Ghost Gear in the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia): An Urgent Need for a Conservation Code of Conduct

1. Ghost Gear in the Gulf of Gabès: The call for a social standard

Ghost gear (ALDFG), which refers to lost, abandoned, or discarded fishing gear, is a significant problem globally, causing harm to marine life, ecosystems, and posing challenges for fisheries management. The increasing number of fishing fleets around the world, reinforces the risk of fishing gear, which has become more and more resistant and difficult to degrade. Lost fishing gear consists primarily of nets, trawls, longlines, pots, traps, and other gears used by the commercial and recreational fishing industries [1,2,3]. A recent study has provided an up-to-date global estimate of how much fishing gear is lost each year by surveying fishermen around the world. This study confirms that almost 2% of all fishing gear, including 2,963 km2 of gillnets, 75,049 km2 of purse seines, 218 km2 of trawls, 739,583 km of longlines and more than 25 million pots and traps are lost to the ocean each year [3].

The quantity of plastic released to the world’s oceans is in the order of 5.32 to 19.3 million tons per year and will triple by 2025 [5]. Abandoned fishing gear is considered a source of plastic pollution (nylon, propylene…) which presents a major problem for marine biodiversity [6,7]. Every year, 640 tons of fishing gear are thrown away, abandoned, or lost in the seas and oceans, thus contributing to the distribution of marine and land debris [8,9,10].

Ghost gear can cause significant environmental damage by entangling marine animals, leading to injuries, suffocation, or death [10,11,12,13]. It can also damage sensitive habitats such as coral reefs and seagrass beds [14]. Additionally, ghost gear can continue to catch fish, impacting biodiversity and reducing the overall fish stocks available for sustainable harvesting. ALDFG can also result in economic losses for fisheries. Lost gear represents a financial loss for fishermen who need to replace it [5].

Thus, ghost gear presents challenges for fisheries management authorities. It can contribute to overfishing and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities [15], undermining efforts to sustainably manage fish stocks.

Fisheries management organizations and governments are increasingly recognizing the need to address ghost gear as part of broader efforts to improve fisheries sustainability [16,17,18]. Given the transboundary nature of marine ecosystems and fisheries, international cooperation is crucial in addressing the issue of ghost gear. Collaborative efforts between countries, regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and industry stakeholders are essential to develop and implement effective strategies for ghost gear prevention and removal. Various innovative solutions are being developed to tackle the problem of ghost gear, including improved gear designs to reduce entanglement risk, deployment of biodegradable gear materials, and the use of technology such as GPS tracking devices and sonar technology to monitor gear movement and location. Overall, addressing the issue of ghost gear is essential for promoting sustainable fisheries management, protecting marine biodiversity, and ensuring the health and resilience of marine ecosystems. Effective collaboration between stakeholders and the implementation of appropriate regulatory measures are key components of efforts to mitigate the impacts of ghost gear.

The Mediterranean Sea, with its high biodiversity and heavy maritime traffic, is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of ghost gear. Mitigation efforts have been conducted in this region to combat this environmental problem [19]. Various international and regional regulations aim to address ghost gear. Organizations such as the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) work on implementing measures to reduce the loss of fishing gear by developing new technologies and gear-tracking systems. Numerous cleanup projects and campaigns are organized by NGOs, governments, and community groups to remove ghost gear from the sea and beaches. MedSea Alliance which is a coalition of organizations working to protect the Mediterranean Sea biodiversity, started making efforts to address marine litter and ghost gear.

The Gulf of Gabès (GSA 14), represents the southern part of Tunisia. This region characterized by a significant tidal phenomenon and an extensive continental shelf. It is among the most important marine fishing areas in Tunisia and serves as a crucial marine biodiversity hotspot of regional significance. The Gulf of Gabès boasts massive Posidonia oceanica Seagrass meadows, which are considered the largest in the Mediterranean Sea. It is a preferred habitat for several iconic vertebrates: a wintering and foraging area for loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) [20], a nursery for several elasmobranch species [21,22], and a favorable area for several fish species [23]. In this area, cetaceans especially the common dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and the fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), are common [24]. The Gulf of Gabès is also considered the main shark-ray zone in Tunisia, with over 60% of elasmobranch landings. It is home to 35 species of sharks and 26 species of batoids [24]. However, it is also exposed to anthropogenic factors such as bycatch [25], overfishing, benthic trawling, and wastewater pollution, which are altering its natural characteristics. The number of boats is very high, ranging from traditional coastal sailing boats to the most modern tuna boats. In 2020, 6627 vessels operated in this zone, which represents about 51% of the Tunisian marine fleet, composed mainly of small-scale vessels, which represent 94 % of the fleet [26].

Although ALDFG is recognized as the most harmful form of aquatic litter [9], the extend of the issue along the Tunisian coastline remain largely unknown. The first study of the occurence of ALDFGs in the Gulf of Gabès was carried out under the framework of Life MedTurtles Project through a census of ghost gear and the main causes of its loss, as well as a mapping of its spatial distribution [3]. This study was a first step and a pioneering effort in the region concerning the understanding and management of this growing issue and highlighted an alarming environmental problem in the Gulf of Gabès (Figure A1, A2, A3, A4; Video S1). The Med Bycatch project in Tunisia, which is a collaborative approach to understand the multi-taxa bycatch of vulnerable species in Mediterranean fisheries and to test mitigation measures, has confirmed that marine litter constitutes 2.42% of total trawler catches and only 0.47% of coastal fisheries catches. This marine debris for trawlers consists mainly of fishing gear (38.81%), clothing (0.66%), glass (1.67%), metal (22.45%), plastic (17.65%), rubber (17.42) and treated wood (1.33%).

We therefore issue a call to action and propose a way forward to address ghost gear in Tunisia, mitigate its impacts on marine ecosystems, promote sustainable fisheries management, and protect the livelihoods of coastal communities dependent on healthy marine resources. Specifically, we argue that there is a recognized gap and need for a code of conduct to guide the actions of all Tunisian marine conservationists.

2. Towards a code of conduct for ghost gear management in Tunisia

Recognizing this gap and the perceived need for such a social standard, several of this paper's authors initiated a research project and collaborative process to explore and develop these ideas further. This included conducting a scoping review and convening an expert meeting. First, the authors of this paper conducted a preliminary review of the literature and prepared an initial summative list of the principles and results of two projects Life Med Turtles and MedBycatch projects. During the meeting and workshops organized by Life MedTurtles project, we clarified the rationale for a code of conduct and the parties to whom the code would apply, brainstormed other relevant codes and international policy documents, discussed the aims and principles that might be included in a code of conduct to combat ghost gear in the Gulf of Gabès, examined the potential benefits and challenges of a code of conduct, and explored next steps in the development and promotion of this code within the marine conservation community. Notes were taken during the workshops and later analyzed for key themes. To arrive at a summative list of principles, we conducted an inductive review of conservation policies and standards, foundational international policy documents from organizations such as the FAO, GGGI, United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, NOAA and UNEP, and peer-reviewed literature as identified by the authors and workshop participants. This paper presents the results from mainly the Life Med Turtles and alimented by results from Med bycatch projects and scoping review.

2.1. Key principles and objectives

In convening this paper, we recognized that a number of codes of conduct or similar documents on ghost gear already exist, arising from different international policy contexts [19,27,28,29,30,31,32,33] and covering different scales from local to global [1,4,34,35]. However, there is no widely applicable guidance document for the Tunisian coastline identifying the main responsibilities and accountabilities for ghost fishing. This document should have relevance for a wide range of marine conservation stakeholders, including scientists, governmental, non-governmental, private sector and local organizations, and for a wide range of types and scales of initiatives.

It was agreed that a primary focus of such a code of conduct to address ghost gear in the Gulf of Gabès requires a multi-faceted approach involving various stakeholders such as government bodies, fishing communities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and international organizations. Based on this review of the principles for ghost gear management proposed by GGGI, FAO, NOAA and UNEP, and on the results of the Life Med Turtles and Med Bycatch projects, we propose a draft code of conduct for ghost gear management in the Gulf of Gabès. Our draft proposal for a code of conduct involves four stakeholders: government, fishers, manufactures and users (Figure 1).

First, fishermen have a crucial role in managing ghost gear, from prevention and reporting to recovery and sustainable practices. By involving fishermen in these efforts and providing the necessary support and incentives through training programs, workshops, and seminars, Tunisia can effectively mitigate the impacts of ghost gear, leading to healthier marine ecosystems and more sustainable fishing practices. Fishermen can also adopt several techniques to prevent gear loss by utilizing gear that is less prone to being lost, marking and implementing unique identifiers for fishing gear to track ownership and ensure responsibility and performing routine checks and maintenance to reduce the risk of gear failure and loss.

Policy development is a critical aspect of addressing the issue of ghost gear in the Gulf of Gabès. It is crucial to work with government agencies to develop and enforce policies and regulations aimed at preventing ghost gear loss and improving gear retrieval and disposal practices. This may include implementing stricter gear marking and tracking requirements, establishing penalties for gear loss intentionally, and providing incentives for responsible fishing practices. Significant efforts should also be made to develop educational programs and outreach campaigns to raise awareness among fishers, manufacturers, seafood consumers, and the general public about the impacts of ghost gear and the importance of responsible fishing practices. This can include workshops, training sessions, and awareness campaigns conducted in collaboration with fishing administrations, local NGOs and community groups.

Fishing gear manufacturers, as the producers of the equipment used by fishermen, have a unique and influential role in addressing the issue of ghost gear management. Manufacturers can lead the way in creating fishing gear that minimizes the risk of becoming ghost gear by using materials that are less prone to degradation and loss, developing gear with biodegradable elements to reduce long-term environmental impacts if lost, integrating technology such as GPS tracking to localize and help in the recovery of lost gear. Manufacturers can also educate and train fishermen on the proper use and maintenance of gear to prevent loss. Working directly with fishermen to understand their needs and challenges can lead to better gear design and usage.

Finally, fishing gear users, as the primary operators of this equipment, have a direct impact on the prevalence and management of ghost gear. Users can contribute to the reduction and management of ghost gear through sustainable practices, active engagement in recovery initiatives, and collaboration with manufacturers. Users can significantly reduce the incidence of ghost gear by adopting more sustainable fishing practices by ensuring that fishing gear is used correctly and responsibly to minimize the risk of loss, performing routine checks and maintenance to ensure gear remains in good condition and less likely to be lost and steering clear of areas with high potential for gear loss, such as rocky seabeds or strong currents. Users can also contribute to effective reporting and retrieval systems essential for managing ghost gear by encouraging fishermen to report lost gear immediately using accessible systems such as mobile apps or hotlines and engaging in organized cleanup operations to recover lost gear from the marine environment. Collaboration with gear manufacturers and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can enhance also the effectiveness of ghost gear management by providing feedback on gear performance and suggesting improvements to make gear more durable and easier to recover. Users can play an active role in advocating for policies and regulations that support ghost gear management by supporting policies that promote responsible fishing practices and proper disposal of fishing gear and adhering to existing regulations and encouraging peers to do the same.

To foster collaboration and partnerships, it is essential to establish connection between government agencies, fishing communities, NGOs, academia, and international organizations engaged in marine conservation and fisheries management. Through collective efforts, stakeholders can leverage their resources and expertise to develop and implement effective solutions for tackling ghost gear in Tunisia and particularly the the Gulf of Gabès. In fact, the monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress towards reducing ghost gear pollution in the Gulf of Gabès includes regularly assessing the effectiveness of implemented strategies, collecting data on ghost gear sightings and retrievals, and adapting management approaches based on monitoring results. Finally, to address ghost gear at a broader scale, it is imperative to engage an international cooperation effort extending beyond the Tunisian coasts. This entails sharing best practices, lessons learned, and collaborating on research and conservation initiatives with other countries facing similar challenges related to ghost gear pollution.

2.2. Be aware of regulations

Regulations concerning ghost gear aim to mitigate these impacts and promote sustainable fishing practices. Understanding and adhering to these regulations and initiatives is crucial for protecting marine ecosystems and promoting sustainable fishing practices in Tunisian coasts (Table 1).

2.3. General principles of a code of conduct for the management of ghost gear in the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia)

Article 1: nature and scope of the code

 1.1.

This Code of Conduct aims to establish guidelines for responsible fishing practices, gear management, and collaborative efforts to mitigate the impact of ghost gear in Tunisia. It applies to all stakeholders, including fishermen, gear manufacturers, NGOs, and government agencies.

 1.2.

This code was developed as part of the Life MedTurtles project. The first paper on this topic in the framework of the project [3] provides essential insights into the impact of ghost gear in the Gulf of Gabès and a call for fisheries management, conservation and sustainable practices in the area. However, certain parts of it are based on relevant rules of international law, including those reflected in Towards G7 Action to Combat Ghost Fishing Gear. The Code also contains provisions that may be or have already been given binding effect by means of other obligatory legal instruments, such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Environment Directorate (ENV) and the OECD Trade and Agriculture Directorate (TAD), in consultation with the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

 1.3.

The Code is locally tailored the Gulf of Gabès area of Tunisia, aimed at conserving the marine Mediterranean biodiversity by reducing the number of incidental entanglement and death of sea turtles, cetaceans, sharks and other megafauna found in this area.

Article 2: objectives of the code

The objectives of the Code are to:

 2.1.

Establish principles, in accordance with the relevant international guidelines, to promote sustainable and environmentally-friendly fishing practices to minimize gear loss and its impact on marine species, particularly in the Gulf of Gabès, taking into account all its relevant biological, technological, economic, social, environmental and commercial aspects;

 2.2.

Serve as an instrument of reference to help national authorities to establish or to improve the legal and institutional framework required for the exercise of responsible fishing and in the formulation and implementation of appropriate measures encouraging accountability and responsible behavior among all stakeholders;

 2.3.

Foster cooperation among fishermen, manufacturers, NGOs, and regulatory bodies to address ghost gear issues;

 2.4.

Support the development and use of innovative technologies and practices for preventing and recovering lost gear.

 2.5.

Ensure open reporting and monitoring of ghost gear incidents and management activities.

Article 3: Relationship with other Ghost Gear Initiatives

 3.1.

In 2009 the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) stated in a report that, globally, waste fishing gear comprised some 640,000 tonnes per annum, or 10% of the overall marine plastics problem (FAO, 2009).

 3.2.

A separate analysis was highlighted in a report published by UNEP that 70%, by weight, of floating macro plastic debris, in the open ocean, was fishing-related (UNEP, 2015).

 3.3.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimated that 5-30% of global harvestable fish stocks are impacted by ghost gear every year, depending on the region, making ghost gear a significant threat to coastal economies and global food security.

 3.4.

Established in 2015 as program within World Animal Protection and later transitioning its affiliation to Ocean Conservancy in 2019, the GGGI is the world’s largest cross-sectoral alliance dedicated to address the global issue of ghost gear. As stated in its 2019 and 2023 Annual Report ghost gear is identified as the most harmful form of marine debris [17,38].

 3.5.

In November 2019, Greenpeace produced a report entitled “Ghost gear: the abandoned fishing nets haunting our oceans” [39]. The report stated that 12 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year, with abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear inadvertently killing a significant variety of marine wildlife.

ARTICLE 4: Involvement of fishers for the management of ghost gear in the Gulf of Gabès

 4.1.

Fishers can collaborate in testing new fishing gear designs and technologies to minimize gear loss and improve sustainability. Three particular areas for gear improvement include: marking and tracking technologies, escape cords and panels and excluder devices (mechanisms that prevent entanglement). Escape cords and panels can help to stop ghost fishing from lost traps and pots in particular. Biodegradable materials and gear modifications to facilitate animals’ self-release after entanglement may reduce the impacts of gear loosed. Fishing operators should be marking fishing gear to prevent gear loss and assists in recovery if lost. A system for the marking of fishing gear is a key good practice to prevent and retrieve ghost fishing gear. Using surface markers, such as buoys, helps to locate the position of gear thus reduce losses and prevent conflict between different types of gears. Location trackers, such as satellite buoys, assist in finding and recovering gear when it is lost. Finally, marking gear to its owner(s), including underwater marking, helps to identify recovered ghost gear [30].

 4.2.

Reporting and retrieval policies help to address unavoidable gear loss. Immediate retrieval is the best solution to prevent all types of harm but requires training and on-board equipment. When immediate retrieval is not possible, due for example to adverse weather conditions that could threaten human safety, obligations to report lost gear might help in its relocation, avoidance of other vessels’ entanglement and later recovery.

 4.3.

Campaigns raising awareness of the consequences and of the magnitude of the issue of ghost gear such as pilot removals or workshops with fishers might therefore influence fishers’ behavior and increase their compliance with voluntary measures. Awareness campaigns can be run either through reports and media articles describing the problem and impacts of ghost gear or by showing stakeholders and particularly fishermen, the magnitude of the problem, with projects involving citizens into the collection and measurement of waste from the beach or underwater. This type of citizen-science programs has many benefits: they remove litter from the beach; they help build an extensive database of the problem of marine litter, and help increase citizens’ awareness of the problem.

 4.4.

Conduct national risk assessments to identify priority areas where there may be a higher amount of ghost fishing gear due to fishing practices or weather conditions, or impacts to particularly sensitive habitats, incorporating cost-benefit analysis in order to help focus interventions and identify information gaps.

 4.5.

Ensure the physical and policy context for environmentally sound waste management of fishing gear. This includes provision of sufficient port reception facilities to ease collection and transport of end-of-life gear, and policy measures to facilitate and encourage reuse and recycling. Set requirements or incentives (including conditioning fisheries support) for vessel owners to retrieve lost gear (and net scraps) and maintain on board space for retrieved gear. Regulations that limit gear removal to the gear owner can hinder well-intentioned removal efforts.

ARTICLE 5: Involvement of the government for the management of ghost gear in the Gulf of Gabès

 5.1.

Enforcement of national regulations and compliance with international standards to prevent, reduce, and mitigate the impacts of abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) on marine ecosystems. The Tunisian government needs to implement fisheries management plans that include measures to reduce ALDFG, such as gear marking, reporting lost gear, and using more sustainable fishing practices.

 5.2.

The government, through its maritime and fisheries authorities, conducts regular surveillance and monitoring activities to ensure compliance with regulations related to fishing gear. There are legal penalties for fishers who do not comply with regulations regarding the proper use and disposal of fishing gear. The Polluter Pays Principle (PPP) is a fundamental concept in environmental policy. It ensures that those who cause pollution bear the costs associated with it, including the expenses related to prevention, control, and remediation. The PPP is essential for promoting sustainable practices and ensuring that environmental costs are borne by those responsible for pollution.

 5.3.

Government should foster partnerships with international organizations, such as the FAO, RFMOs, GGGI and UNEP, and participate in regional fisheries management organizations to align with global best practices. Tunisia participates in RFMOs, which play a significant role in the regional management of fisheries and the mitigation of ghost gear. In this context, the Tunisian State, in cooperation with the regional authorities, is invited to develop and implement training programs for personnel in techniques for reducing and mitigation fishing gear pollution, as well as training programs and simulation exercises. The Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) has set up a robust technical cooperation program to help countries build their capacity. As a first step, in 2024, the Faculty of Sciences of Sfax and the Tunisian Taxonomy Association ATUTAX have joined the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) in order to coordinate with international bodies in the fight against ghost fishing and to help implementing international legislation at national level in Tunisia.

 5.4.

Public awareness campaigns should be supported to educate fishers and communities about the importance of sustainable fishing practices and the dangers of ghost gear. Additionally, government should take various measures to encourage initiatives to preserve the cultural heritage of fishing communities include promoting traditional fishing practices such as charfia fishing in the Kerkennah Islands, drift nets (Jebbia), hand lines and long lines (Senhadja), traps and pots (gargoulettes), and beach seines (charfia nets). These programs often involve collaborations with cultural organizations and local communities. The government recognizes and sometimes provides awards or special statuses to communities and individuals who excel in using and preserving traditional fishing gear.

 5.5.

Supporting research programs that localize ghost gear and study their impacts on marine ecosystems is crucial to explore innovative solutions to mitigate these impacts. Encourage start up and industries to design special boats equipped with screen and mesh filters to collect floating wastes contaminating Tunisian coasts. Supporting interaction between industry and scientists to propose innovative waste reduction and biodegradable, recyclable, non-toxic materials. These should retain the catching effectiveness of traditional equipment and be both practical and cost effective.

ARTICLE 6: Involvement of fishing gear manufactures for the management of ghost gear in the Gulf of Gabès

 6.1.

Manufacturers can design fishing gear using durable materials that reduce the likelihood of gear loss and biodegradable materials that minimize environmental impact if lost. Developing eco-friendly and sustainable fishing gear options that align with environmental standards and regulations.

 6.2.

Invest in research and development (R&D) to explore innovative solutions for reducing the environmental impact of fishing gear and participate in pilot projects aimed at testing new materials and incorporating technologies such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification, tags that uses radio waves to communicate between a tag and a reader), GPS trackers, and other smart technologies to monitor and retrieve lost gear.

 6.3.

Engage in awareness campaigns to educate fishers about the importance of preventing gear loss, benefits of using sustainable gear and share data insights on gear loss rates and causes with relevant authorities and stakeholders to help formulate effective policies

 6.4.

Implement programs to buy back old or damaged gear from fishers, encouraging the use of new, more sustainable gear and offer discounts or subsidies on eco-friendly gear to incentivize fishers to transition to more sustainable options.

 6.5.

Adopt and promote voluntary industry standards for sustainable gear design and production to ensure that all manufactured gear complies with national and international regulations regarding environmental impact and sustainability

 6.6.

Launch CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives focused on marine conservation, such as funding clean-up operations or supporting community-based projects aimed at reducing ghost gear and seek environmental certifications for products to demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and attract environmentally.

ARTICLE 7: Involvement of users for the management of ghost gear in the Gulf of Gabès

 7.1.

Start by raising awareness among fishers and other marine users about the impact of ghost gear on marine life and ecosystems. Implement also programs that incentivize fishers to retrieve lost gear. This can include offering rewards or discounts for returning ghost gear to designated collection points or participating in clean-up activities.

 7.2.

Divers can participate in the ghost gear management strategy along Tunisia's coastline by reporting ghost gear sightings so professionals can remove the ghost gear, contributing to better waste and fisheries management. Report ghost gear sightings while enjoying recreational diving allows professionals to remove the gear and helps develop improved waste management and fisheries management programs.

 7.3.

Encourage projects involving NGOs and citizens into the collection and measurement of gear waste from the beach or underwater. Mobile app, a web portal and a public database offers tools to collect and share comparable data on marine litter on beaches which help to build a harmonized database of marine litter and it increases citizens’ awareness of the issue. Ghost Gear Reporter is an app developed in partnership with the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI), which allows citizens to report details and locations of lost gear that might come across.

 7.4.

Share information, infographics, and success stories related to ghost gear on social media platforms such as (TunSea facebook group) to reach a wider audience.

 7.5.

Consumers can also make a difference by supporting sustainable seafood choices and advocating for responsible fishing practices. By opting for seafood products with certification from organizations or government, consumers actively support sustainable fishing practices. Consumers can influence the seafood industry by patronizing restaurants that prioritize sustainable seafood.

3. Recommendations and next steps

This paper, based on the experiences and perspectives of the authors and the results of the Life MedTurtles and Med Bycatch projects, proposes a code of conduct for the management of ghost gear in the Gulf of Gabès off Tunisia. However, the principles presented in this paper are based on fundamental policy documents and lessons learned from many previous conservation initiatives. Hold meetings with key stakeholders, including fishers, community leaders, NGOs, and government officials to discuss the draft code of conduct and gather feedback is recommended. As a result, we recommend that the basic elements of this code of conduct, as presented here, be proactively considered and applied by conservation organizations and practitioners in Tunisia. We also emphasis the importance of best practice education for conservationists. To conclude, we reiterate our call for the development of a comprehensive and widely accepted code of conduct to facilitate the process of sustainable fisheries off Tunisia's coasts, and to develop processes and actions to support a truly sustainable approach to marine conservation.