General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean - GFCM

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

Deep-water red shrimps (Aristaeomorpha foliacea and Aristeus antennatus) are among the most valuable resources in the Mediterranean Sea. In order to ensure the sustainability of their important fisheries in the central-eastern Mediterranean, the GFCM adopted three multiannual management plans in 2022 to regulate the exploitation of the deep-water red shrimp stocks in the subregion, particularly in the Strait of Sicily (GSAs 12–16), the Ionian Sea (GSAs 19–21) and the Levant Sea (GSAs 24–27).

To complement and reinforce the three management plans, three recommendations were adopted in 2023, setting a minimum conservation reference size of 25 mm carapace length for giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp in the Strait of Sicily, the Ionian Sea and the Levant Sea, respectively.

Main Provisions

  • Annual catch limits for the two species
  • Spatio-temporal measures to protect juveniles and spawners
  • Increased knowledge of the fishing footprint and its overlap with vulnerable marine ecosystems, as well as further identification of essential fish habitats towards the establishment of additional spatio-temporal measures
  • Establishment of a minimum conservation reference size (MCRS) for the two deep-water red shrimp species
  • Limitations on fishing capacity and effort
  • Establishment of a list of vessels authorized to operate in deep-water red shrimp fisheries with related reporting obligations (operating days and areas, as well as catch and discards)
  • Measures to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing
  • Regular assessment of the status of the stocks, following the collection of data through scientific monitoring

Objectives

  • Ensure sustainable long-term yields consistent with maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and guarantee a low risk of stock collapse, adopting a precautionary approach to fisheries management
  • Prevent increases in fishing capacity and effort
  • Protect nursery and spawning areas and essential fish habitats relevant for the two deep-water red shrimp species
  • Contribute to the elimination of discards

Relevant Decisions

  • Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/2 on the definition of a minimum conservation reference size for giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp in the Strait of Sicily (geographical subareas 12 to 16)
  • Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/3 on the definition of a minimum conservation reference size for giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp in the Ionian Sea (geographical subareas 19 to 21)
  • Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/4 on the definition of a minimum conservation reference size for giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp in the Levant Sea (geographical subareas 24 to 27)
  • Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/5 on a multiannual management plan for the sustainable exploitation of giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp stocks in the Strait of Sicily (geographical subareas 12 to 16), repealing Recommendations GFCM/44/2021/7 and GFCM/43/2019/6
  • Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/6 on a multiannual management plan for the sustainable exploitation of giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp stocks in the Ionian Sea (geographical subareas 19 to 21), repealing Recommendations GFCM/44/2021/8 and GFCM/42/2018/4
  • Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/7 on a multiannual management plan for sustainable demersal trawl fisheries targeting giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp in the Levant Sea (geographical subareas 24 to 27), repealing Recommendation GFCM/42/2018/3

Learn more about the GFCM management plans.