D3

3.1 Level of pressure of the fishing activity

3.1.1 Fishing mortality

3.1.2 Fish catch/biomass ratio

3.2 Reproductive capacity of the stock

3.2.1 Spawning stock biomass

3.2.2 Biomass indices

3.3 Population age and size distribution

3.3.1 Proportion of larger fish

3.3.3 Fish length distribution

3.3.4 Fish size at sexual maturation

Ireland has utilised the information sharing facilitated by OSPAR on existing methodologies and future developments for determining GES and environmental targets and indicators. The non-binding OSPAR ‘Advice Documents’ use the benefit of OSPAR expertise to set out common approaches for expressing GES and potential methodologies for developing targets and indicators. The OSPAR countries implementing the MSFD have collectively analysed and shared their emerging GES determinations and associated targets and indicators through the creation of an inventory of emerging national proposals. For the biodiversity Descriptors (including 1, 2, 4 and 6) OSPAR countries are sharing expertise on common approaches. An intensive programme of work is still continuing to coordinate national approaches to biodiversity targets and indicators, including the ongoing development of a proposed set of common OSPAR biodiversity indicators for MSFD. Ireland has also participated in EU coordination through the EU CIS process.

• Irish Assesment Area

• Irish Assesment Area

• Irish Assesment Area

• Irish Assesment Area

• Irish Assesment Area

• Irish Assesment Area

• Irish Assesment Area

• Irish Assesment Area

• Irish Assesment Area

• Irish Assesment Area

• Irish Assesment Area

• Functional group - other (highly mobile/widely dispersed species groups)
• PhysDam_extraction

D3

3.1

3.1.1

3.1.2

3.2

3.2.1

3.2.2

3.3

3.3.1

3.3.3

3.3.4

Populations of commercially exploited fish and shellfish are within safe biological limits. Stocks of commercially exploited fish and shellfish species are exploited at levels which ensure long term sustainability and maintenance of sufficient reproductive capacity. Populations exhibit a healthy composition with regard to age and size distribution. Consistency to be maintained in accordance with the progressing reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy.

• Irish Assesment Area = N/A

Not relevant

No aggregation across Descriptor 3 Criteria 1 and 2. It is not yet established, how criteria 3 will be used to determine GES. For stocks with analytical assessments, assessment is against reference levels, for non assessed stocks, assessment is trends based.

Further development needed (expected to be operational by 2018 if adopted)