Fishing mortality values and spawning stock biomasses are within safe biological limits (F below or egual to reference points for fishery mortality; SSB above or equal to reference points for spawning stock biomass) or show positive of stable trends in survey abundance and negative or stable trends in survey CPUE.

Stocks that are not within safe biological limits yet should at least show trends of movement in the direction of the reference points.

All commercial fish and shellfish stocks have complete reproductive capacity.

All commercial fish and shellfish stocks are within safe biological limits, with an age (when available) or size (if ages not available) distribution indicative for a healthy stock, and the stocks should be exploited on a stable, long term, with full reproductive capacity.

All commercial fish stocks managed through the CFP are being managed in a way that minimally meets the maximum sustainable yield. This assessment should be performed on the basis of regional fish stocks, and not on a national level.

When data on a stock are even insufficient to evaluate trends in survey CPUE and abundance, these stocks will be placed in the category of Data Deficient Stocks and discussions will be initiated regarding alternative evaluation methods. This category will be revised after each 6 years.