THE ATLANTIC-MEDITERRANEAN REGION - NORTH-SOUTH CONVERGENCE AND FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT

The seas separating the coasts of Southern Europe and North Africa, ar e relatively rich in fishery resources. To date exploitation patterns have reflected a North-South imbalance in socio-economic conditions; c urrently a process of substitution is taking place, brought about by t he overfishing of traditional species and an increasing level of inter est on the parr of the African coastal stares in the development of th eir domestic fishing industries. Fishing communities in Andalucia are undergoing a crisis with a progressive reduction in fishing activity a nd a corresponding increase in unemployment, while development of fish ing in the Magreb opens up important new economic opportunities.