1. Ecological Objective 3: Harvest of commercially exploited fish and shellfish Populations of selected commercially exploited fish and shellfish are within biologically safe limits, exhibiting a population age and size distribution that is indicative of a healthy stock GENERAL FISHERIES COMMISSION FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN GFCM draft proposal for GES determination and GES targets with regard to Ecological Objective 3 Pilar Hernández and Marta Coll GFCM Secretariat

2. 3 Operational Objectives 3.1. The level of exploitation by commercial fisheries allows populations to be within biological safe limits 3.2. The reproductive capacity of stocks is maintained 3.3. The impact of fishing activities in the ecosystem is low 10 indicators (4 common and 6 candidate) -Commercial stocks and vulnerable species -Species and community levels -From catch and scientific surveys data Draft approved by SAC with some remarks regarding indicators not currently assessed in the routine work of the GFCM

3. 3.1.1. Total official landings (TOL) and total catch (TC)  Total catch/landings do not exceed the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) 3.1.2. Fishing mortality (F)  Fishing mortality in the stock does not exceed the level that allows MSY (F≤ FMSY) 3.1.3. Biomass indices (B)  Stable or increasing biomass indices, with absolute value at or above biomass that produces MSY 3.1. The level of exploitation by commercial fisheries allows populations to be within biological safe limits Common

4. 3.1.4. Ratio between catch and biomass index (C/B)  The catch/biomass ratio allows to recover the stock or to maintain it at a level where it can produce the MSY 3.1.5. Proportion of stocks sustainably fished (SS)  The proportion of sustainably fished stocks is maintained or increases. 3.1. The level of exploitation by commercial fisheries allows populations to be within biological safe limits Common

5. 3.2.1. Mean length of the population in the catch (mLc) and in the surveyed community (mLsc)  The mean size of organisms in the catch or in the surveys is larger than the mean size at first maturity (Lm) 3.2.2 Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB)  The Spawning Stock Biomass is at a level at which reproduction capacity is not impaired 3.2. The reproductive capacity of stocks is maintained Common

6. Size at first maturity www.fao.org Mustelus canis

7. Ecosystem Impacts of Fishing Graph design by Daniel Pauly; Artist Rachel Atanacio

8. 3.3.1. Mean trophic level of the catch (TLc) and of the surveyed community (TLsc)  The Mean Trophic Level of the Catch and the Community is maintained or increases with time 3.3.2. Proportion of large fish in the catch (LFc) and in the surveyed community (LFsc)  The proportion of large fish is maintained or increases with time. Two thresholds have been chosen 20 cm and 30 cm 3.3.3. Proportion of all exploited species with declining biomass in the community  The proportion of species with declining biomass is maintained or reduced with time 3.3. The impact of fishing activities in the ecosystem is low

9. Oo3IndicatorSpecies included 3.1 Level of exploitation by commercial fisheries allows populations to be within biological safe limits 3.1.1 Total catch (or landings) C-Priority species (I-II-III) 3.1.2 Fishing mortality C -Priority species (I) 3.1.3 Biomass indices-Priority species (I-II-III) 3.1.4 Ratio between catch and biomass index (catch/biomass ratio) -Priority species (I-II-III) 3.1.5 Proportion of stocks sustainable fished C -Priority species (I) 3.2. The reproduct ive capacity of stocks is maintaine d 3.2.1. Mean length of the population in the catch and in the community -Priority species (I-II-III) -Vulnerable species 3.2.2 Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB) C -Priority species (I) 3.3. The impact of fishing activities in the ecosystem is low 3.3.1. Mean Trophic Level of the catch (and community) -Priority species (I-II-III) 3.3.2. Proportion of large fish in the catch (and the community) -Priority species (I-II-III) 3.3.4. Proportion of all exploited species with declining biomass in the catch (and the community) -Priority species (I-II-III)

10. Priority species Draft GFCM NEW DATA COLLECTION REFERENCE FRAMEWORK (DCRF)

11. Definition of priority species Group 1: Species for which assessment is regularly carried out. Group 2: Species that are important in terms of landing and/or economic values at regional and sub-regional level but for which assessment is not regularly carried out. Group 3: Species under international or national management plans; species under recovery and/or action plans for conservation. This Group also contain non-indigenous species with the greatest potential impact. GFCM NEW DATA COLLECTION REFERENCE FRAMEWORK (Draft)

12. Definition of vulnerable species Seabirds, sea turtles, cetaceans, Mediterranean monk seal. In addition sharks and rays of species included in Annex II and III (List of Endangered and Threatened Species) of the Barcelona Convention. Members should report any incidental taking of these species (in numbers of individuals) together with the information of the area, gear and fleet segment. GFCM NEW DATA COLLECTION REFERENCE FRAMEWORK (Draft)

13. Vulnerable species (…) GFCM NEW DATA COLLECTION REFERENCE FRAMEWORK (Draft)

14. MedSuit First Regional Workshop on indicators and targets to ensure GES of exploited marine living populations in the GFCM area Miguel Bernal, GFCM Secretariat. GENERAL FISHERIES COMMISSION FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN GFCM - Palazzo Blumenstihl, Via Vittoria Colonna 1, 00193, Rome, Italy – www.gfcm.org – gfcm-secretariat@fao.org

15. Participants The regional workshop is open to: representatives from national or regional administrations with expertise in fisheries and environment; invited experts from research institutions in the GFCM area whose technical expertise is considered of benefit for the regional workshop; relevant stakeholders, including officers from the FAO; partner organizations that entered into a MoU with the GFCM; international organizations and projects; non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations with demonstrated expertise and interest in the field.

16. Main objectives of the regional workshop (5–7 November 2014, Rome) To propose common indicators to ensure GES at the regional level; To identify elements for joint monitoring programmes in the GFCM area, including in selected GFCM subregions; and To make recommendations that could contribute to the ongoing work of the GFCM SAC in relation to the assessment and management of exploited marine populations.

17. Methodology The regional workshop is intended to be both informative and participative. Sessions will be balanced between discussions on the ongoing developments at the international and regional level and the presentation of national experiences/lessons learnt. Participants will be invited to provide, prior to the event, information related to the topics to be discussed. This information should be sent to the GFCM Secretariat. In addition, participants will be invited to deliver presentations on the information collected.

18. www.gfcm.org