Fisheries sustainability in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea remains a concern, but the share of overfished stocks has fallen to its lowest point in ten years. This improvement coincides with the rapid rise of aquaculture, which has become a major source of aquatic food in the region. According to FAO’s 2025 State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries report, coordinated management and regional cooperation are helping reduce pressure on marine resources.
Over the past decade, fishing pressure has been reduced by half, and several key commercial species are showing signs of recovery. At the same time, marine and brackish aquaculture has grown significantly, now producing more than 45 percent of aquatic foods in the region and contributing to a sector that supports over a million jobs and generates more than $21 billion annually.
The report highlights that between 2013 and 2023, fishing mortality declined sharply while the biomass of many assessed species increased by 25 percent. Species with targeted management plans, such as common sole in the Adriatic and turbot in the Black Sea, have seen major improvements. However, others like sardine remain overexploited, and species such as European hake show only modest recovery despite reduced fishing pressure.
Although the proportion of overfished stocks has decreased from 87 percent to 52 percent in a decade, the level remains too high to ensure healthy ecosystems. Ongoing challenges include compliance gaps, an aging workforce, economic disparities, discards, and incidental catches of vulnerable species. Regional commitments such as the MedFish4Ever and Sofia Declarations continue to support progress, but further collective action is needed.
Aquaculture has emerged as the region’s fastest-growing source of aquatic foods. When freshwater production is included, aquaculture generates $9.3 billion and produces nearly 3 million tonnes of food annually. Production is concentrated in a small group of species and countries, with Türkiye, Egypt and Greece dominating output. While the sector is delivering economic growth and supporting coastal livelihoods, it must address environmental impacts, biosecurity issues and regulatory complexity to ensure long-term sustainability.
Looking ahead, rising populations and changing diets will increase regional demand for aquatic foods. The report estimates that production must grow by 14 to 29 percent by 2050 to maintain current consumption levels. Ensuring responsible fisheries management and sustainable aquaculture expansion will be essential to meeting this future demand while safeguarding ecosystems and supporting fishing and farming communities.
Produced every two years, the SoMFi report compiles official data and scientific assessments from across the region, providing policymakers with a comprehensive overview of stock status, fleet performance and progress toward sustainability goals.
