Reducing bycatch impacts and promoting sustainable fisheries, mitigating the destruction of coralligenous habitats and seagrass beds, valorizing sustainable seafood, improve the policy recommendation and legal framework and fostering financial transition are some of the objectives of the “TOGETHER FOR THE MED” partnership. A coalition of NGOs, Conventions, research centers, networks, foundations that works for the conservation of the Mediterranean Sea and its species.
All projects taking place in the framework of this partnership are funded by MAVA Foundation under the vision of “a future where biodiversity flourishes, especially in the Mediterranean, coastal West Africa and Switzerland; the global economy supports human prosperity and a healthy planet; and the conservation community is thriving”.
Recently the “TOGETHER FOR THE MED” platform was launched to highlight all projects aiming to reduce pressures on the Mediterranean Sea and vulnerable species. Raising awareness on all these initiatives across the Mediterranean is the main goal of the new platform.
The MedBycatch project, presented in the platform, aims to address the important issue of bycatch across the Mediterranean. Efforts take place in Eastern Mediterranean basin, Sicily Strait and Tunisian Plateau, the Alboran Sea and Adriatic Sea.
Among the project goals are:
- To identify and demonstrate the effectiveness and viability of technical solutions/mitigation measures that can reduce the impact of bycatch on vulnerable species.
- To promote proposals for measures to address the bycatch of vulnerable species for adoption within GFCM, including through engagement with the EU.
- To increase awareness on the problem bycatch of vulnerable species and build support for actions to address this issue.
- To promote the MedBycatch approach, deliverables and results and facilitate replication across the Mediterranean.
