Management plan | Deep water red shrimp fisheries in the eastern-central Mediterranean

The deep-water red shrimp fishery in the eastern-central Mediterranean was one of the case studies selected to test the feasibility of the GFCM guidelines on management plans. The SAC endorsed a roadmap for the assessment of the two species, and recommended that management rules to ensure their sustainable exploitation should immediately be established.

As a result, in 2018 the GFCM adopted two recommendations – one for the Levant Sea (referring to GSAs 24, 25, 26 and 27) and one for the Ionian Sea (referring to GSAs 19, 20 and 21) – on multiannual management plans for sustainable trawl fisheries targeting giant red shrimp (Aristaeomorpha foliacea) and blue and red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus).

In 2019 the GFCM adopted a third recommendation establishing management measures for sustainable trawl fishing activities targeting the two species in the Strait of Sicily.

MAIN PROVISIONS

Ionian and Levant Seas:

Identify the main fishing grounds and establish the historical fishing footprint to serve as the basis for the future implementation of exploratory fishing protocols
Maintain the fishing fleet capacity or fishing effort at 2014–2017 levels
Establish a list of vessels authorized to fish for the two deep-water shrimp species with specific reporting (operating days and areas as well as catch) and landing obligations
Designate additional spatial/temporal restrictions to protect juvenile aggregations
Ensure specific measures are implemented to address IUU fishing
Establish an observation and inspection programme to ensure compliance with the conservation and management measures contained in the recommendations.
Regularly assess the status of the stocks and the biological reference points following the collection of data through scientific monitoring and in accordance with the precautionary principle
Assess the biological, economic and social implications of implementing several management scenarios

Strait of Sicily:

Implement fleet management measures (e.g. authorized vessels, catch reporting, additional spatio-temporal restrictions)
Implement measures aimed at managing fishing effort (e.g. communicating historical levels of fishing effort and maintaining fleet capacity)
Address IUU fishing

Learn more about the GFCM's management plans.

OBJECTIVES

Ensure that the stocks and fisheries are kept at biologically sustainable levels while proposing management measures
Ensure adequate scientific monitoring of the status of the two species
Assess the biological, economic and social implications of implementing alternative management scenarios

RELEVANT RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendation GFCM/43/2019/6 on management measures for sustainable trawl fisheries targeting giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp in the Strait of Sicily (geographical subareas 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16)

Recommendation GFCM/42/2018/3 on a multiannual management plan for sustainable trawl fisheries targeting giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp in the Levant Sea (geographical subareas 24, 25, 26 and 27)

Recommendation GFCM/42/2018/4 on a multiannual management plan for sustainable trawl fisheries targeting giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp in the Ionian Sea (geographical subareas 19, 20 and 21)