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

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).

The good status of the marine environment in relation to the descriptor for the quality of Populations of fish and shellfish commercially exploited (D3) is achieved when populations of these are within safe biological limits and have an age and population size distribution that is indicative of a healthy stock in a larger region of the sub-region or region.

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).

All the target species exploited by commercial fishing subject to national and international management plans, together with the main species of small pelagics (anchovies and sardines), are subject to sustainable fishing pressure and the biomass of the spawners is kept within precautionary limits. In particular: a) for all target species subject to regular analytical stock assessment assessments, the levels of indicators relating to fishing mortality and spawning biomass must be contained within biologically safe limits defined by the most suitable "reference points" depending on the available data and of the species, taking into account a "precautionary margin" that considers levels of uncertainty, measured statistically or empirically; b) for the other target species, the values ​​of the population indicators derived from scientific campaigns associated with the D3C1, D3C2, D3C3 criterion are higher than a minimum precautionary margin of the historical series in percentiles.

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).

All the target species exploited by commercial fishing subject to national and international management plans, together with the main species of small pelagics (anchovies and sardines), are subject to sustainable fishing pressure and the biomass of the spawners is kept within precautionary limits. In particular: a) for all target species subject to regular analytical stock assessment assessments, the levels of indicators relating to fishing mortality and spawning biomass must be contained within biologically safe limits defined by the most suitable "reference points" depending on the available data and of the species, taking into account a "precautionary margin" that considers levels of uncertainty, measured statistically or empirically; b) for the other target species, the values ​​of the population indicators derived from scientific campaigns associated with the D3C1, D3C2, D3C3 criterion are higher than a minimum precautionary margin of the historical series in percentiles.

All the target species exploited by commercial fishing subject to national and international management plans, together with the main species of small pelagics (anchovies and sardines), are subject to sustainable fishing pressure and the biomass of the spawners is kept within precautionary limits. In particular: a) for all target species subject to regular analytical stock assessment assessments, the levels of indicators relating to fishing mortality and spawning biomass must be contained within biologically safe limits defined by the most suitable "reference points" depending on the available data and of the species, taking into account a "precautionary margin" that considers levels of uncertainty, measured statistically or empirically; b) for the other target species, the values ​​of the population indicators derived from scientific campaigns associated with the D3C1, D3C2, D3C3 criterion are higher than a minimum precautionary margin of the historical series in percentiles.

D3: The GES definition is placed at the descriptor level according to the data currently available for the assessment of the situation.

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 Gulf of Lion anchovy stock, there is no reference point for the fishing mortality rate and therefore criterion D3C1 could not be filled in for this stock. For the stocks of hake and red mullet in the Gulf of Lion, 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.



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 anchovy stock in the Gulf of Lion, there is no reference point for the fishing mortality rate allowing the maximum sustainable yield. Therefore, criterion D3C1 could not be filled for this stock for this valuation. The methodological standards relating to criterion D3C1 for the anchovy stock in the Gulf of Lion will therefore be further developed following additional 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 hake and red mullet stocks in the Gulf of Lion, there is no reference point for the spawning stock biomass allowing maximum sustainable yield. The methodological standards for the D3C2 criterion for the hake and red mullet stocks in the Gulf of Lions will therefore be specified 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: None