although the value generated from the first sale of fish products from mediterranean and black sea fisheries may seem relatively small compared with other sectors representing less than percent of regional gross domestic product gdp the sector targets some of the most economically vulnerable communities in the region making it a key player for sustainable development in fact the value at first sale as a percentage of gdp is six times greater in the developing countries of the southern mediterranean than in the wealthier northern mediterranean countries furthermore around percent of employment in the region s fishing sector is found in the developing countries of the southern and eastern mediterranean indicating that most of the jobs provided by this sector are located precisely where jobs are needed this includes improving the sources of data available for stock assessment increasing the percentage of fisheries that are the object of specific management measures incorporating past and current socioeconomic characteristics of the fisheries and studying the potential socioeconomic impacts of alternative management measures