The last assessment of this species in GSA 25 has been performed in 2017, during the GFCM Working Group stock of Stock Assessment on Demersal Species with a reference year of 2016 using Extended Survivor XSA on the cohorts present during 2005-2016 (GFCM, 2017). Given the results from this analysis, the stock is in Low Over-exploitation (F0.1=0.29; Fcurrent=0.36; F/FMSYproxy = 1.24) with Intermediate Spawning Biomass showing a general decreasing trend. The mean length observed in research trawl survey (MEDITS) was fluctuating without showing a clear pattern.

The last assessment of this species in GSA 25 has been performed in 2017, during the GFCM Working Group stock of Stock Assessment on Demersal Species with a reference year of 2016 using Extended Survivor XSA on the cohorts present during 2005-2016 (GFCM, 2017). Given the results from this analysis, the stock is in Low Over-exploitation (F0.1=0.29; Fcurrent=0.36; F/FMSYproxy = 1.24) with Intermediate Spawning Biomass showing a general decreasing trend. The mean length observed in research trawl survey (MEDITS) was fluctuating without showing a clear pattern.

The last assessment of this species in GSA 25 has been performed in 2017, during the GFCM Working Group stock of Stock Assessment on Demersal Species with a reference year of 2016 using Extended Survivor XSA on the cohorts present during 2005-2016 (GFCM, 2017). Given the results from this analysis, the stock is in Low Over-exploitation (F0.1=0.29; Fcurrent=0.36; F/FMSYproxy = 1.24) with Intermediate Spawning Biomass showing a general decreasing trend. The mean length observed in research trawl survey (MEDITS) was fluctuating without showing a clear pattern.

Common dentex was not object of a stock assessment in the framework of the relevant RFMO. Therefore, an independent assessement using CMSY (Froese et al., 2016a; 2016b) has been carried out in the framework of the present study.

Common dentex was not object of a stock assessment in the framework of the relevant RFMO. Therefore, an independent assessement using CMSY (Froese et al., 2016a; 2016b) has been carried out in the framework of the present study.

The last assessment of this species in GSA 25 has been performed in 2016, during the GFCM Working Group stock of Stock Assessment on Demersal Species with a reference year of 2015 using Extended Survivor XSA on the cohorts present during 2005-2015 (GFCM, 2016). The assessment was carried out using as input data official landings and biological data collected under the Cyprus National Data Collection Programme, covering the period 2005-2015. Medits survey data for the years 2006-2015 were used for the tuning file. Yield per recruit analysis was performed for the estimation of the reference point F0.1 as proxy of FMSY. The results of the assessment suggest that the stock is in sustainable exploitation, with a current Fbar1-2 (0.26) lower than F0.1 (0.32; F/FMSY = 0.81). The SSB show also a positive trend. Morever, the mean length trend observed during the Medits survey fluctuates without a showing a particular pattern.

The last assessment of this species in GSA 25 has been performed in 2016, during the GFCM Working Group stock of Stock Assessment on Demersal Species with a reference year of 2015 using Extended Survivor XSA on the cohorts present during 2005-2015 (GFCM, 2016). The assessment was carried out using as input data official landings and biological data collected under the Cyprus National Data Collection Programme, covering the period 2005-2015. Medits survey data for the years 2006-2015 were used for the tuning file. Yield per recruit analysis was performed for the estimation of the reference point F0.1 as proxy of FMSY. The results of the assessment suggest that the stock is in sustainable exploitation, with a current Fbar1-2 (0.26) lower than F0.1 (0.32; F/FMSY = 0.81). The SSB show also a positive trend. Morever, the mean length trend observed during the Medits survey fluctuates without a showing a particular pattern.

The last assessment of this species in GSA 25 has been performed in 2017, during the GFCM Working Group stock of Stock Assessment on Demersal Species with a reference year of 2016 using Extended Survivor XSA on the cohorts present during 2005-2016 (GFCM, 2017). The assessment was carried out using as input data, official landings and biological data collected under the Cyprus National Data Programme, covering the period 2006-2016. Commercial CPUE from nets for the period 2009-2016 were used for the tuning file. Yield per recruit analysis was performed for the estimation of the reference point F0.1 as proxy of FMSY. The results of the assessment suggest that the stock is in overfishing status (F>FMSY). The assessment has been endorsed as “Accepted with qualitative advice”. The SSB show a stable trend. Moreover, the mean length trend observed during the Medits survey fluctuates without a showing a particular pattern .

The last assessment of this species in GSA 25 has been performed in 2017, during the GFCM Working Group stock of Stock Assessment on Demersal Species with a reference year of 2016 using Extended Survivor XSA on the cohorts present during 2005-2016 (GFCM, 2017). The assessment was carried out using as input data, official landings and biological data collected under the Cyprus National Data Programme, covering the period 2006-2016. Commercial CPUE from nets for the period 2009-2016 were used for the tuning file. Yield per recruit analysis was performed for the estimation of the reference point F0.1 as proxy of FMSY. The results of the assessment suggest that the stock is in overfishing status (F>FMSY). The assessment has been endorsed as “Accepted with qualitative advice”. The SSB show a stable trend. Moreover, the mean length trend observed during the Medits survey fluctuates without a showing a particular pattern .

Common octopus was not object of a stock assessment in the framework of the relevant RFMO. Due to the short time series of landing data was not possible to carry out a CMSY model, therefore a harvest rate and a trend of biomass index are presented for the period 2005-2016. According to the biomass index from trawl survey medits a decresing patter in observed while the harvest rate shows an increasing pattern. The mean length observed in research trawl survey (MEDITS) was fluctuating showing a positive patter.

Common octopus was not object of a stock assessment in the framework of the relevant RFMO. Due to the short time series of landing data was not possible to carry out a CMSY model, therefore a harvest rate and a trend of biomass index are presented for the period 2005-2016. According to the biomass index from trawl survey medits a decresing patter in observed while the harvest rate shows an increasing pattern. The mean length observed in research trawl survey (MEDITS) was fluctuating showing a positive patter.

Axillary seabream was not object of a stock assessment in the framework of the relevant RFMO. Therefore, an independent assessment using CMSY (Froese et al., 2016a; 2016b) has been carried out in the framework of the present study. According to CMSY outputs the stock shows a ratio of F/FMSY higher than 1 and a ration B/BMSY below 1. The mean length observed in research trawl survey (MEDITS) was fluctuating showing a decreasing pattern

Axillary seabream was not object of a stock assessment in the framework of the relevant RFMO. Therefore, an independent assessment using CMSY (Froese et al., 2016a; 2016b) has been carried out in the framework of the present study. According to CMSY outputs the stock shows a ratio of F/FMSY higher than 1 and a ration B/BMSY below 1. The mean length observed in research trawl survey (MEDITS) was fluctuating showing a decreasing pattern

The last assessment of this species in GSA 25 has been performed in 2018, during the GFCM Working Group stock of Stock Assessment on Demersal Species with a reference year of 2017 (GFCM, 2018). The stock is exploited from all fleet segments and by recreational fishery too. The lack of data from the last segment is one of the major reasons of postponing the assessment of this species. In 2017 a pilot study on recreational fishery (RF) provided the first preliminary quantities of catches derived from this activity. Data from Cyprus official statistics were compiled into a surplus production model in continuous time (SPiCT) under the R language environment. Abundance index derived from effort of Trawl fleet which is believed to be more consistent and reliable than other fishery dependent information. Results show that the stock is in sustainable exploitation with biomass above optimum levels. The mean length observed in research trawl survey (MEDITS) was fluctuating showing a decreasing pattern

The last assessment of this species in GSA 25 has been performed in 2018, during the GFCM Working Group stock of Stock Assessment on Demersal Species with a reference year of 2017 (GFCM, 2018). The stock is exploited from all fleet segments and by recreational fishery too. The lack of data from the last segment is one of the major reasons of postponing the assessment of this species. In 2017 a pilot study on recreational fishery (RF) provided the first preliminary quantities of catches derived from this activity. Data from Cyprus official statistics were compiled into a surplus production model in continuous time (SPiCT) under the R language environment. Abundance index derived from effort of Trawl fleet which is believed to be more consistent and reliable than other fishery dependent information. Results show that the stock is in sustainable exploitation with biomass above optimum levels. The mean length observed in research trawl survey (MEDITS) was fluctuating showing a decreasing pattern

Red porgy was not object of a stock assessment in the framework of the relevant RFMO. Therefore, an independent assessment using CMSY (Froese et al., 2016a; 2016b) has been carried out in the framework of the present study. According to CMSY outputs the stock shows a ratio of F/FMSY higher than 1 and a ration B/BMSY below 1. The mean length observed in research trawl survey (MEDITS) was fluctuating without showing a clear pattern.

Red porgy was not object of a stock assessment in the framework of the relevant RFMO. Therefore, an independent assessment using CMSY (Froese et al., 2016a; 2016b) has been carried out in the framework of the present study. According to CMSY outputs the stock shows a ratio of F/FMSY higher than 1 and a ration B/BMSY below 1. The mean length observed in research trawl survey (MEDITS) was fluctuating without showing a clear pattern.

Comber was not object of a stock assessment in the framework of the relevant RFMO. Therefore, an independent assessment using CMSY (Froese et al., 2016a; 2016b) has been carried out in the framework of the present study. According to CMSY outputs the stock shows a ratio of F/FMSY higher than 1 and a ratio B/BMSY around 1. The mean length observed in research trawl survey (MEDITS) was fluctuating without showing a clear patter.

Comber was not object of a stock assessment in the framework of the relevant RFMO. Therefore, an independent assessment using CMSY (Froese et al., 2016a; 2016b) has been carried out in the framework of the present study. According to CMSY outputs the stock shows a ratio of F/FMSY higher than 1 and a ratio B/BMSY around 1. The mean length observed in research trawl survey (MEDITS) was fluctuating without showing a clear patter.

The parrotfish was not object of a stock assessment in the framework of the relevant RFMO. Therefore, an independent assessment using CMSY (Froese et al., 2016a; 2016b) has been carried out in the framework of the present study. According to CMSY outputs the stock shows a ratio of F/FMSY close to 1 as well as the ratio B/BMSY. The mean length observed in research trawl survey (MEDITS) was fluctuating without showing a clear pattern.

The parrotfish was not object of a stock assessment in the framework of the relevant RFMO. Therefore, an independent assessment using CMSY (Froese et al., 2016a; 2016b) has been carried out in the framework of the present study. According to CMSY outputs the stock shows a ratio of F/FMSY close to 1 as well as the ratio B/BMSY. The mean length observed in research trawl survey (MEDITS) was fluctuating without showing a clear pattern.

The blotched picarel was not object of a stock assessment in the framework of the relevant RFMO. Therefore, an independent assessment using CMSY (Froese et al., 2016a; 2016b) has been carried out in the framework of the present study. According to CMSY outputs the stock shows a ratio of F/FMSY below 1 and a ratio B/BMSY above 1. The mean length observed in research trawl survey (MEDITS) was fluctuating without showing a clear patter

The blotched picarel was not object of a stock assessment in the framework of the relevant RFMO. Therefore, an independent assessment using CMSY (Froese et al., 2016a; 2016b) has been carried out in the framework of the present study. According to CMSY outputs the stock shows a ratio of F/FMSY below 1 and a ratio B/BMSY above 1. The mean length observed in research trawl survey (MEDITS) was fluctuating without showing a clear patter

The last assessment of this species in GSA 25 has been performed in 2016, during the GFCM Working Group stock of Stock Assessment on Demersal Species with a reference year of 2015 (GFCM, 2016). The status of the species was assessed using an integrated approach (SS3 environment) where all available historical data since 1965 have been analyzed. Given the results from this analysis, the stock is sustainably exploited (F0.1=0.36; Fcurrent=0.05; F/FMSY = 0.14). The abundance indices are in agreement with the stock assessment results, indicating an increase both in recruitment and in SSB and the subsequent increase in recent catch. The mean length observed in research trawl survey (MEDITS) was fluctuating showing a positive pattern

The last assessment of this species in GSA 25 has been performed in 2016, during the GFCM Working Group stock of Stock Assessment on Demersal Species with a reference year of 2015 (GFCM, 2016). The status of the species was assessed using an integrated approach (SS3 environment) where all available historical data since 1965 have been analyzed. Given the results from this analysis, the stock is sustainably exploited (F0.1=0.36; Fcurrent=0.05; F/FMSY = 0.14). The abundance indices are in agreement with the stock assessment results, indicating an increase both in recruitment and in SSB and the subsequent increase in recent catch. The mean length observed in research trawl survey (MEDITS) was fluctuating showing a positive pattern

The status of the resource is assessed with a production model (CMSY model, ICCAT, 2017a) combining the fishing statistics of the entire Mediterranean basin, considering that this species is distributed throughout the area and is considered a single stock. During the last evaluation, which took place in 2017, the historical series of catches available in the ICCAT database has been revised. In 2016, the total Mediterranean landings reported were 3,519 tonnes, similar to those of the last decade. Most of the catches came from longline fishing and Italy is the main producer, with around 57% of landings in the last 10 years. In 2016 Italian capture remained similar to the average of the last five years. Otherwise, 2015 was an unusual year with landing data very different from that of previous years, probably this change is related to the anticipation of management measures related to swordfish that changed the fishing strategy in 2015. Therefore, relative abundance estimates for the 2015 CPUE indices were not used in the evaluation. Since this estimate seems highly influential and perhaps suspect, the production model took into account catch data up to 2015 and relative abundance data (CPUE) until 2014. However, it is important to consider that alternative solutions that include 2015 CPUE are not biologically plausible. The results of the 2017 evaluation, based on the limited information available, show that the state of the stock is extremely uncertain both in terms of fishing mortality and biomass. Despite the high uncertainty, the results would seem to indicate that the biomass is at a level similar to BMSY, and the fishing mortality is lower than FMSY (Figure 43). However, the ICCAT working group noted the lack of CPUE in 2015 and given the recent downward trend of the series available, reiterates that it is very important to confirm, in the coming years, whether this trend continues or not. The ICCAT also reiterates that the ability to monitor stock trends is limited and that current abundance indices (CPUE from commercial fishing) may be influenced by the management measures undertaken for the swordfish recovery plan.

The status of the resource is assessed with a production model (CMSY model, ICCAT, 2017a) combining the fishing statistics of the entire Mediterranean basin, considering that this species is distributed throughout the area and is considered a single stock. During the last evaluation, which took place in 2017, the historical series of catches available in the ICCAT database has been revised. In 2016, the total Mediterranean landings reported were 3,519 tonnes, similar to those of the last decade. Most of the catches came from longline fishing and Italy is the main producer, with around 57% of landings in the last 10 years. In 2016 Italian capture remained similar to the average of the last five years. Otherwise, 2015 was an unusual year with landing data very different from that of previous years, probably this change is related to the anticipation of management measures related to swordfish that changed the fishing strategy in 2015. Therefore, relative abundance estimates for the 2015 CPUE indices were not used in the evaluation. Since this estimate seems highly influential and perhaps suspect, the production model took into account catch data up to 2015 and relative abundance data (CPUE) until 2014. However, it is important to consider that alternative solutions that include 2015 CPUE are not biologically plausible. The results of the 2017 evaluation, based on the limited information available, show that the state of the stock is extremely uncertain both in terms of fishing mortality and biomass. Despite the high uncertainty, the results would seem to indicate that the biomass is at a level similar to BMSY, and the fishing mortality is lower than FMSY (Figure 43). However, the ICCAT working group noted the lack of CPUE in 2015 and given the recent downward trend of the series available, reiterates that it is very important to confirm, in the coming years, whether this trend continues or not. The ICCAT also reiterates that the ability to monitor stock trends is limited and that current abundance indices (CPUE from commercial fishing) may be influenced by the management measures undertaken for the swordfish recovery plan.

The status of the resource is assessed with an analytical model (VPA, ICCAT, 2017b) combining the fishing statistics of the whole Mediterranean basin and the Eastern Atlantic, considering that this species is distributed throughout the area and is considered as a single stock. The trend of fishing mortality (F) for young specimens (2-5 years) has shown a continuous increase up to the last years. Since 2008, fishing mortality of bluefin tuna 2 and 5 years has dropped dramatically to reach historically lower values. For the most adult fish (aged 10 years and over), fishing mortality showed a negative trend until 1980 and then increased in the following years until 2010. From 2010 onwards, a clear reduction in fishing mortality is observed. Spawning stock biomass has clearly increased in recent years while recruitment has shown a reverse trend. These recent trends are consistent with those obtained during the 2012 stock evaluation (ICCAT, 2017b).

The status of the resource is assessed with an analytical model (VPA, ICCAT, 2017b) combining the fishing statistics of the whole Mediterranean basin and the Eastern Atlantic, considering that this species is distributed throughout the area and is considered as a single stock. The trend of fishing mortality (F) for young specimens (2-5 years) has shown a continuous increase up to the last years. Since 2008, fishing mortality of bluefin tuna 2 and 5 years has dropped dramatically to reach historically lower values. For the most adult fish (aged 10 years and over), fishing mortality showed a negative trend until 1980 and then increased in the following years until 2010. From 2010 onwards, a clear reduction in fishing mortality is observed. Spawning stock biomass has clearly increased in recent years while recruitment has shown a reverse trend. These recent trends are consistent with those obtained during the 2012 stock evaluation (ICCAT, 2017b).

The status of the resource is assessed with an analytical model (XSA, ICCAT, 2016) combining the fishing statistics of the entire Mediterranean basin, considering that this species is distributed throughout the area as a single stock. It is important to note that the evaluation results and projections presented in the 2016 ICCAT report are based on the 2016 evaluation results, including data up to 2015 that were available at the time of the evaluation. Based on several hypotheses on natural death rates and landed levels of undersized fish, the analysis (XSA) indicated that current levels of spawning biomass (SSB) are much lower than those of the 1980s. The results also indicate that recruitment shows a negative trend in the last decade. In terms of fishing mortality, a recent decline has been observed in recent years. The current biomass is lower than BMSY, while fishing mortality F is almost double FMSY. The results therefore indicate that the stock is both overfished in an over-exploitation state.

The status of the resource is assessed with an analytical model (XSA, ICCAT, 2016) combining the fishing statistics of the entire Mediterranean basin, considering that this species is distributed throughout the area as a single stock. It is important to note that the evaluation results and projections presented in the 2016 ICCAT report are based on the 2016 evaluation results, including data up to 2015 that were available at the time of the evaluation. Based on several hypotheses on natural death rates and landed levels of undersized fish, the analysis (XSA) indicated that current levels of spawning biomass (SSB) are much lower than those of the 1980s. The results also indicate that recruitment shows a negative trend in the last decade. In terms of fishing mortality, a recent decline has been observed in recent years. The current biomass is lower than BMSY, while fishing mortality F is almost double FMSY. The results therefore indicate that the stock is both overfished in an over-exploitation state.