D3C1 Fishing mortality rate (F) (3.1, 3.1.1, 3.1.2)

GESOther: n/a

D3C2 Spawning stock biomass (SSB) (3.2, 3.2.1, 3.2.2)

D3C3 Population age/size distribution (3.3, 3.3.1, 3.3.3, 3.3.4)

GESOther: Margalef species richness

GESOther: n/a

LevelPressureLess12PassiveMobile

LevelPressureMore12Passive

LevelPressureMore12MobileSeabed

LevelPressureMore12MobileOther

LevelPressureFishingRecreational

LevelPressureFishingOther

LevelPressureShellfishCollection

ImpactPressureSeabedHabitats

ImpactPressureFunctionalGroup

ImpactPressureExploitedFish

ImpactPressureExploitedShellfish

Extraction3_1

ExtractionSeabedHabitats

ExtractionFunctionalGroups

ExtractionCommerciallyExpFish3_2or3_3

ExtractionCommerciallyExpShellfish3_2or3_3

HabitatsOther

FishCoastal, FishDemersal, FishPelagic

NotRelevant

All seabed

NotGood

NotAssessed

NotGood

OtherStatus

Stable

Unknown_NotAssessed

Stable

Unknown_NotAssessed

High

High

Out of the four assessed stocks, 0 % had F < Fpa, and 75 % had SBB < Bpa. Out of the seven non-assessed stocks, 50-75 % (4/7, or 57 %) are within safe biological limits. For assessed stocks, Fpa = F0.1. For non-assessed stocks, MSY was used.

The most important segment of the Cyprus fishing fleet, both in economic and social terms, are the passive-gear vessels under 12 m in length. Every year, 500 licenses are issued to vessels which operate in inshore waters (1-3 nautical miles from the shore). The main gear used by these vessels are trammel nets (GTN) and set-anchored gillnets (GNS). Moreover, 434 licenses were given to small vessels (< 12 m) operating under special restrictions, such as a 600 m maximum length of nets and maximum of 70 working days (set at pre-defined days in a calendar at the beginning of each year). The main gear used by these vessels are set-anchored gillnets (GNS) and either handlines or pole lines (LHP) In 2009, this segment of the fleet landed 1000 tons of commercially important fisheries, or 53 % of the total.

As of May 2011, there were 22 polyvalent vessels or longliners (or 2.1 % of the fleet), which, by law, are above 12 metres in length. These vessels target mainly large pelagic species such as swordfish, albacore, bluefin tuna and other tuna-like species, using drifting longlines, set longlines, trammel nets or set-anchored gillnets and pots/traps. In 2009, they accounted for 263 tons of landings or 14 % of the total Cyprus landings for the year.

As of 2011, there were eleven licensed bottom trawlers, three of which operate in Cyprus territorial waters (12 nautical miles) and eight operating in the rest of the Cyprus EEZ. In 2009, they accounted for 169 and 269 tons of landings respectively, or 23 % of the total for the year.

There are 2211 vessels operating under recreational fishing licenses. Total fishing days as well as the total catch of this segment are unknown.

Trammel nets and gillnets in inshore waters, and bottom trawling in waters deeper than 50 m constitute the pressure on seabed habitats and associated communities. The extent and intensity of the impacts is not known.

Inshore, bottom-trawling, and pelagic long-line fisheries yield catches that consist of a large number of species (80 or more). Discards, including non-commercial species represent 13 % of the total catch (bottom otter trawl fishery), while discards in the pelagic longline fishery may include the protected marine turtle Caretta caretta. While sensitive and important habitats, such as Posidonia meadows, are protected by special regulations, the impact of fisheries on water column and seabed functional groups is unknown.

There are eleven commercially exploited fish stocks. The following four have been assessed by stock assessment methods: Picarel (Spicara smaris), red mullet (Mullus barbatus), stripped red mullet (Mullus surmuletus), and bogue (Boops boops). 0 % had F < Fpa, and 75 % had SBB < Bpa. The other seven were assessed using other methods: common Pandora (Pagellus erythrinus), parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense), blotched picarel (Spicara maena), red porgy (Pagrus pagrus), axillary seabream (Pagellus acarne), comber (Serranus cabrilla), and the common dentex (Dentex dentex). 50-75 % (4/7, or 57 %) of these stocks are within safe biological limits.

High

Non related GES component

High

Non related GES component

Low

Stable

Decreasing

Unknown_NotAssessed

Be stable

Decrease

Unknown_NotAssessed

The latest assessment of commercially extracted stocks carried out in the framework of FAO-GFCM shows a situation similar to that of the other Mediterranean European countries, with the stocks of the most important target species being overfished. Moreover, artisanal, bottom-trawling, and pelagic long-line fisheries yield catches that consist of a large number of species (80 or more). Discards, including non-commercial species represent 13 % of the total catch (bottom otter trawl fishery), while discards in the pelagic longline fishery may include the protected marine turtle Caretta caretta.

• NotReported
• Wild fisheries

The main gaps in knowledge occur in the extent and intensity of recreational fisheries or commercially exploited stocks, as well as the impact of fishing pressure on other functional groups and species, and marine habitats at large.