What are the challenges of sustainable development specific to the Mediterranean marine economy?

1. Environemental aspect

The Mediterranean Basin is a hotspot of biodiversity. That means that it is a territory that concentrates a great diversity of animal and plant species. It is the second largest hotspot in the world, as it concentrates 10% of the world’s biodiversity. However, the Mediterranean is also the most polluted sea in the world. There is a strong presence of microplastics, which is a real scourge in the region. In addition, it is a territory that is particularly exposed to climate change. A report commissioned by the Union for the Mediterranean (UFM) and presented in December 2018 at the Climate Summit in Poland states that global warming will have a particularly severe impact on the Mediterranean region and will have serious economic and environmental consequences. Thus, «the effects of climate change on the Mediterranean region will be higher than the world average». Indeed, the high level of maritime traffic in the Mediterranean tends to threaten the well-being of endemic species. This, associated to the fishing activities, tends to weaken the fishing resources of the territory. For example, a study of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) observed, in 2015, that the Mediterranean presents the highest exploited proportion of fish stocks at an unsustainable biological level (95% of stocks). However, these figures do not provide an accurate picture of the state of stocks, which are very difficult to assess, but international public actors agree on the need to intervene for the protection of this area.

It is with this in mind that the EU, in cooperation with the countries on the Southern shore of the Mediterranean, have committed themselves to develop the blue economy. This includes all the economic activities of the maritime sector. These sectors represent a strong potential for the prosperity of the territory. It is therefore necessary to develop these activities while preserving the territories. Concerning the professional fishing industry, the principles of the blue economy can be translated into concrete measures to diversify activities. In order to have a more qualitative than quantitative management of the fish resource (fish, crustaceans...), professional fishermen can now take passengers aboard their boats to discover their profession and the beauty of the coast. This activity, practiced only by professionals, is called “pescatourism”. In Italy, they can even offer meals, in suitable places, from their own fishing and to accommodate tourists in their own accommodation. As for maritime traffic, Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas have been established over the years, to identify those ones that require special protection due to their fragility and importance on an ecological, socio-economic and scientific level (eg. Strait of Bonifacio, France and Italy). MARPOL (Marine Pollution) is the main instrument implemented by the International Maritime Organization for the prevention of pollution. Its objective is to preserve the marine environment through the complete elimination of pollution from hydrocarbons and other harmful substances and the minimization of the accidental spillage of these substances.

2. Economical aspect

The professional fishing sector in the Mediterranean is characterized by a more traditional fishing industry. For instance, 91% of the vessels are less than 12m long, which is characteristic of an artisanal fishing activity. Maritime economy35 Professionals tend to use nets, long lines and traps, avoiding the industrial fishing such as trawlers and large seiners. For example, in France, the Mediterranean area contributes only 3% of the fishing catch. Most of these catches are located in North Atlantic and North-East Atlantic. By way of comparison, the Sud Provence Alpes Côtes d’Azur region produces 4000 tons, compared to 208,000 for Brittany. However, this is an activity where it is difficult to obtain complete statistics because the sale of fish is made directly to customers from the port. However, we have some figures on global fishing catches at our disposal.