Paul Watson, co-founder of Greenpeace and leader of Sea Shepherd, has warned that marine species in the Mediterranean are at risk of extinction. Around 23 countries surround the
so-called ‘Mare Nostrum’, none of which has taken effective action to protect the ecosystem and the species in that ecosystem. To repopulate the Mediterranean, we would have to stop fishing for around twenty years, creating an area that is off-limits, as is the case around Tahiti.

In that country the system works because there are shamans who monitor the situation to ensure that the local population respects the ban, while in the Mediterranean, everyone appears to think only of their own economic interests. If the species are brought close to extinction, in fact, there are fewer fish and their price goes up. This is what is known as the ‘extinction economy’.

Given that governments are incapable of solving the problem alone because of a lack of political will, will the Commission take measures to enforce fishing limits in the various countries bordering the Mediterranean and to promote the action of the Sea Shepherd's ‘pirates’ — people who work hard to protect the sea?