Multiannual management plans are essential tools for fisheries management. They guide the implementation of management measures towards the overall objectives of achieving and maintaining the sustainable exploitation of fishery resources, counteracting and preventing overfishing, and ensuring high and long-term yields (FAO, 1996; 2003). This is typically addressed through the establishment of specific objectives, indicators and reference points, such as attaining and maintaining maximum sustainable yield (MSY) as gauged against target levels (reference points) of fishing mortality and/or stock biomass. It’s important that management plans are drafted with a precautionary approach, and that they are adaptable to changing stocks, fisheries and environments.

Multiannual management plans specify the agreed objectives for the fishery, the rules and regulations to be applied and other information that may be relevant to fisheries management. They include several management measures (e.g. spatio-temporal restrictions, effort and/or catch limitations, technical measures), and specify adaptive mechanisms to be implemented in order to achieve specific objectives within desired timeframes and maintain results over time, while allowing for changing and evolving stocks, fisheries and environments.

Since the creation of the first comprehensive GFCM multiannual management plan – for small pelagic fisheries in the Adriatic Sea in 2013 – the GFCM has adopted a total of 11 adaptive multiannual management plans. Nowadays, most GFCM multiannual management plans are implemented in a stepwise manner, foreseeing an initial transitional period (usually 3 years) implementing transitional measures while advancing on scientific work whose outcomes will comprise the basis for a second phase (usually 5 years) that implements long-term adaptive measures. The GFCM has established a process to inform management plans, including a compilation of all background information and the creation of technical elements for management, that, if successful, results in the management plan being adopted as a binding recommendation at the GFCM annual session.