The State of Israel has joined the European Union's MedFish4Ever Declaration for the first time, a large-scale regional initiative to restore fish stocks in the Mediterranean and Black Seas and promote sustainable fisheries management. Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security took part in the regional ministerial conference held this week in Nicosia, Cyprus, alongside the Mediterranean and Black Sea countries, and participated in the professional discourse that deals with shaping policy and decisions regarding the future of the Mediterranean and the management of fishery resources shared by the countries of the region.
During the conference, the participating countries renewed their commitment to strengthening regional cooperation for the restoration of marine resources, and agreed to promote a new MedFish4Ever Declaration in 2027, which will outline the next decade of regional activity in the field of fisheries and aquaculture. Among the main directions of action identified for the formulation of the next declaration: strengthening enforcement and the fight against illegal fishing, expanding fisheries management based on scientific data, supporting small-scale fishermen and the younger generation in the industry, adapting the fisheries sectors to climate change, and deepening regional cooperation through the Mediterranean Fisheries Commission.
The Israeli delegation was received with great appreciation by Cyprus, the current president of the Council of the European Union, and by leading professional figures in the international arena, given the knowledge and professional experience that Israel brings in the fields of fisheries management and marine regulation.
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Since the first signature of the Declaration in 2017, significant progress has been made in the region, with around half of the Mediterranean’s fish stocks starting to show signs of recovery, particularly in areas where fisheries management is based on scientific data, monitoring and enforcement. However, significant challenges remain: illegal fishing, climate change and environmental pressures continue to impact marine ecosystems and local fishing communities.
Yaakov Poleg, Senior Deputy Director for Trade and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security: ""Israel's joining the MedFish4Ever Declaration and deepening its involvement in the regional arena express Israel's commitment to promoting responsible and sustainable management of marine resources, from a perspective of regional partnership and shared responsibility. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security will continue to work together with the countries of the region, research entities and fishing communities to promote professional collaborations, strengthen science-based fisheries management and safeguard the future of the Mediterranean for future generations.".
