1. Methodology Five areas within the 25 NM FMZ were selected together with the cooperative to be sampled once a month for a period of twelve months (Figure 2). Up to five transects were plotted on the study areas. Each transect represents a haul to be sampled once a month. VMS will be used for the spatial monitoring of the data being collected. The species to be studied vary from one area to another: Mullus surmuletus, Mullus barbatus, Merluccius merluccius, Parapenaeus longirostris, Octopus vulgaris, Eledone cirrhosa, Eledone moschata and Aristaeomorpha foliacea. The species to be studied were decided together with the cooperative on the basis of their economic importance for the fishers. Trip data including position, time and depth at each start and end point, will be recorded. Through fishers’ self-sampling, hundred specimens of the species under study, will be randomly measured per haul and the total weight per species will be recorded. A sample of discards per haul will also be collected by the fishers and analysed by MRRA staff in the laboratory. Data collected will be analysed through the use of GIS to produce spatio-temporal maps for the species under study in order to identify their spawning and nursery areas. The results obtained will be compared with available logbook data and MEDITS results (Fig. 3 and 4), in order to get a wider and more detailed spatio-temporal picture than that already available. A second study will be carried out simultaneously. This involves the use of the covered codend technique. The 50 mm mesh codend will be covered by a 25 mm mesh codend and the catch composition of both codends will be sampled in order to calculate the % selectivity of the 50 mm codend [2]. Trawl Industry Management - Maltese Case Study Jonathan Cassar 1, Roberta Mifsud 1, Leyla Knittweis 1 1. Fisheries Control Directorate, Barriera Wharf, Valletta, Malta. Introduction The Maltese trawling fleet is composed of 23 licensed vessels and the nets used are Sicilian (Mazzara) type otter trawls. 12 trawlers are licensed to fish within the 25 NM Fisheries Management Zone and all waters outside while 11 trawlers are licensed to fish in the waters outside the 25 NM FMZ [1]. Of the 12 trawlers fishing within the 25 NM FMZ, only 4 trawlers are authorised to operate at depths less than 200 metres (Fig. 1), since they do not exceed 185 kW. The target species of this fishery are mainly Aristaeomorpha foliacea, Parapenaeus longirostris, Merluccius merluccius, Mullus spp. and Octopus spp.. The distribution of these species have a spatio-temporal variation and not all trawlers target the same species, namely on the basis of their operational depth. Expected Results Sampling will start on September 2012 and the first results for the covered codend study are expected to be available by January 2013. Results for the spatio-temporal distribution of the species under study are expected to be available by December 2013. References [1] Malta’s Fisheries Management Plan 2011-2015. (2011). Government of Malta, Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs, Agriculture and Fisheries Regulation Department, Fisheries Control Directorate. [2] Ateş C., Deval M. C., B ӧ k T, and Tosunoğlu Z., 2010. Selectivity of diamond (PA) and square (PE) mesh codends for commercially important fish species in the Antalya Bay, eastern Mediterranean. J. Appl. Ichtyol. 26, 465-471. Figure 2: Map showing the five areas to be sampled. Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs Left: trawling net being hauled Right: measuring TL for Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis Figure 1: Bathymetric map for the Maltese Islands showing the boundary of the 25 NM Fisheries Management Zone Figure 3: Map showing MEDITS stations for the period 2003 - 2010 Figure 4: Denisty map for immature Giant Red Shrimp, A. foliacea