The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)

GFCM is an intergovernmental organisation responsible for the management of tuna and tuna-like species – including sharks and rays - in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.

The Shark Trust has been an observer to GFCM since 2016.

GFCM has a retention ban for over 30 species of exceptionally vulnerable Mediterranean shark and ray species (listed on Annex II of the Barcelona Convention, an international environmental treaty aimed at protecting the Mediterranean) includes commercially valuable shortfin makos, endangered guitarfishes, and critically endangered angel sharks. There is, however, very little evidence that the measure has been properly implemented through domestic prohibitions.

Our efforts to secure groundbreaking international conservation advances for Mediterranean sharks and rays have contributed to:

• Additional shark and ray species subject to retention bans

• Increased scrutiny of IUU fishing through tightened compliance reporting requirements, and

• Adoption of a fins naturally attached