General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean - GFCM

Management plan | Black Sea turbot fisheries

Following the adoption of recommendations establishing minimum measures for bottom-set gillnet fisheries for turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) in the Black Sea and recommendations on measures to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing of turbot, the GFCM adopted two additional recommendations regulating this fishery to reduce the risk of stock biomass dropping below biologically sustainable levels.

Main Provisions

  • Define an annual total allowable catch (TAC) at the Black Sea level and an allocation of quotas among contracting parties and cooperating non-contracting parties (CPCs)
  • Regularly assess the stock
  • Evaluate the fishing effort
  • Assess alternative management measures
  • Define adequate dimensions of bottom-set gillnets and propose minimum requirements for their marking and identification
  • Require all vessels fishing for turbot to have a special valid fishing authorization, with each riparian country needing to ensure that adequate mechanisms are in place for:
    • recording each fishing vessel in a national fleet register
    • recording catches and fishing effort through both logbooks and remote sensing, as well as through catch and effort sampling surveys
  • Implement an annual closure of at least two months during the turbot spawning season (April to June) for each riparian country
  • Advocate for the implementation of a traceability mechanism for turbot catch

Learn more about the GFCM's management plans.

Objectives

Counteract turbot overfishing and restore the size of the Black Sea turbot stock in order to provide high long-term yields consistent with maximum sustainable yield (MSY).

Relevant Decisions

Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/20 on the establishment of a catch documentation scheme for turbot in the Black Sea (geographical subarea 29)

Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/7 on the extension of the multiannual management plan for turbot fisheries in the Black Sea (geographical subarea 29), amending Recommendation GFCM/41/2017/4 and repealing Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/9 on a multiannual management plan for turbot fisheries in the Black Sea (geographical subarea 29).

Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/9 on a multiannual management plan for turbot fisheries in the Black Sea (geographical subarea 29), amending Recommendation GFCM/43/2019/3

Recommendation GFCM/44/2021/17 on a catch certificate scheme for turbot in the Black Sea (geographical subarea 29)

Recommendation GFCM/43/2019/3 amending Recommendation GFCM/41/2017/4 on a multiannual management plan for turbot fisheries in the Black Sea (geographical subarea 29), establishing TAC and quotas for each Black Sea country

Recommendation GFCM/41/2017/4 on a multiannual management plan for turbot fisheries in the Black Sea (GSA 29) repealing Recommendation 40/2016/6 on the scientific monitoring, management and control of turbot fisheries in the Black Sea (geographical subarea 29).

Recommendation GFCM/40/2016/6 on the scientific monitoring, management and control of turbot fisheries in the Black Sea (GSA 29)

Recommendation GFCM/39/2015/3 on the establishment of a set of measures to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in turbot fisheries in the Black Sea

Recommendation GFCM/37/2013/2 on the establishment of a set of minimum standards for bottom-set gillnet fisheries for turbot and conservation of cetaceans in the Black Sea