GES for the descriptor "Condition of commercial fish and shellfish stocks" is achieved "when the fishing mortality rate is not higher for all commercially exploited fish and shellfish populations in the North Sea than the corresponding FMSY target, the spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above BMSY trigger, and the populations of harvested species have an age and size structure in which all age and size classes continue to be represented and ressemble natural conditions".

The criteria for assessing GES for D3 set out in Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 are as follows: D3C1, D3C2, D3C3.

Explanation: Germany does not update the general description of good environmental status (GES) from 2012 at descriptor level in this reporting exercise. Over the reporting period, Germany has worked with the North Seas countries in the framework of the EU's MSFD process and OSPAR to develop methodological standards (indicators, evaluation procedures). Specific aspects of criteria and indicators that contribute to a quantitative assessment of good environmental status are reported in the reporting scheme Art. 8_GES. For the assessment of the criteria set out in Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848, the relevant assessments under other EU directives are taken into account under Article 8_GES. Where possible, the regional assessments that have been coordinated so far are taken into account and complemented by national assessments on a case-by-case basis.

Populations of all commercially exploited species of fish and crustaceans and shellfish remain within safe biological limits, and display an age and size structure that is characteristic of a healthy stock.

The populations of all commercially exploited fish and crustaceans are within safe biological limits, with a population distribution by age and size that reflects the good health of the stock (Directive 2008/56/EC).

It is proposed that the definition of GES what is established in the Common Fisheries Policy, i.e.: By 2020 the exploitation rate of Maximum Sustainable Yield will be reached for all stocks. This definition implies the simultaneous assessment of the two criteria D3C1 and D3C2. The status is designated as "good" when they are met while Factual>=Fmsy and SSBactual is >=SSBmsy

GES for the population reached if the annual fishing mortality rate (D3C1) is equal to or lower than the reference point (Fpa) and the spawning stock biomass (D3C2) is not lower than BMSY or Bpa.


GES is established based on the biological reference points of fishing mortality (D3C1) and spawning biomass (D3C2) corresponding to maximum sustainable yield.

The fishing mortality rate for populations of commercially exploited species is at or below levels that can produce the maximum sustainable yield (MSY).

For every commercially fished fish stock and crustacean or shellfish stock, the mortality from fishing (F) remains at the value or smaller than the value associated with a maximum sustainable yield (Maximum Sustainable Yield, MSY): F = Fmsy.

The fishing mortality of the populations of commercially exploited species shall be equal to or below a level capable of producing maximum sustainable yield.

The fishing mortality rate on populations of commercially exploited species shall be equal to or less than the level that would produce the maximum sustainable yield. Appropriate scientific bodies shall be consulted in accordance with Article 26 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 (Decision 2017/848/EU).

D3C1 ? The fishing mortality rate of populations of harvested species for commercial purposes is equal to or lower than the maximum sustainable yield levels.
Group (a): ): D3C1 measurement unit is the annual fishing mortality rate
(F). Two reference points have been considered to set the limits of the fishing mortality rate in the GES classification. The lower limit corresponds to the level of F sustainable, FMSY and the upper limit corresponds to the limit of F (Flim). In practical terms it was used as a threshold level Fpa (below Flim) which guarantees a low risk of F reaching Flim and thus to stock depletion. These reference points have been used for group (a) species in Madeira, where possible in tuna species according to the most recent information provided by ICCAT. Group (b): In this case, two reference points have been considered, obtained by means of a numerical assessment, carried out locally, each stock being considered as a unit to establish the fishing mortality rate limits in the GES classification. The lower limit corresponds to the level of F sustainable, F0,1, as proxy, proxy of FMSY and the upper limit corresponds to the F limit (Fmax.). Evaluations in this group have followed the catch per recruit model (Y/R) of Beverton

The spawning biomass for populations of species exploited by industry is above the levels that can produce the maximum sustainable yield.

Spawning stock biomass (Spawning Stock Biomass of SSB) of commercially exploited fish, crustaceans or shellfish is above the MSY Btrigger precautionary level(in line with ICES catch recommendations).

The spawning biomass of the populations of commercially exploited species is higher than a biomass level that can produce the maximum sustainable yield.

The spawning stock biomass of commercially exploited populations of species is above the level that would allow the maximum sustainable yield to be achieved. Appropriate scientific bodies shall be consulted in accordance with Article 26 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 (Decision 2017/848/EU).

Group (a): At national level, the following criteria were used: ?In the case of
Spawning biomass (SSB) the reference point used was biomass level
Breeding which produces the maximum sustainable catch (MSY) and
designated by BMSY. In cases where BMSY was not defined, Bpa was adopted as proxy to BMSY. BPA is a precautionary biomass layer that guarantees a low risk of stock being below Blim, i.e. to impair their spawning capacity. For some species the value of Bpa was adopted as proxy for MSY Btrigger (spawning spawning ?gatiho?). In 2015 the MSY Btrigger was updated to correspond to the lower limit of values dispersion around SSBMSY. Where MSY Btrigger is ?MSY Btrigger? represents ?the lower limit of the 95 % confidence interval of the estimation of SSB, assuming an exploitation pattern at the level of FMSY for a long period? (ICES, 2015). the unit of measurement of D3C2 and is biomass in tonnes, or number of individuals. "in Madeira, this criterion was used only in species of tuna of the group (a), when the reference points made available in the ICCAT evaluations enabled it.

The age and size distribution of individuals in the populations of species exploited for occupational use is indicative of a healthy population. This includes a high proportion of old / large individuals and limited negative effects on genetic diversity as a result of exploitation.

The age structure and size distribution of individual specimens in the populations of commercially exploited species indicate a healthy population. This means, among other things, a high percentage of old / large specimens and a limited negative influence of exploitation on genetic diversity. Member States shall establish through regional or sub-regional cooperation thresholds for each population of species in accordance with scientific advice obtained under Article 26 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.

Group (b): In this case, the methodology has been defined according to the distribution area of the species/stock under assessment: Subdivision of Madeira, of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Portugal. While commercial fisheries also provide information on the larger individuals, be susceptible to changes in the fishing pattern over time, in the absence of research surveys, the assessment of D3C3 was addressed in Madeira in this group on the basis of information from commercial fisheries for each species and the Percentil 95 distribution by length (L95) was determined. ?95th percentile of length distribution is an indicator of the presence of individuals of large size in the population (ICES, 2015)?.
?This indicator aims to reflect the state of a population as the increase in
fishing pressure on a species may cause a reduction in the proportion of
large individuals in the population by reducing the L95? (ICES, 2016a). For
128 determination of the L95 has been used for the length distribution frequencies for each species collected in the statistical sampling under the DCF, as part of the PNRD (National Data Collection Programme) for each year, and the following equation is applied [2]:
95

D3C3: The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), which sets targets and measures, will be the guiding principle for the management of commercial fish stocks. The objectives of MSY (CFP, D3C1 and D3C2), on the one hand, and the specific age and size distribution (D3C3), on the other hand, can be contradictory. It is also not yet sufficiently known which other factors, in addition to fishing mortality, may have an impact on fish growth. ICES has therefore concluded that this criterion still requires further elaboration. Due to these uncertainties and inconsistency between the objectives of MSY and the specific age and size distribution, the Netherlands will not implement D3C3 at this stage.

D3: Continent: All the primary criteria have been considered in the assessment of Article 8. However, the lack of information for some species (in particular with regard to D3C3) made it impossible to use them in the assessment of GES.


D3C3: Group (a): According to the national approach, we follow the ICES recommendation not to assess this criterion until biological reference points related to the characteristic ?healthy population? (ICES, 2016b) are developed for the species/stocks for which there are still no reference points defined within the framework of assessment working groups and able to assess D3C3, the ICES recommendation has been followed.

D3C1: The regulation of fisheries and the setting of maximum levels for maximum fishing pressure and minimum spawning biomass are carried out through the EU's Common Fisheries Policy on the basis of advice from ICES.


D3C2: The regulation of fisheries and the setting of maximum levels for maximum fishing pressure and minimum spawning biomass is done through the EU's Common Fisheries Policy on the basis of advice from ICES.


D3C3: There is insufficient knowledge of age and size distribution (D3C3) among the commercially exploited species, and therefore there is not a sufficient basis for assessing when good environmental status is achieved. Furthermore, the regulation of fisheries and the setting of limit values for maximum fishing pressure and minimum spawning biomass are carried out through the EU's Common Fisheries Policy on the basis of advice from ICES.

D3: Regional cooperation in the reporting period focused on the development of methodological standards for assessing the various pressure and condition aspects based on Commission Decision 2010/477/EU. In the regional or subregional cooperation, within the framework of OSPAR, it has mostly not been possible to agree threshold values for these indicators in order to make (quantitative) statements about the state of the affected loads or the ecosystem components. Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 results in an explicit obligation for the EU member states to agree assessment elements, threshold values and integration rules within the framework of the EU MSFD CIS process and through regional or subregional cooperation. Germany is actively working with the states bordering the North Sea, within the framework of the current work programmes of the EU MSFD CIS process and the OSPAR bodies, to establish them, where a coordinated definition is still missing.

D3: 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.



D3: 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 stocks of sea bass and anglerfish in the Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay, there is no reference point for the fishing mortality rate, so criterion D3C1 could not be filled in for these stocks. For the stocks of south-west Irish plaice and blue shark, there is no reference point for spawning stock biomass, so the D3C2 criterion could not be filled in for these stocks. Criterion D3C3 could not be filled for any stocks during this evaluation. 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.



D3: 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 stocks of sea bass and sandeel, there is no reference point for the fishing mortality rate, so criterion D3C1 could not be filled in for these stocks. For the blue shark stock, there is no reference point for the spawning stock biomass, so the D3C2 criterion could not be filled in for this stock. Criterion D3C3 could not be filled for any stocks during this evaluation. 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.



D3C1: 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 sea bass stock, there is no reference point for the fishing mortality rate allowing maximum sustainable yield. For the white anglerfish stock in the Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay, there are not enough data to calculate the fishing mortality rate that would allow the maximum sustainable yield. The methodological standards for the D3C1 criterion for these stocks will therefore be specified following further studies, as provided for in Ministerial Order 2019 on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters.



D3C1: 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 stocks of sea bass and sandeel, there is no reference point for the fishing mortality rate allowing the maximum sustainable yield. Therefore, criterion D3C1 could not be provided for these stocks for this assessment. The methodological standards relating to the D3C1 criterion for sea bass and sandeel stocks will therefore be specified following additional studies, as provided for in Ministerial Order 2019 on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters.


D3C1: 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.



D3C2: 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.



D3C2: 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 stock, there is no reference point for the spawning stock biomass allowing maximum sustainable yield. Therefore, criterion D3C2 could not be reported for the blue shark stock for this assessment. The methodological standards relating to criterion D3C2 for the blue shark stock will therefore be specified following further studies, as provided for in Ministerial Order 2019 on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters.


D3C2: 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 stocks of plaice in south-west Ireland and blue shark, there is no reference point for the spawning stock biomass allowing maximum sustainable yield. The methodological standards for the D3C2 criterion for the stocks of south-west Irish plaice and blue shark will therefore be further developed following further studies, as provided for in Ministerial Order 2019 on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters.



D3C3: 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.

D3: List of commercially-exploited fish and shellfish at sub-regional level, not defined: Coordination with Spain and France in progress. Thresholds for commercially-exploited species at national or sub-regional level and not subject to evaluation, not defined: Coordination with Spain and France in progress.
In the subdivision of the Azores it is difficult to define local management units because most of the commercial species exploited have a spatial distribution that goes well beyond the subdivision.