Mediterranean and Black Sea marine capture fisheries and marine and brackish water aquaculture produce a combined 2 057 700 tonnes of aquatic food, injecting USD 21.5 billion into the regional economy and generating 1.17 million jobs along the value chain. The operating fishing fleet responsible for capture fisheries production consists of 83 075 vessels. Aquaculture production relies on more than 35 000 enterprises active across the region.

Fisheries and aquaculture harvest-related jobs account for 26 percent of total sector employment, while pre-harvest and post-harvest operations represent 9 percent and 65 percent, respectively. Women occupy 29 percent of all jobs along the value chain, while young people represent less than 7 percent of the workforce in half of the countries in the region.

The share of marine and brackish water aquaculture production has steadily increased since 2019, reaching 940 000 tonnes in 2023 and accounting for more than 45 percent of total aquatic food production in the region. In contrast, capture fisheries production has remained relatively stable, fluctuating around 1 million tonnes per year over the past decade and reaching 1 117 700 tonnes in 2023.

From 2013 to 2023, the GFCM accelerated the adoption of regional and national measures, including 11 management plans and 11 fisheries restricted areas. It also strengthened regional capacity development and guidance towards sustainable aquaculture growth through Technical Advisory Groups and a network of Aquaculture Demonstration Centres. As a result, average overall fishing pressure declined by 50 percent across the region, the percentage of sustainable stocks doubled and biomass increased by 25 percent. At the same time, increased investment, enhanced technologies, improved feeds and stronger legal frameworks allowed total aquaculture production to double, driven in particular by increased finfish production.

Aquaculture is dominated by finfish production, representing around 86 percent of total marine and brackish water production. This number jumps to over 98 percent in North Africa and western Asia, mainly driven by brackish water production systems in Egypt and marine cage farming in Türkiye. In contrast, production in the European Union is more diversified, with finfish accounting for roughly 67 percent of production and Mediterranean mussel, Japanese carpet shell and oysters making up the remaining third.

Türkiye remains the largest aquatic food producer, dominating in both capture fisheries and marine and brackish water aquaculture. Italy is the second largest producer in capture fisheries and the fourth in aquaculture, while Egypt is the second largest producer in aquaculture and ninth in capture fisheries.

Looking ahead, fisheries and aquaculture in the region face significant challenges. Currently, 52 percent of stocks are still considered overexploited and hot spots of discards and incidental catch of vulnerable species threaten the environmental sustainability of capture fisheries. Profitability is uneven, and in some segments marginal, while the workforce is ageing and the percentage of women and young people remains limited. Meanwhile, aquaculture attracts greater interest among younger generations, but faces considerable challenges linked to climate change, impacts of pathogens, non-indigenous species, and complex and heterogeneous legal frameworks that limit investments and potential growth. Overall, aquatic food production in the region will need to increase between 14 percent and 29 percent by 2050 to meet the demands of population growth and ensure that all countries reach at least current global average per capita consumption.

Annual landings for the Mediterranean and the Black Sea amounted to 1 117 700 tonnes in 2023, representing a 13 percent increase from 2022. However, when averaging over two years, landings are similar to those reported in the 2023 edition of The State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries (1 053 100 tonnes in 2022–2023 versus 1 056 600 in 2020–2021), highlighting the relative stability of landings in recent years and their short-term fluctuations, particularly in the Black Sea. The operating fishing fleet consists of 83 075 vessels, with a total capacity of 908 100 gross tonnage and exceeding 35 years of age on average. More than 6 000 fishing vessels, accounting for 7.3 percent of the total fleet, are authorized to operate under the GFCM’s fishery management plans, management measures and fisheries restricted areas.

When averaged over 2022–2023, Türkiye remains the leading country in terms of landings (330 700 tonnes, 31.4 percent of the total), fleet size (14 400 fishing vessels, 17.4 percent of the total) and fishing capacity in gross tonnage (156 200 gross tonnage, 17.2 percent of the total), with 61 percent of its fleet and 88.9 percent of its landings operating in, and coming from, the Black Sea. Italy operates 9 648 vessels (11.6 percent) and is the second country in terms of landings (112 500 tonnes, 10.7 percent) and gross tonnage (125 600 gross tonnage, 13.8 percent). Greece has a higher number of vessels than Italy (12 151 vessels, 14.6 percent) with a much lower gross tonnage (62 600 gross tonnage, 6.9 percent), highlighting the predominance of small-scale vessels in its fleet. The Mediterranean fleet (87 percent) makes up 60.5 percent of capture production, with the western Mediterranean accounting for the second highest number of landings in the region (19.3 percent) and the eastern Mediterranean hosting the largest fleet (28.2 percent). Around 10 800 fishing vessels operate in the Black Sea (13 percent of the total fleet) and produce 39.5 percent of total landings.

The “Small-scale vessels” group accounts for 81 percent of the total fleet (around 66 000 fishing vessels), contributes 13 percent of annual landings and is most prominent in the central and eastern Mediterranean. It is followed by the “Trawlers and beam trawlers” group (nearly 7 000 vessels, 8.6 percent), responsible for 17.4 percent of landings. The “Purse seiners and pelagic trawlers” group accounts for the largest share of landings in the region (63.1 percent of the total), reaching up to 84.4 percent in the Black Sea, despite representing only 5.2 percent of the total operating fleet.

In all subregions, landings are highly dominated by small pelagic species. Black Sea catches (39.5 percent of the total) are largely composed of European anchovy, while western (19.3 percent of the total), central (14.5 percent of the total) and eastern (14.2 percent of the total) Mediterranean landings rely on a more diverse group of species. Adriatic Sea catches (12.5 percent of the total) are predominantly sardine. Regional landings remained steady overall, yet several countries have experienced marked declines in catches. For example, in Italy and Spain, catches fell by 9 percent and 11 percent, respectively, between 2020–2021 and 2022–2023, continuing the downward trend observed over the last decade. At the same time, fishing mortality of priority species covered by management plans and measures has decreased and biomass at sea is showing a positive trend. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of current management measures in rebuilding stocks and securing ecological sustainability. However, this progress also entails socioeconomic costs, including reduced production and increased economic pressure on certain fleets and communities.

Discards dynamics vary according to fishing gear type and subregional context, including factors such as market demand, local consumption, social conditions and regulatory frameworks. Bottom trawlers remain the main contributors to discards, often ranging between 20 and 40 percent, while purse seiners and longliners show consistently low levels. Small-scale fisheries are highly variable, with rates influenced by seasonality, fishing grounds and the increasing presence of non-indigenous species in some areas. Hot spots of incidental catches of elasmobranchs and sea turtles are found in the central and eastern Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea, underscoring the need for spatially targeted, multitaxa mitigation measures. Interactions involving seabirds are more localized and mainly associated with longline fisheries, while cetacean incidental catch is largely concentrated in small-scale fisheries, particularly in the Black Sea.

Over the past decade, GFCM-led initiatives such as MedSea4Fish and BlackSea4Fish, together with the adoption of standardized sampling protocols, have significantly expanded and improved data on discards and incidental catch across fleets and areas. Despite this progress, gaps and inconsistencies remain, underlining the need for stronger observer coverage, fisher engagement and integration of spatial–effort data to fully support science-based management. Data collected through monitoring programmes reveal potential hot spots of discards and vulnerable species interactions with fishing activities. While these patterns are not yet fully consolidated, they provide a growing evidence base that could inform the design of spatially and temporally targeted monitoring and mitigation measures under an ecosystem-based management approach.

The number of active stock assessments enabling the estimation of overall stock status in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea has steadily increased from 45 stocks in 2008 to 120 stocks in 2023. In 2023, 67 stock assessments provided F/F_MSY estimates, with 51 also delivering reference points for biomass. In this year’s edition, the percentage of overexploited stocks has dropped to 52 percent, the lowest level recorded in the time series. The current F/F_MSY ratio is estimated to range between 0.74 and 1.1, indicating a decrease in overexploitation rates of 48 percent to 64 percent since 2013. During the same period, the overall biomass of commercial species assessed has increased by 25 percent, marking a significant step forward towards achieving the targets of the GFCM 2030 Strategy for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (GFCM 2030 Strategy). Most priority species show a notable reduction in fishing mortality, with consistent downward trends observed for red mullet and giant red shrimp. However, regional patterns vary, especially for species such as sardine and European hake.

While biomass levels largely remain below target reference points, the reduction in fishing pressure is driving a marked upward trend in biomass. In 2023, European anchovy, deep-water rose shrimp and common sole were assessed as sustainably exploited across the region (F/F_MSY < 1 and B/B_MSY > 1). Most key stocks under management plans, technical or spatial measures – including European hake, giant red shrimp and deep-water rose shrimp in the Strait of Sicily; European hake and common sole in the Adriatic Sea; and turbot in the Black Sea – have achieved fishing mortality below F_MSY. These successes are reflected in clear biomass improvements, signaling effective stock rebuilding. Notable examples include a 42 percent reduction in fishing mortality and a 64 percent increase in biomass since 2019 for common sole in the Adriatic Sea, as well as an 86 percent reduction in fishing mortality and a 310 percent increase in biomass since 2013 for turbot in the Black Sea.

Aquaculture production in Mediterranean and Black Sea countries reached 2.97 million tonnes in 2023, generating USD 9.3 billion. Freshwater aquaculture continues to dominate, accounting for 58 percent of total production, mainly due to tilapia and mullet farming in Egypt. Marine aquaculture production expanded to 36 percent, while brackish water aquaculture contributed the remaining 6 percent. Marine and brackish water aquaculture in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea reached 940 000 tonnes in 2023, worth approximately USD 5.2 billion.

Production remains highly concentrated, with nine countries accounting for over 95 percent of the total. Türkiye leads in terms of production with 43 percent (400 000 tonnes), followed by Egypt (16 percent, 147 000 tonnes) and Greece (15 percent, 139 000 tonnes). Italy is the largest mollusc producer, while Spain, Croatia, Malta and Tunisia contribute significant volumes through cage-based finfish and Atlantic bluefin tuna production. Gilthead seabream and European seabass are the main species reared, accounting for 34 percent and 30 percent of total production, respectively. Mediterranean mussel, rainbow trout and meagre together make up most of the remaining production.

Diversification is gradually expanding, with growing interest in emerging species, such as greater amberjack, sole, sea cucumbers and macroalgae, as well as in restorative aquaculture using bivalves and macroalgae. Marine cage farming remains the backbone of production, accounting for 83 percent, distantly followed by suspension culture of bivalves. Innovative systems such as integrated multitrophic aquaculture, recirculating aquaculture systems and aquaponics are gaining ground as resilient and circular models. Around 90 percent of finfish hatcheries are concentrated in Egypt and western Asia, while 92 percent of mollusc hatcheries are located in Europe and crustacean farming remains marginal.

As production volumes continue to grow, the aquaculture sector must also confront environmental pressures, including heatwaves, disease outbreaks and non-indigenous species, underscoring its vulnerability and urgent need for adaptation.

Fisheries

Marine capture fisheries generated USD 3.1 billion in first-sale revenue and contributed an estimated USD 8.05 billion to the wider economy, exhibiting relatively stable performance from 2020 onwards, following earlier declines. The sector supports 750 000 jobs along the value chain, including 197 000 people employed directly on board fishing vessels. Women represent only about 10 percent of jobs on board fishing vessels; however across the full value chain, they account for about 28 percent of all fisheries-related jobs, mainly in post-harvest and processing roles. Despite an overall positive gross cash flow across the regional fleet, industrial fleets show a notable contraction in short-term profitability, partly due to a 32 percent increase in energy costs, making them increasingly reliant on subsidies. In the Mediterranean, sardine, deep-water rose shrimp, European hake, European anchovy and common octopus dominate landings in terms of value. In the Black Sea, European anchovy alone accounts for 54 percent of total landing value.

Aquaculture

Marine and brackish water aquaculture generated USD 5.2 billion in 2023, a 63 percent increase since 2013, with Türkiye, Greece and Egypt accounting for two-thirds of total revenue. The sector directly employed over 113 000 people in 2023, mainly in North Africa and western Asia; women represent 17 percent of the workforce and 14 percent of workers are under 25. The contribution of farmed aquatic foods to the apparent consumption of aquatic foods in the GFCM area of application varies widely among countries, ranging from 82 percent in Egypt, where it plays a key role in food security, to as low as 0.6 percent in Morocco. Aquaculture production in the region relies on more than 35 000 enterprises of varying sizes and operational characteristics, ranging from small-scale shellfish producers to large finfish farms, with notable differences between countries. While aquaculture’s contribution to national economies, in terms of gross domestic product, remains modest in most countries, it plays a more prominent economic role in specific contexts, particularly in Malta (1.2 percent), Greece (0.3 percent) and Tunisia (0.23 percent).

Over the past decade, the GFCM has significantly and progressively shaped the landscape of fisheries management in the region through the adoption of 11 adaptive multiannual management plans and 11 fisheries restricted areas. These plans represent the most tangible expression of the current state of fisheries management in the region, reflecting a dynamic and evolving approach that aligns with the objectives of the GFCM 2030 Strategy.

Since the 2023 edition of The State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries, significant progress has been made: one new multiannual management plan was adopted, three management plans entered their long-term phase, and three plans were revised based on improved data. New management measures were also introduced for emerging stocks and fisheries in the region. Advances in the spatial management of fisheries include the establishment of a new fisheries restricted area (FRA) in the southern Adriatic Sea. This FRA aims to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems and essential fish habitats for crustacean species.

Scientific evidence increasingly demonstrates the effectiveness of FRAs as robust tools for restoring marine biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea. By limiting fishing activities, FRAs contribute to the recovery of fish stocks, the conservation of benthic habitats and the overall resilience of marine ecosystems. They also provide countries with a valuable tool to support the achievement of global biodiversity targets, including those outlined in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

In line with the Regional Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, small-scale fisheries (SSF) management is advancing through a two-pronged approach, which on the one hand ensures enhanced data collection to integrate SSF effort and catches into stock assessments and, on the other, promotes participatory, ecosystem-based management involving fishers and stakeholders. Countries are making substantial strides in collecting data, with notable improvements in data quality and reporting on social indicators. In 2025, 19 CPCs had SSF data collection systems in place to contribute to stock assessments, compared to eight in 2022. At the same time, stakeholder engagement is growing. Over 120 fishers participated in peer-to-peer learning via the Small-Scale Fishers’ Forum and 17 CPCs reported having taken decisions through stakeholder consultation, reflecting a growing shift towards inclusive and participatory management models.

The GFCM is expanding its research programmes and pilot studies to support evidence-based fisheries management, through the MedSea4Fish and BlackSea4Fish capacity development initiatives. Covering a wide range of topics, from priority species and key fisheries to specific ecosystem monitoring and socioeconomic analyses, these initiatives aim to provide a robust scientific foundation for policy and management decisions. By fostering regional cooperation and capacity development, they strengthen the science–policy interface and promote sustainable fisheries in the region. Recent research has also informed the management of European eel, red coral, rapa whelk and common dolphinfish fisheries, while creating solid networks of researchers across the region.

The GFCM’s management approach, which combines multiannual plans, spatial measures, managementoriented research and capacity development, is delivering measurable improvements in fisheries sustainability in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, with several key stocks showing signs of recovery. Together with advances made on a more holistic and participatory approach to SSF management, the GFCM is driving a transformative shift towards sustainable fisheries through integrated, science-based management and inclusive governance.

Aquaculture is the fastest-growing segment of global aquatic food production, playing a critical role in addressing food insecurity and supporting resilient food systems. Regional efforts are aligned with the GFCM 2030 Strategy and the FAO Blue Transformation Roadmap, targeting a 35–40 percent increase of sustainable aquaculture by 2030.

Most countries in the region have modernized legal frameworks, integrated aquaculture into marine spatial planning and established allocated zones for aquaculture to optimize site selection and ensure environmental sustainability. However, licensing remains a major bottleneck and some countries lack comprehensive legislation. Progress in the region includes new financing mechanisms, infrastructure upgrades and improved traceability systems. Funding and national incentives have supported modernization in some countries, but challenges persist for small-scale producers, particularly in non-European Union countries, due to complex regulations and limited access to finance. Enabling conditions are expanding, although unevenly. Investment incentives, shared infrastructure, certification and traceability systems are advancing, particularly in European Union countries. However, smaller producers across the region continue to face high compliance costs, limited finance and restricted market access. Regional initiatives such as Aquaculture Demonstration Centres, Technical Advisory Groups and training programmes have expanded technical expertise and fostered collaboration. Nonetheless, disparities in capacity and technology remain, particularly in areas such as climate resilience and advanced environmental monitoring. Climate change and aquatic animal health pose critical risks. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events and recurrent disease outbreaks are already impacting production. Stronger biosecurity, early-warning systems and climate-resilient planning are urgently needed.

The way forward requires inclusiveness and collaboration. Updating legal frameworks, streamlining licensing, strengthening monitoring and fostering transparent communication with stakeholders – particularly farmer organizations – are key to building equity, social acceptability and shared commitment to sustainable aquaculture.