General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean - GFCM

Management plan | European hake and deep-water rose shrimp bottom trawl fisheries in the Strait of Sicily

The Subregional technical workshop on fisheries multiannual management plans for the western, central and eastern Mediterranean (Tunisia, 2013) and the Follow-up meeting on the implementation of management measures in selected case studies in the Mediterranean (Rome, 2015) drafted a detailed compendium of management measures applicable to the management of bottom trawling fisheries for European hake (Merluccius merluccius), deep-water rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris) and associated species in the Strait of Sicily (geographical subareas [GSAs] 12–16). In response to this work, the GFCM adopted recommendations for the management of demersal fisheries within these GSAs.

The multiannual management plan is based on a two-step approach consisting of: i) a transitional period over the first three years foreseeing the application of effort and catch limits and spatio-temporal measures; and ii) a long-term period (2026–2030) with long-term measures, possibly including yearly effort and catch limits by species, determined on the basis of new scientific data, harvest control rules (HCRs) and SAC advice.

Main Provisions

  • Establishment of a transitional effort regime for European hake and catch limits for deep-water rose shrimp.
  • Protection of nursery areas and essential habitats that are important for European hake and deep-water rose shrimp stocks in the Strait of Sicily through fisheries restricted areas (FRAs) and temporal closures.
  • Reduction of discards by avoiding and reducing unwanted catch and ensuring that all catches are landed.
  • Implementation of specific measures to address illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing (e.g. fishing authorizations, recording of catch, designated landing ports, prohibition of transshipment).
  • Measures to adjust the fishing capacity and catch to fishing mortality levels consistent with maximum sustainable yield (MSY), with a view to ensuring economically viable fleets without overexploiting marine living resources.
  • Establishment of an international joint inspection and surveillance scheme in waters outside national jurisdiction in the Strait of Sicily (GSAs 12–16) (adopted in 2017 and 2018).
  • Assessment of the impacts of the different management measures adopted.

Objectives

Ensure that exploitation levels of European hake and deep-water rose shrimp are at MSY (by 31 December 2030 at the latest).

Relevant Decisions

  • Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/4 on a multiannual management plan for the sustainable exploitation of demersal stocks in the Strait of Sicily (geographical subareas 12 to 16), repealing Recommendations GFCM/44/2021/12 and GFCM/42/2018/5

Learn more about the GFCM's management plans.