ALBERT

Description: Commission Decision of 25 February 2016 setting up a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, C(2016) 1084, OJ C 74, 26.2.2016, p. 4–10. The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to marine and fisheries biology, fishing gear technology, fisheries economics, fisheries governance, ecosystem effects of fisheries, aquaculture or similar disciplines. This report, on methods for supporting stock assessment in the Mediterranean (STECF-21-02), addresses the data checking and preparation for stock assessment once the data has been submitted following the annual data calls. The report provides an overview of the data errors and quality control carried out on both commercial landings data and MEDITS survey data. The analyses reported also address the small fraction of commercial catch with sampling gaps, and how these are assigned appropriate length frequency distributions. The results of these check and assignments are provided by species, GSA and country. Quality checks were carried out on Medits data check consistency of the main reporting files and highlighting where data inconsistencies occurred. Additionally the total landings reported to the European Commission under the Black & Med-Sea data call, the Fisheries Independent Data call and the Annual Economic Report data call were compared at species aggregated to GSA. Some important differences were observed and these are reported. In addition the EWG reviewed a technical report on the sampling of commercial catch in the Greek Fisheries, the review and some suggested further work are included in this report.

Description: European Union, Joint Research Centre

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: Commission Decision of 25 February 2016 setting up a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, C(2016) 1084, OJ C 74, 26.2.2016, p. 4–10. The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to marine and fisheries biology, fishing gear technology, fisheries economics, fisheries governance, ecosystem effects of fisheries, aquaculture or similar disciplines This report documents the outcomes of STECF Expert Working Group 23-09: 2023 stock assessments of demersal stocks in the Western Mediterranean Sea from the meeting held in hybrid mode from 4th to 10th September 2023. A total of 20 fish stocks considered. Nine stocks were evaluated by means of a statistical catch at age (SCAA) model (a4a). Due to the lack of survey information in 2022, five stocks were evaluated through a catch weight projection and short-term forecast. The methodological approach is described in the last part of this Executive Summary, and in the Report. In 2022, index- based advice was given for three stocks (ARA8-9-10-11 and NEP11 on two years basis while for MUT 10 just for one year), and they were re-evaluated by EWG 23-09. The advice for ARA8-9-10-11 and NEP11 have been confirmed while for MUT 10 the missing index information led the group to consider downgrading the advice from an index-based one to a catch only advice approach (ICES Category 5). Two stocks for which the index-based advice provided in 2021 (2 years advice) have been evaluated again looking for a plausible fully analytical assessment. None of the model setting tried was able to provide acceptable results, therefore a biomass index-based advice is given again. The content of the report gives the STECF terms of reference; the basis of the evaluations; assessments, reference point calculations; summaries of state of stock and advised catch or F based on either the MSY approach for assessed stocks and category 3 and 5 based advice for those without assessments. The report contains the full stock assessment reports, the exploration of assessments and category 3 and 5 evaluations for the remaining stocks. The report also contains the STECF observations and conclusions on the assessment report. These conclusions come from the STECF mini plenary meeting October 2023.

Description: European Commission

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: Commission Decision of 25 February 2016 setting up a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, C(2016) 1084, OJ C 74, 26.2.2016, p. 4–10. The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to marine and fisheries biology, fishing gear technology, fisheries economics, fisheries governance, ecosystem effects of fisheries, aquaculture or similar disciplines. This report is the 11th of a suite of STECF EWG reports dedicated to the evaluation of the implementation of the Western Mediterranean Sea Multi-Annual management Plan (hereafter, MAP), following EWG reports 18-09, 18-13, 19-01, 19-14, 20-13, 21-01, 21- 13, 22-01, 22- 11 and 23-01. The group was requested to update the graphical representation of fishing effort time series evolution by MS, GSA, vessel length and gear with the latest data obtained from the FDI datacall (TOR 1). Together with the fishing effort time series the group was requested to update the F-E analysis by stock and gear using the outputs from STECF EWG 23-09 (TOR 2). The group was also requested to collect qualitative information on the fuel related situation to potentially estimate cost changes in 2022-2023 (TOR2). Finally, the group was requested to implement mixed fisheries bio-economic models to run a number of different scenarios up to 2030 to test a combination of measures taking into account all the effort reductions, closure areas and maximum catch limits (MCLs) introduced in the western Mediterranean MAP since 2020 (TOR 3-4). Within the scenarios a combination of effort reductions and MSLs were tested, together with the introduction of spatio-temporal closures and selectivity restrictions to obtain compensation mechanisms by MSs. A total number of 13 scenarios were requested, 6 of which were considered priority scenarios. For TOR 1 time series of fishing effort in fishing days, days at sea, hours at sea, GT x fishing days, and kW x fishing days by Country (Spain, France, Italy), EMU (1 and 2), GSA (1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), gear (OTB, OTT, GNS, GTR, LLS, other), and fleet segment (〈12m, 12-18m, 18-24m, 〉24m) were produced. Graphs for fishing days are reported in the report while the rest of the data are submitted in Annex I as an Excel table. The comparison of fishing days for trawlers (OTB, OTM, OTT, PTB, PTM and TBB as per EU regulation 2019/2236) declared in the FDI official datacall and reported in the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 regulations were reported this year as well. Across fleet segments, the fishing effort from the regulation is greater, for most segments, than that estimated through the FDI database. This could be due to the regulation values being calculated considering the maximum fishing days possible for the year and also difficult to estimate the possible transfer among fleet segments. An additional analysis (section 2.3) was added to provide a broad context of the state and evolution of the fishery in EMU-1 (encompassing GSAs 1,5,6,7), through the detailed examination of weights, values and prices landed by stocks and fleet segments using the FDI data submitted to the group. It was observed that during the implementation of the MAP, all fleet segments have not evolved in the same way. If all demersal trawlers seem to face a substantial contraction of their landed values, deep-water trawlers are increasing their landed value, most likely thanks to an increased ARA price. Still, for many other fleets, the transition rates before and during the plan remains similar. For TOR 2 the F-E analysis was updated and as in previous years a linear relationship consistent across GSAs and stocks was not found for any gear. Those stocks were there seem to be a linear relationship, such as HKE, ARA, DPS (except for DPS 1), it was shown that there is an effect of the GSA level which should be accounted for in future modelling exercises potentially using mixed effect models. Concerning fuel prices the group noted that marine fuel prices are significantly influenced by global oil prices which are driven by factors like international agreements, supply disruptions, or changes in demand. Geopolitical tensions and conflicts, sanctions or embargoes on certain countries can affect the availability and cost of marine fuels. Technology and efficiency improvements can impact fuel efficiency and investments in energy-efficient vessels and propulsion systems can lead to cost savings. Also, environmental concerns, such as reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable fishing practices, are affecting fuel usage and prices. It's also important to consider that marine fuel prices can vary significantly by region and port, depending on local factors, taxes, subsidies, transportation costs and regulations. In particular, governments may provide subsidies or financial incentives to the fishing industry to mitigate the impact of high fuel prices or promote environmentally friendly practices. Within the group the EUMOFA and AER data are used to parameterize the models. On these data the group highlighted two issues for a correct interpretation of the model results: 1. The financial situation which the bio-economic models present for the year 2022 and beyond depend a lot on the assumptions regarding the development of fuel prices but include no mitigation measures for the fishing companies (like de minimis payments to cover parts of the increase in fuel costs 2022). STECF plenary (22-03) agreed not to include those support payments to allow distinguishing between the impacts of the MAP from external economic shocks. 2. STECF PLEN (22-03) observed that the nowcast for 2023 (that are now used as input data for the models) should be interpreted with caution due to the fact that the development in the second half of the year (energy and fish prices, inflation, interest rates etc.) is unknown and highly uncertain. FOR TOR 3 results for EMU 1 are obtained from the IAM and the ISIS-Fish models: from the IAM model only scenarios adjusting trawler fishing effort to reach Fmsy of Hake (i.e. scenarios A and D) foresee exploitation levels in line with the objectives of the plan, i.e. all stocks at Fmsy in 2025. With the two other simulated scenarios, in which only maximum catch limit on ARA was applied, with or without selectivity measures on deep water trawls, i.e. scenarios Status Quo and L, respectively, the stocks of Hake in GSA1567, red mullet in GSA1, red mullet in GSA6, Nephrops in GSA 6, and Blue and red shrimp in GSA 5 do not reach the objective of Fmsy in 2025. Scenarios allowing to reach Fmsy for all stocks foresee some significant negative socio-economic impacts for French and Spanish trawlers in the short and medium term, with a reduction in their Gross Value Added, Gross Profit, employment in terms of Full Time Equivalent (FTE), and average wages. From the ISIS-Fish model results showed that the SQ scenario did not achieve the objective of the plan regarding HKE, as fishing mortality stays way above Fmsy and the SSB below Blim. The four other scenarios, A, B, C and E, on the contrary succeeded in reaching Fmsy at the latest in 2028 and Hake SSB was above Blim but below Bpa starting in 2029. The determinant factor was the adjustment of effort to reach Fmsy, which implied reductions in effort level of more than 60% compared to 2022 FDI values. Economic indicators for ISIS- Fish could not be reported. In EMU 2 results are obtained from models BEMTOOL and SMART: from the BEMTOOL model for ARS, MUT9 and DPS the Fmsy level is reached by 2025 for all the scenarios explored. For DPS an increase in F is expected in 2024 for scenario L, due to the reallocation of the effort induced by the catch limit, but in 2025 the value is below Fmsy. For HKE and NEP9 only scenarios A, C and D (which are forced to reach Fmsy by 2025) allow to reach Fmsy in 2025, while SQ and L have F well above the reference point. It should be noticed that the change in selectivity implemented in scenario L show a slight improvement in respect to the SQ scenario for HKE, but it does not allow to reach Fmsy in 2025. As a general consideration, the scenarios most impacting on the effort highlight the risk of underutilization of the stocks that currently already are close or in line with the reference point. Results for the stock of MUT 10 and ARA in 9-10-11 should be taken with caution as no analytical assessment was available for these two stocks in the last two years. The results of the economic indicators showed that in the short term for all the alternative scenarios is expected a decrease, which generally is followed by an increase in the medium-long term. For the SMART model for four of the five stocks (ARS, DPS, HKE, and MUT) the scenarios associated with the best effect on the stock are A, C, D, E and L. For NEP, the situation seems to be much more complex and only scenario A allows you to get close to the BPA (Precautionary Biomass Level) value. However, all the simulated scenarios show a substantial reduction in Gross profit margin. Results suggest that in EMU 1 and 2 Fmsy in 2025 is reached for all stocks only when effort is decreased as much as 60% to 85% depending on the fleet segment observed, with bigger segments suffering a higher reduction. Scenarios accounting for an MCL on ARA and ARS do not allow to reach Fmsy for all stocks including HKE. In EMU 2, the ARS, MUT and DPS stocks are already close or at Fmsy becoming underutilized due to the reductions to bring HKE and NEP at Fmsy.

Description: European Commission

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: The JRC presented a brief review of the current STECF system in place to provide advice on Mediterranean fisheries management and data collection issues. JRC highlighted some structural risks and inefficiencies that currently exist. The review explored some examples of integrated actions that could reduce or mitigate such risks. Such actions as part of a long-term strategy would lead to a proactive advisory process as opposed to the current more reactive sequence of individual steps considered by STECF. STECF notes this initiative from the JRC and aims to revisit the topic in time for development of the next management plan stage, post 2025. On 21 February 2023, the Commission adopted the Fisheries and Ocean package consisting of four documents: the Communication on the functioning of the CFP, the Action Plan “Protecting and restoring marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries”, the Energy transition initiative and the report on the functioning of the Common Market Organisation (CMO). The package brings together all different aspects of the EU’s policy on fisheries and the Ocean, looking at the future, and at how we can ensure that fisheries continue to grow in resilience and sustainability. With this package, the European Commission plans on launching a policy discussion with all institutions and stakeholders the EU’s policy on fisheries and the Ocean

Description: European Commission

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: Commission Decision of 25 February 2016 setting up a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, C(2016) 1084, OJ C 74, 26.2.2016, p. 4–10. The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to marine and fisheries biology, fishing gear technology, fisheries economics, fisheries governance, ecosystem effects of fisheries, aquaculture or similar disciplines. This report is the 10th of a suite of STECF EWG reports dedicated to the evaluation of the implementation of the Western Mediterranean Sea Multi-Annual management Plan (hereafter, MAP), following EWG reports 18-09, 18-13, 19-01, 19-14, 20-13, 21-01, 21- 13, 22-01 and 22-11. The group was requested to continue the development of socio-economic indicators to be used in the evaluation of management measures for the West Med MAP in both West Med management units (EMU1 and EMU 1) (TOR1). Two roadmaps were discussed, a short term approach and a long term approach which would consider the expansion of all the mixed-fisheries bio-economic models to both management units. As a first step, the group focused on the proposal of harmonizing the economic indicators across the models implemented (TOR2). The group was than requested to further develop the approach implemented during EWG 22-01 to identify persistence hotspots of the six target species of the West Med MAP using scientific survey data (MEDITS) in combination to commercial spatial data (VMS joined with logbooks), to test existing and additional closure areas (TOR 3). The group was also requested to revise Article 8 of the 2023 fishing opportunities for the West Med MAP (COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) 2023/195), which lists the compensation mechanisms that MSs can implement within the West Med MAP to obtain additional fishing days in 2023 (TOR 4). For TOR 1 a roadmap was discussed and proposed on how to organise the work on socio-economic assessments for the West Med MAP in 2023. The EWG suggests that here should be a three-step process: a scoping exercise (done with EWG 23- 01), a meeting with stakeholders in the middle of the year to discuss their perception of the socio-economic consequences of measures of the West Med MAP and the running of scenarios during EWG 23-11 with results from socio-economic assessments. The EWG notes that the modellers have only the five-day meeting in September to run scenarios. Therefore, it would be crucial for the success of the assessments that the 6 scenarios provided by DG Mare for the EWG 22-11 and with some adjustments for EWG 23-01 will not change for EWG 23-11. It is crucial because those scenarios are already implemented in the models and the implementation of new scenarios would take a lot of time. The EWG proposes to run a few additional scenarios with only one measures to separate impacts of certain measures from the six scenarios where a mixture of measures is included. This would hopefully allow to give an indication what additional efforts may be necessary to reach MSY (in 2025 but also beyond in case the objective is not reached by 2025) and when gains from the implementation of the West Med Plan could be expected. The EWG observes that modelers need to put in additional effort and resources to improve the models for an improved assessment of the West Med MAP. The models were not originally developed for the assessment of the West Med MAP and only cover parts of the area of the Western Mediterranean. Such an improvement of the models could also include work to provide longer-term socio-economic assessments of measures where modelers need to take additional assumptions into account. The EWG notes that it would be beneficial if modelers receive a basic list of assumptions for key economic variables before the EWG 23-11 meeting in September. In 2022, for example, the increased fuel costs were an important factor regarding the economic performance of the fleets. In 2023 fuel costs have decreased but there are other cost categories with a substantial increase. The EWG concludes that DG Mare should not change the 6 provided scenarios substantially before the EWG 23-11 meeting in September. This would allow the modelers to run the models during the meeting and provide the socio-economic results. The EWG concludes that STECF and DG Mare should further discuss how resources could be provided to modelers to improve the applied models. The EWG concludes that the chairs of EWG 23-01 and 23-11 will provide a list of assumptions for the implementation of the models regarding key variables for the socio-economic assessments (short- and long-term). For TOR 2 the EWG discussed what variables and indicators the applied models include and provide. From that discussion a list of indicators was developed for which modelers will be able to provide results in the EWG 23-11 report. The EWG concludes that a list of indicators is provided for which EWG 23-11 will present results in autumn 2023. For TOR 3 the EWG notes that new closure areas for 2023 were implemented only by Spain (EMU 1) (Orden APA/80/2023). All closures areas implemented under the West Med MAP are described to allow testing if their implementation would reduce the catches of juveniles and adults of the six target species of the MAP by 15-25%. The EWG notes that the methodology followed to prioritise, developing and updating closure areas based on their conservation value on the basis of existing closures, proposed closures from EWG 22-01 and new proposals developed by EWG 23-01 based on updated MEDISEH layers is similar to the one used during EWG 22- 01. Updated MEDISEH layers were used for priority species (ARA, MUT and HKE) in combination with old MEDISEH layers for other species and distribution maps of commercial effort from EWG 22-01. Calculation of the percentage of the trawlable GSA area closed to fishing is higher in EMU 1 than EMU 2, therefore the estimation of additional closure areas on top of the existing ones foccused on this management unit. Additional closure areas to test were based on persistence hotsposts from survey data and from areas of high effort in order to impact directly on the reduction of fishing mortality. The EWG notes that the exisiting and additional closures could be tested only in EMU 2 and GSA 7 as for GSA 1, 5 and 6 the extension of the spatially-explicit model ISIS-Fish is not complete yet and it is still limited to a single species (HKE). The EWG notes that closure areas in GSA 7 were tested with two different methods. A static method comparing effort distribution data before and after the closures implementation in 2020, and a dynamic method applying ISIS-Fish. The first method showed how the establishment of the spatio-temporal closure imposed a strong seasonal constraint to the fishing effort in the Gulf of Lions, and that the fishermen community responded quite well to the new rule, although vessels increased their fishing effort along the closure border, with a typical « fishing the line » pattern, especially in the fall. The second model showed that introducing an additional closure did not improve the rebuilding of the hake stock, while changing the closures from seasonal to permanent suggested the strongest effect. The EWG notes that in EMU 2 that temporal closures for the whole fleet reduce global effort while additional spatial closures increase effort towards coastal areas (depths 〈200m) specifically for fleet segments 〈18m. Fishing mortality instead is reduced for all species by the introducion of additional closures, specifically those targeting high effort areas, although Fmsy is reached only for ARS and DPS and for already underexploited stocks (MUT 10 and NEP). The EWG concludes that provided that the area in GSA 7 have been chosen according to juvenile hake catch, we can expect that, given the strong observed response of the fishermen community, the closure in GSA7 has the potential to positvely impact the hake recruitment in the long run. Still, two years of implementation remains a short time-scale to observe strong changes in a long- lived stock. More time, observations and analysis will be necessary in the future to further quantify the efficiency of these closures. The EWG concludes that no positive effects on the stocks biomasses are observed in EMU 2 indipendently of the scenarios applied. For TOR 4, the EWG notes that both definitions of “juveniles” and “spawners” are not clearly stated in the Regulation (95/2023) making a bit challenging the evaluation of the criterions. A similar consideration could be done for the term “catch reduction” which is never specified whether it should be considered in number or weight. The EWG could not fully understand if the compliance with the criterions in term of results achieved would be evaluated at some point in the process. The EWG reports that for point a) the literature suggests that the requested threshold of at least 25% of reduction in hake juveniles seems not achievable. For point b) only for Blue and red shrimps the introduction of a 50mm square mesh size seems to lead to the decrease of specimens below 25mm CL at least of 25%. However, for vessels targeting Blue and red shrimps in EMU2, this is a mixed fisheries targeting also Giant red shrimp and it is not applicable to have two different size thresholds for the two species. The EWG suggested that the criterion should be revised providing just one size threshold, ideally selecting the one proposed for blue and red shrimps. According to the IMPLEMED results the same conclusion of point a) can be shared with point c) when a grid of 20mm space bar is used. For point d) EWG cannot find any clear evidence or results which corroborate the fact that specific closures could lead to a reduction in juveniles and spawners at the level requested by the criterion. Point e) refers to an increase of the MCRS for hake (26cm TL) which if not linked with some additional technical measures should just lead to an increase of discards of hake and, likely, black market. For point f), the EWG agreed the temporal closures implemented by Spain and France under the West Med MAP are following the criterion. The EWG concludes that considering the available knowledge and the analysis done during the meeting only the requests based on point b) and point f) could be considered fully in compliance with what the criterion stated, for point d) there weren’t enough information to be fully evaluated if it is feasible or not while the others criterion seems to be not corroborated by the available literature.

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: Commission Decision of 25 February 2016 setting up a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, C(2016) 1084, OJ C 74, 26.2.2016, p. 4–10. The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to marine and fisheries biology, fishing gear technology, fisheries economics, fisheries governance, ecosystem effects of fisheries, aquaculture or similar disciplines This report documents the outcomes of STECF Expert Working Group 22-09: 2022 stock assessments of demersal stocks in the western Mediterranean Sea from the meeting held remotely from 5th to 11th September 2022. A total of 20 fish stocks considered and 18 were fully evaluated. Two stocks had prior advice from 2021 with catch advice for 2022 and 2023, and this is reiterated here. The EWG reports age based assessments, target Fs, with short term forecasts for 15 of the remaining 18 stocks, of these 15, 12 were also analysed for biomass reference points. Catch advice for three stocks was based on ICES category three evaluations of biomass indices. The content of the report gives the STECF terms of reference; the basis of the evaluations; assessments, reference point calculations; summaries of state of stock and advised catch or F based on either the MSY approach for assessed stocks and category 3 based advice for those without assessments. The report contains the full stock assessment reports for the 15 assessments, the exploration of assessments and category 3 evaluations for the remaining three stocks. The report also contains the STECF observations and conclusions on the assessment report. These conclusions come from the STECF Plenary meeting November 2022.

Description: European Union

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: miR-21 ablation and obeticholic acid ameliorate nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in mice Cell Death and Disease 8, e2748 (April 2017). doi:10.1038/cddis.2017.172 Authors: Pedro M Rodrigues, Marta B Afonso, André L Simão, Catarina C Carvalho, Alexandre Trindade, António Duarte, Pedro M Borralho, Mariana V Machado, Helena Cortez-Pinto, Cecília MP Rodrigues & Rui E Castro

Description: miR-21 ablation and obeticholic acid ameliorate nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in mice Cell Death and Disease 8, e2825 (May 2017). doi:10.1038/cddis.2017.246 Authors: Pedro M Rodrigues, Marta B Afonso, André L Simão, Catarina C Carvalho, Alexandre Trindade, António Duarte, Pedro M Borralho, Mariana V Machado, Helena Cortez-Pinto, Cecília MP Rodrigues & Rui E Castro