High Level Conference on Black Sea Fisheries and

High Level Conference on Black Sea Fisheries and aquaculture (Sofia, Bulgaria, 6 -7 June 2018) Sofia Ministerial Declaration Pinelopi Belekou Unit D 1 – Fisheries Management Mediterranean and Black Sea DG MARE, European Commission Black Sea Advisory Council – General Assembly meeting 26 th March 2018, Varna, Bulgaria

New dynamic of Black Sea fisheries governance Ø Bucharest Declaration (2016) – High Level Conference towards enhanced cooperation on Black fisheries and aquaculture Ø GFCM mid-term strategy for the sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (2016) Ø GFCM Regional Plan of Action to combat IUU (2017) Ø Upcoming Sofia Ministerial Declaration (2018)– High Level Conference on Black Sea fisheries and aquaculture

Bucharest declaration Ø Strong political engagement reached on common responsibility for sustainability of Black Sea fisheries. Need for: § Joint actions at multilateral level and cooperation § Improving data collection and scientific knowledge § Fighting against IUU fishing § GFCM - Black. Sea 4 Fish project dedicated to BS scientific needs Ø GFCM High Level Conference on Black Sea in 2018 to take stock of the implementation of the Bucharest Declaration Ø Achievements – First GFCM Multiannual Management Plan on turbot is in place and a joint control and inspection pilot project is implemented with the assistance of EFCA

Towards Sofia Ministerial Declaration Ø A common multilateral declaration on the future of Black fisheries and aquaculture Ø Acts of concerted political ownership and governance Ø Set objectives and targets and requests specific actions, in line with the international legal framework, for flag, coastal, port and market States Ø Concrete targets and timelines, measurable deliverables, fully-fledged action plan, strategy for the Black Sea over the next 10 years Ø Based on the successful example of Malta Med. Fish 4 Ever Ministerial Declaration for the Mediterranean

Core Objectives q Improve level playing field for fisheries q Improve the situation for small-scale fisheries q Fight against IUU fishing q Have better data collection, scientific advice and conservation measures, new MAPs, to reverse the decline of stocks q Sustainable development of aquaculture activities q Help improve the situation in non EU countries with targeted capacity building/technical assistance actions

Overall Objectives q Address the impact of other human activities (e. g. pollution, marine transport) on living marine resources q Support direct and indirect employment in fishing industry q Offer possibilities for diversification in other blue economy activities q Boost synergies and complementarities

Commitments Enhance data collection and scientific evaluation q cover key Black Sea stocks by 2021 q common guidelines/working rules on data/stock assessments to ensure reproducibility (GFCM recommendation by 2019) q full implementation of Black. Sea 4 Fish project, targeted activities to cover Black Sea data needs

Commitments Ecosystem-based fisheries management framework q implement by 2021 regional capacity plan q manage by 2021 key stocks with MAP, establish GFCM calendar with qualified objectives to set up MAPs q FRAs/MPAs for at least 10% of Black Sea by 2022, establish GFCM calendar in 2019, present proposals in 2020 q set by 2021 baseline rules for recreational fisheries q ensure protection of vulnerable species and sensitive habitats

Commitments Develop culture of compliance to fight IUU fishing qby 2021 have adequate legal framework and capabilities to ensure control q. GFCM to help the implementation by countries of measures of the new regional plan of action to fight IUU q. Develop pilot projects to then be permanent Joint Schemes of International Inspection qby 2019 establish at GFCM compliance indicators for IUU

Commitments Support sustainable small-scale fisheries and aquaculture q. Implement GFCM regional plan of action for SSF to set up in 2018 - key issues: fisheries co-management, law impact techniques/fishing gears, social inclusion including role of women and young people in employment, valorisation of catches, diversification, contribution to environmental protection qimplement new GFCM multi-annual strategy for aquaculture, ADCs in Black Sea

Commitments Greater solidarity and coordination qby 2019 GFCM permanent network for cooperation, technical assistance and implementation of Sofia Declaration qin 2019 GFCM work programme on spatial planning, preidentification of priority areas qcollaboration with regional organisations on environment/ /economic/social sustainability q. Implement effectively the Black. Sea 4 Fish project

EU towards sustainable BS fisheries q 2019 fishing opportunities for turbot and sprat in the Black Sea q Full implementation of the landing obligation q Full implementation of turbot MAP q Implementation of a pilot control and inspection scheme in the Black Sea for turbot fisheries q New multiannual management plans for other key stocks q 2018 commitments on turbot and piked dogfish, record all catches, market inspections and at sea, improve data collection, monitor discards of rapana whelk and piked dogfish, statistic monitoring of turbot imports/exports

Black Sea Advisory Council – Developments on fisheries governance üActive role towards regional and multilateral cooperation on conservation measures üMo. U GFCM/Bl. SAC - cooperation on conservation of marine biodiversity in the Black Sea ü Bl. SAC work programme in line with the multilateral dimension and governance üClose cooperation with COM, GFCM, EFCA, Scientific bodies, other AC (MEDAC), other riparian countries of the Black Sea

Thank you!