The project successfully reinforced the basis for the cooperative management of shared multispecies fisheries in the four MedSudMed participating countries: Italy, Libya, Malta and Tunisia. This was achieved through the implementation of subregional research programmes, the establishment of scientific networks, and improved national capacity building. Fisheries scientists and staff in fisheries research institutions/administration acquired new technical skills in data collection, data processing and management, and fisheries assessment methods and management. In addition, great importance was given to the identification of nurseries and spawning grounds in the south-central Mediterranean Sea. Experts from the four participating countries contributed to this activity, resulting in enhanced scientific cooperation, data sharing and information flow; as well as the production of maps of the distribution of spawning areas and nurseries of several demersal and small pelagic species, defining potentially sensitive areas for these species.