General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean - GFCM

Management plan | Blackspot seabream in the Alboran Sea

The blackspot seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo) is an emblematic species targeted by Moroccan and Spanish fishers by means of handlines and longlines in the Strait of Gibraltar. In 2023, the GFCM adopted a multiannual management plan for this fishery in the Alboran Sea towards ensuring the sustainable exploitation of this highly valued commercial species in the area. Given the depleted status of this key stock, the GFCM in 2024 adopted additional remedial measures, amending and/or adding management measures within the multiannual management plan, including revised catch limits and a longer fishery closure period.

Main Provisions

  1. Establishes a two-step approach:
    • A transitional period over the first three years (2023, 2024, 2025) with the implementation of transitional measures, including catch limits and minimum conservation reference size (MCRS) (including for recreational fisheries), limits in the number of hooks, temporal closures
    • A long-term phase (2026-2030) with the implementation of adaptive, long-term measures stemming from the evaluation of the transitional management measures, the finalization of stock assessment and management strategy evaluation as well as additional research on spawning and nursery areas to be protected
  2. Establishes yearly catch limits
  3. Limits the fishing effort (i.e. number of hooks and lines) and size of hooks
  4. Establishes MCRS of 30 cm
  5. Limits catch by recreational fisheries
  6. Establishes temporal fishery closures of no less than 60 continuous days from January to March to protect spawning period
  7. Establishes compulsory fishing authorizations

Objectives

  • Ensure that exploitation levels of blackspot seabream reach levels consistent with maximum sustainable yield (MSY)
  • Prevent increases in fishing effort and fishing capacity
  • Deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities
  • Contribute to the elimination of discards

Relevant Decisions

Recommendation GFCM/47/2024/3 on the adoption of additional remedial measures for blackspot seabream in the Alboran Sea (geographical subareas 1–3), amending Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/3

Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/15 on the revision of the minimum conservation reference size for blackspot seabream in the Alboran Sea (geographical subareas 1 to 3), amending Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/3

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

Learn more about the GFCM's management plans.