Member State report / Art9 / 2012 / D3 / Malta / Mediterranean: Ionian Sea & Central Mediterranean Sea

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 9 Determination of GES (and Art. 17 updates)
Report due 2012-10-15
GES Descriptor D3 Commercial fish and shellfish
Member State Malta
Region/subregion Mediterranean: Ionian Sea & Central Mediterranean Sea
Reported by Malta Environment and Planning Authority
Report date -
Report access MSFD9GES_20131105_121546.xml
GES component
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
Method used
MIC-MT-MS: The Good Environmental Status identified for each descriptor constitutes a qualitative description of
the desired status. For some descriptors, more than one statement is being proposed, to reflect the MSFD criteria and indicators. Reference to existing environmental thresholds/limits was made in relation to Descriptor 8 (contaminants) and Descriptor 9 (contaminants in fish and seafood), however no quantitative GES is being put forward for the first reporting cycle.
MIC-MT-MS: The Good Environmental Status identified for each descriptor constitutes a qualitative description of
the desired status. For some descriptors, more than one statement is being proposed, to reflect the MSFD criteria and indicators. Reference to existing environmental thresholds/limits was made in relation to Descriptor 8 (contaminants) and Descriptor 9 (contaminants in fish and seafood), however no quantitative GES is being put forward for the first reporting cycle.
MIC-MT-MS: The Good Environmental Status identified for each descriptor constitutes a qualitative description of
the desired status. For some descriptors, more than one statement is being proposed, to reflect the MSFD criteria and indicators. Reference to existing environmental thresholds/limits was made in relation to Descriptor 8 (contaminants) and Descriptor 9 (contaminants in fish and seafood), however no quantitative GES is being put forward for the first reporting cycle.
MIC-MT-MS: The Good Environmental Status identified for each descriptor constitutes a qualitative description of
the desired status. For some descriptors, more than one statement is being proposed, to reflect the MSFD criteria and indicators. Reference to existing environmental thresholds/limits was made in relation to Descriptor 8 (contaminants) and Descriptor 9 (contaminants in fish and seafood), however no quantitative GES is being put forward for the first reporting cycle.
Marine reporting units
  • Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach
  • Assessment area
  • Assessment areas
  • Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas
  • Descriptor 3 Assessment area
  • Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM)
  • MIC-MT-MS
  • Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area
  • NIS Assessment area
  • West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area
  • West Malta Cliffs Assessment area
  • Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach
  • Assessment area
  • Assessment areas
  • Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas
  • Descriptor 3 Assessment area
  • Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM)
  • MIC-MT-MS
  • Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area
  • NIS Assessment area
  • West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area
  • West Malta Cliffs Assessment area
  • Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach
  • Assessment area
  • Assessment areas
  • Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas
  • Descriptor 3 Assessment area
  • Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM)
  • MIC-MT-MS
  • Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area
  • NIS Assessment area
  • West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area
  • West Malta Cliffs Assessment area
  • Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach
  • Assessment area
  • Assessment areas
  • Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas
  • Descriptor 3 Assessment area
  • Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM)
  • MIC-MT-MS
  • Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area
  • NIS Assessment area
  • West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area
  • West Malta Cliffs Assessment area
  • Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach
  • Assessment area
  • Assessment areas
  • Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas
  • Descriptor 3 Assessment area
  • Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM)
  • MIC-MT-MS
  • Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area
  • NIS Assessment area
  • West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area
  • West Malta Cliffs Assessment area
  • Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach
  • Assessment area
  • Assessment areas
  • Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas
  • Descriptor 3 Assessment area
  • Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM)
  • MIC-MT-MS
  • Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area
  • NIS Assessment area
  • West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area
  • West Malta Cliffs Assessment area
  • Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach
  • Assessment area
  • Assessment areas
  • Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas
  • Descriptor 3 Assessment area
  • Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM)
  • MIC-MT-MS
  • Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area
  • NIS Assessment area
  • West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area
  • West Malta Cliffs Assessment area
  • Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach
  • Assessment area
  • Assessment areas
  • Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas
  • Descriptor 3 Assessment area
  • Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM)
  • MIC-MT-MS
  • Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area
  • NIS Assessment area
  • West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area
  • West Malta Cliffs Assessment area
  • Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach
  • Assessment area
  • Assessment areas
  • Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas
  • Descriptor 3 Assessment area
  • Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM)
  • MIC-MT-MS
  • Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area
  • NIS Assessment area
  • West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area
  • West Malta Cliffs Assessment area
  • Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach
  • Assessment area
  • Assessment areas
  • Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas
  • Descriptor 3 Assessment area
  • Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM)
  • MIC-MT-MS
  • Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area
  • NIS Assessment area
  • West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area
  • West Malta Cliffs Assessment area
  • Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach
  • Assessment area
  • Assessment areas
  • Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas
  • Descriptor 3 Assessment area
  • Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM)
  • MIC-MT-MS
  • Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area
  • NIS Assessment area
  • West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area
  • West Malta Cliffs Assessment area
Feature
  • ExtractSpeciesFishShellfish
  • ExtractSpeciesFishShellfish
  • ExtractSpeciesFishShellfish
  • ExtractSpeciesFishShellfish
Criterion/indicator
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
GES description
Sustainable exploitation of fish stocks as indicated by the population age and size distribution of selected commercial species is achieved through effective management and monitoring of fishing effort
Sustainable exploitation of fish stocks as indicated by the population age and size distribution of selected commercial species is achieved through effective management and monitoring of fishing effo
Threshold values
Threshold value unit
Proportion of area to achieve threshold value
Descriptor 3 Assessment area
Descriptor 3 Assessment area
Descriptor 3 Assessment area
Descriptor 3 Assessment area
Reference point type
Baseline
Preliminary analysis of MEDITS data as provided in the MSFD Initial Assessment can be used as baseline to assess achievement of proposed GES
Preliminary analysis of MEDITS data as provided in the MSFD Initial Assessment can be used as baseline to assess achievement of proposed GES
Preliminary analysis of MEDITS data as provided in the MSFD Initial Assessment can be used as baseline to assess achievement of proposed GES
Preliminary analysis of MEDITS data as provided in the MSFD Initial Assessment can be used as baseline to assess achievement of proposed GES
Assessment method
To be established through the MSFD monitoring programme
To be established through the MSFD monitoring programme
Development status
The proposed GES takes into consideration Malta's Fisheries Management Plans and attainment of this GES is linked to the effective implementation of such plans. The effectiveness of the management measures in terms of sustainability would need to be verified in the longer-term, hence the proposed GES is deemed to be operational by 2018 if adopted.
The proposed GES takes into consideration Malta's Fisheries Management Plans and attainment of this GES is linked to the effective implementation of such plans. The effectiveness of the management measures in terms of sustainability would need to be verified in the longer-term, hence the proposed GES is deemed to be operational by 2018 if adopted.