According to ICES, the GES assessment of fisheries resources is based only on stocks for which maximum sustainable yield (MSY) can be calculated (ICES. 2016). In the case of the stock of white anglerfish in the Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay, there is no reference point for the fishing mortality rate, so the D3C1 criterion could not be filled in for this stock. For the blue shark and Norway lobster stocks in the Bay of Biscay, there is no reference point for the spawning stock biomass, so criterion D3C2 could not be provided for these stocks. Criterion D3C3 could not be provided for any stock during this assessment. The methodological standards for the D3C1 and D3C2 criteria for these stocks, as well as the D3C3 criterion for all stocks of commercial species, will be specified following further studies, as provided for in Ministerial Order 2019 on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters.

According to ICES recommendations, the assessment of good environmental status of fisheries resources should be based only on stocks that have primary indicators, i.e. stocks for which reference points (maximum sustainable yield) can be calculated (ICES. 2016). In the case of the white anglerfish stock in the Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay, there are not enough data to calculate the fishing mortality rate allowing maximum sustainable yield. Therefore, criterion D3C1 could not be provided for this stock for this assessment. The methodological standards relating to the D3C1 criterion for the white anglerfish stock in the Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay will therefore be specified following further studies, as provided for in Ministerial Order 2019 on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters.

According to ICES recommendations, the assessment of good environmental status of fisheries resources should be based only on stocks that have primary indicators, i.e. stocks for which reference points (maximum sustainable yield) can be calculated (ICES. 2016). In the case of the blue shark and Norway lobster stocks in the Bay of Biscay, there is no reference point for the spawning stock biomass allowing maximum sustainable yield. Therefore, criterion D3C2 could not be filled in for these stocks during this assessment. The methodological standards relating to criterion D3C2 for the blue shark and Norway lobster stocks in the Bay of Biscay will therefore be specified following further studies, as provided for in Ministerial Order 2019 on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters.

Criterion D3C3 could not be filled in for any commercial species stocks in this assessment. Indeed, ICES was mandated to evaluate the indicators proposed for criterion D3C3 and concluded that they were not operational for the GES 2018 evaluation. It advises not to use them until the reference points are developed (ICES, 2016). For example, ICES recommended that the GES assessment of commercial species be based solely on the indicators of criteria D3C1 and D3C2. However, D3C3 can be considered as a monitoring criterion in case the indicators would detect any deterioration of the status of the stock. The methodological standards for the D3C3 criterion for stocks of commercial species will be further developed following further studies, as foreseen in the Ministerial Order 2019 on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters.