areas of interest for species conservation.
- Integrate solutions into multiannual management plans and national regulations.
- Support the development of regional guidance and best practices for fisheries.
Capacity development
- Train fishers and observers on safe handling and release practices.
- Promote stakeholder dialogue and participatory data collection.
- Raise awareness through targeted outreach and education campaigns.
Implementation and timeline
The RPOA-VUL is implemented by CPCs at national level with regional coordination by the GFCM. Implementation should follow a stepwise approach: monitoring and pilot actions to test mitigation measures → evaluation of effectiveness, which is reviewed through the GFCM governance framework, particularly the Working Group on Vulnerable Species → development of guidance and best practices → where appropriate, integration into fisheries management measures adopted by the Commission.
