In 2021, the GFCM adopted the 2030 Strategy for ten years, focusing on fishing and ecosystems.
Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación
Spain will host the 48th annual session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean and Black Sea (GFCM), which will be held in Málaga during the first week of November.
The Commission adopts fishing regulations primarily concerning management and conservation, as well as control and data collection.
Also, it serves as a scientific forum for assessing the status of relevant fish populations and multiannual management plans for their long-term sustainable exploitation.
The GFCM was established in 1949 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and is headquartered in Rome. It is made up of 22 countries surrounding the Mediterranean and Black Seas, as well as the European Union.
Additionally, Spain will host the 29th regular meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), which will take place in Seville from November 17 to 24, 2025.
In 2021, the GFCM adopted the 2030 Strategy for ten years, focusing on the following subjects: fishing and ecosystems, combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, sustainable aquaculture, decent employment and profitability in fishing (with particular emphasis on artisanal or small-scale fishing), and technical cooperation.
The 2030 Strategy is funded through voluntary contributions from the contracting parties or other interested organizations or entities. Spain has contributed around 200,000 euros over the last two years.
Finally, the activities funded include small-scale fishing, mitigation of incidental seabird catches, and training in fishery inspection and control.