Aquaculture is a growing sector in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, contributing to food security, employment and economic development. Marine and brackish water production accounts for over 45 percent of aquatic food output, reaching 940 000 tonnes and generating USD 5.2 billion in 2023. However, growth brings sustainability challenges that require holistic management.
The GFCM supports this transition towards a sustainable and competitive sector by establishing minimum standards across the region and promoting cooperation and best practices, as well as by providing targeted capacity development actions.
The State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries 2025
The State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date review of the status and trends of fisheries and aquaculture in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
Snapshot of aquaculture in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea
Governance and responsible investment
Promotion of sustainable practices
Cross-cutting themes
Latest news
News
From healthy seas to healthy foods: a journey across aquatic food systems
10/10/2026
This October, several events will highlight the importance of aquatic foods and the ecosystems that sustain them. From World Food Day and the Global...
New Adriatic Sea fisheries unit inaugurated in Split to strengthen science-based fisheries management
04/09/2026
The Adriatic Sea Technical Unit of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United...
Bulgaria pioneers sea-farmed trout and integrated aquaculture in the Black Sea
28/07/2026
The pilot initiative, carried out in the coastal town of Kavarna, also delivered Bulgaria's first integrated multitrophic aquaculture system, combining...
Rebuilding aquaculture in Libya: a Mediterranean story of cooperation in action
01/06/2026
Since 2018, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has...