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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Working Group on Blackspot Seabream (WGSBR) met in Tangier, Morocco, on 23–24 October 2023. The meeting was attended by 36 participants from Moroccan and Spanish fisher associations, national administrations and research institutes, as well as by members of the Mediterranean Chamber of Maritime Fisheries of Tangier, non-governmental organizations and the GFCM Secretariat. In view of establishing long-term management measures under the existing multiannual management plan adopted with GFCM recommendation GFCM/45/2022/3 on a multiannual management plan for the sustainable exploitation of blackspot seabream in the Alboran Sea (geographical subareas 1 to 3), repealing Recommendations GFCM/44/2021/4, GFCM/43/2019/2 and GFCM/41/2017/2, and according to the roadmap guiding the work on blackspot seabream over the period 2023–2024 endorsed by the twenty-fourth session of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Fisheries (SAC) in 2023, the WGSBR set the following objectives: i) discuss the results of a survey carried out through questionnaires administered to fishers targeting blackspot seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo) in Morocco and Spain to gather their perceptions of the status of the fishery, the effectiveness of current transitional management measures and the way forward; ii) collect fisher views on potential alternative and/or additional management measures; and iii) involve all stakeholders (including fishers, national administrations and scientists) in a discussion on long-term management measures. After reviewing the most recent data and analyses on the status of the blackspot seabream stock in the Alboran Sea and the results of the survey on fishers’ perceptions, the group recognized the need to adopt common management measures between Spain and Morocco to ensure the sustainability of the fishery. Fishers from Morocco and Spain, in agreement, proposed the urgent adoption of common management measures, including a total fishery closure for a period of two to five years in order to allow for the recovery of the stock. In addition, the upcoming proposal by the European Union to amend GFCM Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/3 to establish a minimum landing size of 33 cm (instead of 30 cm) was discussed, as well as the opportunity of extending the current one-month yearly fishery closure to two months.