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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The fifth meeting of the Subregional Committee for the eastern Mediterranean (SRC-EM) was held in Athens, Greece, in hybrid modality, on 10–12 May 2023. The aims of the meeting were to: i) compile relevant information on the status of eastern Mediterranean fisheries and provide advice to the Scientific Advisory Committee on Fisheries (SAC), including on urgent actions towards sustainability and following the requests made by the Commission, in particular in relation to deep-water red shrimp (Aristaeomorpha foliacea and Aristeus antennatus) fisheries in the Levant sea, round sardinella (Sardinella aurita), and non-indigenous species; ii) identify priority topics for the subregion, including in relation to data collection, provision of advice and implementation of management measures; and iii) prepare a draft workplan to address priority issues for the consideration of the SAC. The SRC-EM formulated draft advice on issues related to fisheries in the subregion, including the monitoring of eastern Mediterranean fisheries, the identification of conservation priority areas hosting essential fish habitats and/or vulnerable marine ecosystems, standardized scientific monitoring plans for fisheries restricted areas as well as a summary of the status of the stocks, the assessment and management of deep-water red shrimp in the Levant sea, small-scale fisheries and demersal fisheries, round sardinella fisheries and a pilot project on non-indigenous species. The workplan for 2023–2025 was discussed and agreed.