Climate change is increasingly affecting marine ecosystems, fisheries and aquaculture in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The Mediterranean is warming around 20 percent faster than the global average, with more frequent heatwaves and increasing pressure on fisheries, aquaculture and coastal communities.
Addressing these impacts requires science-based and operational action. The GFCM integrates climate considerations into fisheries and aquaculture governance and supports mitigation and adaptation measures to enhance resilience and sustainability.
The GFCM network of experts on fisheries and climate change
The GFCM has established a network of experts on fisheries and climate change to strengthen the scientific basis for climate‑informed management advice. The network operates through a dedicated working group, supported by the GFCM Secretariat, and brings together scientists and practitioners from a wide range of institutions and disciplines. Through the GFCM advisory framework, its work contributes to identifying climate–fisheries interactions, exploring adaptation and mitigation options, assessing potential trade‑offs, and supporting the integration of climate considerations into fisheries management and decision‑making.
Decarbonization of fishing activity
Climate change mitigation under the GFCM includes dedicated work on the decarbonization of fishing activities. In 2023 the GFCM established a roadmap towards increased decarbonization of fishing activities in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. This work, informed by scientific and technical inputs from the Working Group on Decarbonization (WKDECA)under the Scientific Advisory Committee on Fisheries (SAC), supports actions to improve energy efficiency, reduce fuel consumption and emissions, and test practical solutions through pilot trials, contributing to climate‑informed fisheries governance.
Climate change resilience and mitigation in aquaculture
The GFCM is working closely with its members and experts to identify and implement more effective adaptation and mitigation measures, and promote best practices and field tested solutions.
GFCM action
- Establish a network of experts on fisheries and climate change
- Assess the vulnerability of fisheries and aquaculture to climate change, according to biodiversity surveys and a standard methodology, through subregional case studies, supported by the GFCM Network of Experts on Fisheries and Climate Change and the Technical Advisory Group on innovation and technology (TAG-IT) of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Aquaculture (CAQ)
- Adopt a resolution establishing a regional roadmap for the decarbonization of fishing activities, with short‑, medium‑ and long‑term actions
- Establish the Working Group on Decarbonization (WKDECA) to provide scientific and technical advice on reducing fuel use and emissions and development of harmonized tools and protocols to collect and analyse fuel consumption and carbon‑footprint data across fleets
- Provide support to pilot trials testing gear modifications, operational practices and energy‑efficient technologies to reduce fuel consumption and integrate socioeconomic considerations to assess impacts on fishing communities and support feasible solutions
- Operationalize a regional platform on fishing gear selectivity, decarbonization and vulnerable species to share data, experiences and good practices on decarbonization across the Mediterranean and Black Sea
- Compile information to create a non-indigenous species (NIS) monitoring network, including work on early detection of new species and significant changes in NIS abundance as well as biological and/or socio-economic impacts at the subregional level
- Conduct studies on interactions between NIS and fisheries and aquaculture as well as their linkages with climate change (see NIS webpage)
- Collaborate with stakeholders to assess the impacts of climate change on aquaculture and develop mitigation and adaptation measures for the sector
Resources
Publications
Inner pages MENU - Biodiversity conservation
Spatial management
Ecosystem approach to fisheries and aquaculture Climate change Marine pollution
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.