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Based on the experience gained in Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey during the Medbycatch phase 1 (2017-2020), Medbycatch 2 will expand the geographical scope of the project to include Croatia and Italy. France and Spain will also be included in policy and advocacy activities.
The first project of this kind following a multi-taxa approach Bycatch (e.g. the incidental catch) of vulnerable species in fishing gear remains a key conservation issue in the Mediterranean for a number of taxonomic groups, including marine mammals, sharks and rays, seabirds, sea turtles and corals and sponges. Bycatch not only poses a threat to Mediterranean marine biodiversity, but it also affects fishers’ livelihoods, as it can cause serious damages to fishing gear. Traditionally, data collection on bycatch of vulnerable species has been carried out using varying protocols at different geographic scales across the Mediterranean Sea. The absence of systematic reporting has made data comparison difficult. Moreover, we lack an overview of the importance of this issue across fishing practices and species at a regional level.
Medbycatch 2 will build on the momentum and relationships developed with decision-makers during Phase 1 to focus on:
Objective The main goals of this second phase are:
Medbycatch 2 intends to contribute to the achievement of the marine conservation objectives of the Barcelona Convention, as well as the ones of the Mediterranean Fisheries Strategy of GFCM. Furthermore, it will contribute to reduce the number of species on IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species.
The role of IUCN-Med In this phase, the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation will continue to assist the implementation of activities with support on technical aspects, Communications and policy-making. Events with experts will be organised to bring forward knowledge and enable the exchange of experiences across the regional seas and the Mediterranean with other initiatives working on the same topic. In addition, Mediterranean and IUCN Commission experts will support the implementation of specific needs in the project and the scientific committee. IUCN-Med will enhance coordination and networking with other existing initiatives and partners in the Mediterranean on bycatch monitoring and mitigation on different taxa. A network for shark and ray conservation will continue to be developed, aiming to facilitate the exchange and scaling-up with Mediterranean sharks experts. The development of strategies and policies for bycatch mitigation will be also an important component where we will continue our work:
Partnership Medbycatch 2 is funded by the MAVA Foundation as a part of Action Plans M4 and M5: Reducing fishing impacts and pressures on marine habitats and species. Project Partners BirdLife Europe & Central Asia General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean ( GFCM) Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles ( MEDASSET) Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas of the UNEP-MAP (SPA/RAC) IUCN (IUCN-Med) WWF Mediterranean Marine Initiative ( WWF Med ) A sister project is also working in Cyprus.
For further enquiries, please contact MariadelMar.OTERO@iucn.org |
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