Ukraine became a full member of the General Commission for Fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, signed the Law “On Adoption by Ukraine of the Agreement on the Establishment of the General Commission for Fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea (GKRS)”. This step finally consolidates Ukraine’s membership in the organization and opens up new opportunities for development of the national fishery.
Joining the GKRS gives Ukraine the right to participate in the formation of decisions on the management of fish stocks, to implement modern standards for the preservation of marine ecosystems, to use international scientific developments in the field of fisheries. In addition, membership will contribute to strengthening Ukraine’s integration into the European fisheries area, expanding cooperation with international partners, and increasing the competitiveness of Ukrainian fish products on foreign markets.
Participation in the GKRS corresponds to Ukraine’s strategic course for European integration, increasing the state’s international authority and implementing the best global practices in the field of sustainable management of fishery resources.
The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), established in 1949 under Article XIV of the FAO Constitution, is an international regional fisheries management organization. Its tasks are to promote the development, preservation and rational use of marine living resources and ecosystems, which are their habitat. Also, GKRS supports the sustainable development of aquaculture and has jurisdiction over the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
The Commission operates through subsidiary bodies and thematic working groups that ensure policy and action coherence. It includes 23 contracting parties, including Albania, Algeria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, the European Union, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey. Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Jordan and Moldova act as cooperating parties. Ukraine obtained this status in 2015, and now its membership in the Commission is permanently fixed.
