Scientific Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) – Methodologies for Mediterranean stock assessments and the estimation of reference points (STECF-24-02)

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 addresses two main issues. On the one hand, in preparation of the full implementation of the Western Mediterranean EU Multiannual Plan (Regulation (EU) 2019/1022) in January 2025, a methodology to deliver FMSY or FMSY proxy targets and their corresponding ranges for the key stocks within the West Med EU MAP is proposed. This work is built upon framework to define the conservation reference points established by STECF EWG 22-03. Overall, the EWG made proposals of FMSY proxy target and ranges for 12 stocks depending on the shape of the equilibrium production curves. The procedure shall be applied by the STECF stock assessment EWG 24-10 in September to provide final FMSY ranges for these stocks. On the other hand, the report contains an evaluation of the R tools developed in the QualiTrain project (FRAMEWORK CONTRACT - EASME/EMFF/2020/OP/021, Specific Contract No. 3), regarding their usefulness in assisting Member States to identify and eventually reduce data issues and to make suggestions for improvements.