The main objective of the "Monitoring discards in Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries" guidelines is to support the development and implementation of efficient and harmonized monitoring systems for discards in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The guidelines include:

• A minimum set of standards for the collection of discard data
• Standardized data requirements, including forms and formats to be used
• Minimum standards for the development of a national discards monitoring programme in countries where such programmes are not yet in place

In addition, a minimum set of data (e.g. presence and abundance) is recommended to be collected for the incidental catch of vulnerable species (i.e. marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles and elasmobranchs), benthic species (sponges, corals etc.) and marine litter composition.

Appendices

The appendices to the publication – related to on-board observations, questionnaires, and self-sampling operations – are available at the links below. Detailed description of the appendices, including guidance on how to complete them, are provided in the methodology.

Resources

Publications

Methodologies and guidelines