Cyprus called for intensified regional cooperation and more ambitious action to safeguard fisheries in the Mediterranean, as Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou opened the MedFish4Ever gathering in Nicosia.
In her opening address, Panayiotou warned that growing pressures, from climate change to biodiversity loss and overexploitation, require a more coordinated and forward-looking response across the region, stressing that sustainable fisheries are no longer optional but essential.
Addressing delegates including EU Commissioner Costas Kadis, former Commissioner Karmenu Vella and representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, she described the MedFish4Ever process as a key pillar of regional fisheries governance.
Panayiotou stressed that since the 2017 Malta MedFish4Ever Declaration, Mediterranean countries have strengthened cooperation on science-based management, enforcement and the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, while supporting the sustainability of coastal communities.
She noted that this commitment was reinforced at the 2019 Marrakech conference and further advanced in 2021 with the adoption of the GFCM Strategy 2021-2030, which sets targets including expanding marine protection, improving compliance and ensuring fair working conditions. These commitments were reaffirmed again in 2023.
‘These are not abstract ambitions,’ she said, stressing that the outcomes directly affect fishers’ livelihoods, coastal families and the resilience of marine ecosystems. ‘The Mediterranean is a sea of extraordinary beauty, but also of great pressure, and our response must remain collective, practical and forward-looking.’
Emphasising Cyprus’ role as an island state, Panayiotou said sustainability depends on healthy fish stocks, reliable data, effective control systems and strong partnerships between governments, scientists and fishing communities. She also underscored the importance of supporting small-scale fisheries as a core part of the region’s social and economic fabric.
She also pointed to emerging challenges such as climate change, invasive species and shifting market conditions, calling for greater investment in knowledge, stronger compliance, habitat protection and more inclusive policies, including opportunities for young people and women.
Panayiotou said the meeting in Cyprus is not only a stocktaking exercise but ‘a moment to renew trust, deepen cooperation and accelerate delivery,’ expressing confidence that the discussions will lead to tangible outcomes for the Mediterranean region.
In his opening remarks, Kadis said – among other things – that “today we find ourselves at a crossroads”, adding that “the reality is stark.” Kadis noted that the Mediterranean remains “one of the most overfished seas in the world, too many stocks remain unassessed, fragile habitats are still under threat, illegal fishing continues to undermine honest fishers, fleet overcapacity pushes stocks to the brink and too often compliance is still treated as optional rather than essential.”
“Meanwhile, climate change accelerates the crisis. Warming waters, invasive species and extreme weather events are reshaping our marine ecosystems in ways we are only beginning to understand,” Commissioner Kadis pointed out, adding however that “there is hope” and “recovery is possible”. “We have seen stocks rebound when science guides policy. Our management plans are delivering good results. For the first time, we have achieved maximum sustainable yield for hake in the Adriatic. This was unthinkable a decade ago,” he said.
Kadis went on to say that “fisheries restricted areas and selective cares have reduced bycatch and protected juvenile fish,” adding that “with innovation in aquaculture we are seeing better food security and reduced pressures on wild stocks and more opportunities for our coastal communities.” “Yes, there is hope. We can turn things around and change for the better if we act with urgency and unity,” he stressed.
In his remarks, Vella said – among other things – that “today we can say with confidence that a lot of progress has been made. Fishing pressure has decreased in several key stocks, thanks to sustained investment and regional cooperation. Scientific knowledge has improved significantly and more multiannual management plans are in place.”
He noted that this is not full recovery but it is “a clear change of direction and importantly it shows that, when we act together across borders and sectors, we can deliver results.”