Dr. Chems Eddine Boukhedimi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Commercial Sciences at the University of Oran 2 Mohamed Ben Ahmed, Algeria. He holds a PhD in Marketing Management from the University of Tizi Ouzou and has teaching experience in commercial sciences, marketing, and business management. He is also an SPSS Statistical Software Trainer and serves as a language editor and peer reviewer for international scientific journals. Dr. Boukhedimi has delivered 255 international conference presentations, chaired numerous scientific sessions, and served on several international scientific committees. He has authored or co-authored approximately 50 scientific articles in academic journals, with research interests spanning marketing, management, economics, and related commercial sciences.

The Mediterranean Sea: Fisheries, Biodiversity and Sustainable Marine Resource Management :                                                                                                                                                                          The Mediterranean Sea is a major ecological, economic and social asset for the countries surrounding it, supporting fisheries, aquaculture, food systems and coastal livelihoods. At the same time, marine ecosystems and fisheries resources face continuing pressures associated with overfishing, climate change, pollution, habitat degradation and increasing human activities. Sustainable management therefore requires an integrated approach that combines ecological conservation, economic development and the interests of coastal communities.

This presentation examines the importance of Mediterranean fisheries within the broader context of sustainable marine-resource management, drawing on recent evidence from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM). According to The State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries 2025, annual capture-fisheries landings in the Mediterranean and Black Sea reached 1.1177 million tonnes in 2023, while the operating fishing fleet consisted of 83,075 vessels. Small-scale vessels represented approximately 81 percent of the regional fleet, highlighting the importance of small-scale fisheries to coastal economies and communities. Marine capture fisheries generated approximately USD 3.1 billion in first-sale revenue and supported around 750,000 jobs along the fisheries value chain.

Aquaculture has also become an increasingly important component of regional aquatic-food systems. In Mediterranean and Black Sea countries, total aquaculture production reached 2.97 million tonnes in 2023, generating approximately USD 9.3 billion. Marine and brackish-water aquaculture alone accounted for approximately 940,000 tonnes, with a value of around USD 5.2 billion.

Recent evidence also indicates measurable progress in fisheries management. Between 2013 and 2023, average overall fishing pressure declined by 50 percent, while the biomass of assessed commercial species increased by 25 percent. Nevertheless, 52 percent of assessed stocks remained overexploited in 2023, demonstrating that important sustainability challenges persist. The expansion of science-based management measures, including multiannual management plans and fisheries restricted areas, has contributed to improvements in the status of several assessed stocks.

Particular attention will be given to the Western Mediterranean, including Algeria, where fisheries and aquaculture contribute to coastal economies and regional food systems. The presentation will highlight the importance of regional cooperation, small-scale fisheries, responsible resource use and ecosystem-based management. It concludes by emphasizing the need for science-based, participatory and integrated approaches capable of reconciling marine-resource conservation with sustainable economic and social development throughout the Mediterranean region.                                                                            Keywords: Mediterranean Sea; Fisheries; Marine Biodiversity; Sustainable Marine Resource Management; Small-Scale Fisheries; Aquaculture