Why has overfishing damaged Mediterranean coastal fisheries?

Overfishing has severely damaged Mediterranean coastal fisheries due to a combination of high market demand and the use of unsustainable fishing practices. Because fresh fish command high prices, a large number of small-scale commercial fisheries operate throughout the region, which collectively deplete local stocks.1

The pressure on these populations is exacerbated by several specific factors:

• Inappropriate Gear: Many trawlers utilize nets with mesh sizes so small that they capture undersized fish, preventing populations from replenishing. Efforts to regulate this equipment have largely failed due to inconsistent standards across countries and difficulties in monitoring compliance.1
• Destructive Methods: The use of extremely long drift nets—sometimes reaching 15 miles in length—has caused significant harm by killing noncommercial species, including endangered animals like the monk seal, dolphins, and sea turtles.1
• Environmental Stress: In addition to overfishing, coastal fisheries have been further degraded by coastal pollution, which has contributed to the depletion of once-abundant shellfish populations.1

As a result of these combined pressures, species such as hake, sole, and red mullet have been seriously overexploited.1