WWF warns Mediterranean overfishing remains critical

Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization show 58% of assessed Mediterranean fish stocks are overfished, meaning catches exceed sustainable limits, WWF Greece fisheries officer Michalis Margaritis said.

The Mediterranean is among the world’s most overexploited seas, he added.

Fish consumption has doubled over the past 50 years, while “despite local improvements, the picture remains critical” outside of the central and western basin.

WWF Greece presented an updated fish guide on Wednesday, a decade after its first edition, urging consumers, businesses and institutions to choose sustainably under the campaign “Don’t take the bait, choose correctly.”

In Greece, stocks remain under severe pressure due to overfishing, fleet size, illegal fishing, habitat degradation, warming seas and invasive species. About 65% of fish consumed is imported; the rest comes from aquaculture and domestic catches, mislabeled.

A survey found 61% had never heard of responsible consumption. WWF says it means avoiding threatened species and choosing legally caught, sustainably sourced fish.