World: Overfishing in the Mediterranean and Black Sea fell by 15% in the last year

Overfishing in Mediterranean and Black Sea waters fell “by 15% in the last year” and was “below 60% for the first time”, although the current figure “remains worrying”, according to a report published today by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The biannual report 'State of Fisheries in the Mediterranean and Black Sea (SoMFi 2023), in which Spain is ranked as the sixth producer in terms of landings, reflects that fishing pressure “continues to double the level considered sustainable”, despite the fact that overexploitation “has decreased considerably.” The percentage of overexploited stocks is already below 60%, in a downward trend that “started a decade ago.” Some stocks, indicates the FAO, have shown a “surprising reduction” in their overexploitation, such as the common Adriatic sole, by 77%, and the Black Sea turbot by 73%, showing in some cases signs of “ a recovery of biomass.” Global capture fishery production levels have, in turn, remained ...