APPENDIX/ANNEXE E: National Reports by countries/Rapports nationaux par pays

(in the language of submission/dans leur langue originale)

• Albania
• Algeria
• Bulgaria
• Cyprus
• France
• Greece
• Italy
• Japan
• Malta
• Romania
• Spain

ALBANIA

Fisheries Research Institute as a responsible institution on scientific researches in fisheries and aquaculture in Albania, in collaboration with Tirana University, Agriculture University, and Academy of Science has those studies in progress:

Monitoring and the ecological effects of coastal and marine aquaculture in the Saranda, Kavaja and Lushnja district.

Objective 1:

Butrinti

- Monitoring in three steps of the Butrinti and Karavasta lagoons.
- Analysis on hydro-chemical, phytoplankton aspects.
- Biological monitoring.

Karavasta

- Every three month analysis
- Hydro-chemical analysis
- Biological evaluation
- Structural evaluations

Objective 2:

Complex monitoring of intensive marine aquaculture

- Monitoring in continuity with the collaboration of Fishery Directorate on physical valuation in the aquaculture centers with the aim of building up the future strategy. This regarding the fish food, fingerlings and introduction of a new species.

- Expeditions on valuation in environment pollution impacts.

Objective 3:

Shrimp farm monitoring of Kavaja.

- On the water discharge indicators.
- On the shrimp grow-up dynamics.
- On the other fish presence in the discharge area of the farm.
- On the environmental impacts in the discharge area.

Mollusk bivalve monitoring

- Entirely phytoplankton analysis in general by the specie level determinations. High intensity analyses by in summer time.

- Particular hydro chemical analyses in Butrinti lagoon.

Study on “Mollusks Cephalopods in the Durresi Bay” by the MoAF financing:

- Cephalopod mollusks identification.

- Optimal level determinations on the stock exploitation with the aim of their conservation and responsible fishing of them.

- Compiling, elaborating of the bio-statistical information.

- Determining of catch effort in a way of determining of taxonomic groups that are important in catches, like Cephalopods (Sepia officinales, Loligo Vulgaris, Octapus Vulgaris)

- Data collecting on frequency/length.

- Calculating of the grow-up parameters.

- Valuating of the other species less important as Eledone Cirhosa, Eledone moskata, Illex coindeti etc.

- Calculating of the age structure of the catches, hour productivity, minimum catches, and minimum age and mortality coefficients.

(Note: in cephalopod length is used the length of the mantel).

Actually has finished marine expedition in the north and central part of Durresi, using data collection of the biological parameters which are systematize and elaborating in the Institute laboratory in a way of giving the necessary parameters to be ready on working out in the second phase (Specific computer programme), after a second expedition.

Collaboration

National and international collaboration of the Fishery Research Institute

FAO-AdriaMed

In the frame of FAO-AdriaMed on Adriatic Sea responsible fishery is improved the sampling methods, elaborating them in coordination with other Adriatic countries Institutes. As a result are published some common scientific studies.

With Agriculture University is achieved a sustainable collaboration, this not only in staff qualification but in their engagement in lectures preparing for the students of fishery field in Department of Animal Production.

ALGÉRIE

INTRODUCTION

En Algérie, le secteur de la pêche et des ressources halieutiques n’a pas connu une réelle prise en charge notamment sur le plan scientifique; en effet les capacités nationales en matière de recherche - développement dans le domaine de la pêche et l’aquaculture restent quasiment inexistantes et ceci du point de vue:

• Infrastructure de recherche;

• Effectifs;

• Programmes de recherche appliqué;

• Budgets;

• Implantations à travers l’ensemble du territoire national.

Pour répondre a ces lacunes, le Ministère de la Pêche et des Ressources Halieutiques (MPRH) a procédé depuis sa création, fin 1999, á l’élaboration d’un Programme Sectoriel National de recherche qui canalise la recherche scientifique selon les besoins du secteur d’où les axes suivants et á titre d’exemple ont été identifiés:

1. Gestion et aménagement des ressources halieutiques (Évaluation des ressources halieutiques, système d’information halieutique, biologie et dynamique des populations).

2. L’aspect socioéconomique des pêcheries (les indicateurs socioéconomiques des pêcheries, la commercialisation des produits de la pêche et études des marchés des produits de la pêche).

D’autre part, et afin de renforcer les capacités du Centre National d’études et Documentation en Pêche et Aquaculture (CNDPA), structure relevant du MPRH, en matières d’infrastructures de recherche -développement, six annexes ont été créées á travers le pays.

A ce titre, une unité de recherche a été créée au niveau du CNDPA, formée de huit équipes de recherche dans les différents domaines de recherche halieutique et aquacole, intégrant ainsi des chercheurs de l’Institut des Sciences de la Mer et l’Aménagement du Littoral (ISMAL) et de la faculté de biologie de l’université de Bab-Ezzouar et l’université de Blida.

LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE DANS LE SECTEUR DE LA PÊCHE

Les travaux de recherche en Algérie sont réalisés dans les institutions relevant des deux secteurs à savoir la pêche et ressources halieutiques et l’enseignement supérieur et la recherche scientifique.

Organisme relevant du secteur

Etant la seule institution relevant du secteur de la pêche, le CNDPA, procède a travers son plan d’action à la réalisation des études et recherche en pêche et aquaculture. En effet, et à travers la coopération régionale, le centre entreprend des activités de recherche qui sont initiées à l’aide de l’assistance technique du projet CopeMed.

A cet effet, et á travers le support du projet CopeMed, une base solide de recherche est en train de se développer au CNDPA pour en premier lieu prendre en charge la recherche halieutique, et en deuxième lieu, contribuer á la formation d’une équipe de recherche assistée par des experts et qui assurera dans le futur le montage et l’exécution des projets de recherche nationaux.

Dans ce cadre, on peut citer à titre d’exemple les thèmes déjà initiés et même finalisés á savoir:

1) Programme pêche artisanale en Algérie;
2) Programme enquête cadre pour le recensement des activités de pêche
3) Les indicateurs socio-économiques des pêcheries Algériennes;
4) Mise en plage d’un réseau d’échantillonnage biologique.
5) Commercialisation des produit de la pêche. Ce thème vient juste d’être initié au niveau du CNDPA.

D’autre part, le CNDPA et à travers ses trois département s’intéresse à plusieurs thèmes relatifs à la pêche et á l’aquaculture à savoir:

1) identification et valorisation de la flottille de pêche artisanale acquise dans le cadre des projets d’appui en Algérie.

2) Conception d’une base de données statistiques et monographiques des gouvernorats maritimes.

3) Contribution à l'étude de la reproduction, de la croissance et de l'exploitation d'une espèce d'intérêt commercial Mullus barbatus (L., 1758) ou Gadus poutassou (R., 1826).

4) Récolte de données relatives à la première maturité sexuelle, la période de ponte et la réglementation en vigueur des espèces les plus commercialisées en Algérie.

Le centre réalise des études relatives á l’aquaculture d’eau douce incluant plusieurs thèmes, à savoir la biologie de la reproduction des poissons d’eau douce, l’alimentation naturelle et artificielle, etc.

Aussi, et pour mener à bien la recherche en aquaculture, un centre conchylicole et un centre de pêche sont en cours de construction dans la wilaya de Tipasa. Ces deux centres serviront de base pour toutes les opérations de vulgarisation, démonstration et de recherche.

Il est à signaler que le potentiel scientifique du CNDPA est très limité et il ne répond pas aux besoins de recherche du secteur.

Institutions universitaires

En plus de la formation en matière de pêche et d’aquaculture, ces institutions mènent des travaux de recherche relatifs aux préoccupations du secteur de la pêche à savoir les travaux qui portent sur l’état des stocks des espèces d’intérêt commercial et les sujets en relation directe avec l’environnement.

BULGARIA

1. BULGARIAN FISHERIES SECTOR

The realization of “responsible fisheries” requires accomplishment of profound scientific investigations in co-operation with scientists from countries, which perform fisheries in particular area and together with FAO experts and other international organizations. The Code includes the problems concerning catches, applied fishing effort, capacity of fishing fleets, production and trade with fish and fisheries products, scientific investigations and international collaboration. The included measures have to guarantee conservation of bio-diversity and sustainable utilization of aquatic living resources. The catch quantity must be such, which can provide normally development and reproduction of species, which in other side, supposed optimal catches, i.e. catches do not change considerably for a long period of time.

The realization of responsible fisheries includes a complex of measures, integrated in i.e. “precautionary approach”. The precautionary approach supposes strict observance of the laws in force and limitation measures, concerning the fishing activities and which allow normal reproduction of marine living resources.

Under the responsibility of the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the National Agency of Fisheries and Aquaculture and its subordinate structures are fully in charge of the protection of fish resources, management and control of fisheries and gathering all relevant statistics.

Bulgaria has provisionally closed Chapter 8 ”Fisheries” from the Negotiation position with EC, thus the Bulgarian legislation is at an advanced stage of approximation and harmonization with EU legislation.

The current amendments of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act refer to setting up producer organizations and the marketing standards and rules for fish and fishery products, thus providing the legal base of the market aspects for the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy. The establishment of a market infrastructure is necessary on purpose to collect adequate information for the trade of fish and fishery products as well as to create possibilities for planning and adoption of structural funds.

The National Agency of Fisheries and Aquaculture has prepared a detailed investigation of the market of fish and fishery products concerning the technical requirements and methods for financing the market building. The matter consists of information and data for catches of different species, the trade with fish and fishery products, the legislative measures for conservation of fish species, as well as a list of all European legislation in question.

Legal acts regulating the commercialization of fishery and aquaculture products, establishment of the conditions and possibilities to protect the producer organizations /reduction of import taxes for the fishing gears, equipment and installations/ are forthcoming.

In 2003 forty new fish-breeding farms were registered, giving a total of 159. The amount of fish produced for human consumption and for restocking material increased to 2 898 tonnes. The strategy for rebuilding fish stocks has been continued, as the program for 2004 envisages 1.7 million fish releases for restocking. Warm water fish farms concentrate on breeding carp strains, whereas cold water farms breed various species of trout. There are also marine mussel farms. Catches of fish and other aquatic organisms amounted to 12 500 tonnes. The number of angling permits increased substantially to 95 728. Fish exports increased to 5 000 tonnes since the lifting of the EU ban. In 2003 for commercial fishing in the Black Sea, Danube River and inland basins were issued 4 488 licences.

In compliance with the EUROSTAT requirements was prepared a software for the data-base system in the National Agency of Fisheries and Aquaculture offices with operated and statistical information for the catches and the aquaculture production.

Specialized center for satellite monitoring is situated at the Executive Agency “Maritime Administration” /EAMA/ to the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

The software for the national statistical system and the initial database for the Fishing Vessel Monitoring System are installed. The first stage of the pilot project for the application of the Satellite-based Fishing Vessel Monitoring System /ground-based/, guarantees the control on the territorial waters where operate at the moment all fishing vessels. The inspection will cover in the beginning the fishing vessels up to 24 m. The second stage of the project includes delivery of equipment for the VMS inserting the satellite monitoring under project fiche PHARE 2004-2006. The control on fishing vessels at the end of this second stage in 2006, will cover all fishing vessels with overall length more than 18 m operating in high waters, independently of the region.

A plan for the Fishing Fleet Capacity Management was elaborated on the basis of fish species statistical data, on purpose to determine the fishing fleet parameters. The actualization of this plan based on the exact measuring of the fish stocks in the Black Sea is forthcoming.

The National Program for Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Plan for the Management of the Fishing Fleet Capacity aiming to outline a solution for sustainable exploitation of fish resources and maintaining the balance of the marine ecological system as one of the objectives of the CFP were submitted to all relevant authorities and bodies, scientific organizations and fisheries associations for approval.

2. BULGARIAN MARINE FISHERY

The Black Sea is world unique basin with specific environmental features. Because of its geographic position and hydrology anaerobic conditions have been established under 150-200 m and there is accumulation of the toxic gas H₂S. Actually, 87 % of the Black Sea volume are dead zone. The rest 13 % are inhabited by 127 fish species. Marine fisheries of Bulgaria is based on 10 fish species, which landings exceed 100 tonnes - anchovy, horse mackerel, spiny dogfish, gobies, mullets, bluefish, bonito and sea snail. The largest Bulgarian catches are based on local species - sprat, gobies, spiny dogfish and turbot - table 1.

Table 1: Maximum catch (in tonnes) of Bulgaria of commercial fish species in the Black Sea

For some species during fixed periods are initiated quotas or their catch were banned. Such is the case with turbot, which was forbidden for fishing during the period 1990-1994 (figure 1).

Figure 1: Bulgarian catches of turbot during the period 1970-2002.

The catch of fish species and other aquatic animals by any kinds of bottom trawling and dredging gears and devices is banned for the whole Black Sea aquatory, except in cases of conducting of scientific investigation, for which is needed a special permission from the authorities /Fisheries and aquaculture act/.

The fishermen using turbot nets are obligated to fit them with devices for radio-resound protection of dolphins.

The catches of fish and other aquatic animals by any kind of pelagic trawling gears in coastal zone is prohibited, as follows:

• from cape Sivriborun to the river Kamchiya outflow - in 3 mile zone

• from the river Kamchiya outflow to the cape Emine - in 1 mile zone;

• to the line of cape Emine - Nessebar lighthouse;

• to the line of Nessebar lighthouse - village Chernomorets, south cape;

• from the c. village Chernomorets to the Rezovska river outflow - in 1 mile zone.

The fisheries by any kind of fishing gears is prohibited every year and during the entire year in the places of flow of warm waters of Electrical Power-stations.

The zones of artificial installations (farms) for mussles, considered to 100 m from their constructions are declared for fish farming waters and for zones of natural reproduction of local fish species. In such zones is prohibited the catch of fish and other aquatic animals by all fishing gears.

During the reproduction season is prohibited the catch of turbot, as follows:

1) With all sort of fishing means and gears for 2 months, from 15 April to 14 June, inclusive. During the rest period of year the turbot catch is permited by using of turbot nets with mesh of the net not smaller than 180 MM.

2) During the entire year is prohibited the use of harpoons for commercial catch of turbot.

3) During the reproduction defence for turbot catch is forbidden the usage of three-corner nets, for Danube shad and gobies. The permitted gears are uni-corner nets, which has minimal mesh size 22 mm for the gobies and 32 mm for the Danube shad.

In 2003 the quota for turbot catch is 50 tonnes, which is distributed between 10 fishing firms. The quota for 2004 is suggested to 40 tonnes. The Institute of Fisheries and Aquacultures - Varna accomplished limitation of local fish species and the distribution of approved by the Minister of Aquaculture and Forestry quota is carried out by Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquacultures. During last years landings greater than 1 000 tonnes are realized only from sprat and sea snail.

During the reproduction season is prohibited the catch of gobies, as follows:

1) By fishing nets for 1 month during the period from 15 April to 15 May, inclusive.

2) During the entire year with all kinds of fishing nets with mesh size smaller than 22 mm in all aquatories.

3) During the entire year with all kinds of fishing gears in the harbor’s and bouna aquatories with remoteness of 1 km from the coastline, except for registered pound net and sport fishing with one fishing rod.

Table 2 presents the minimal size of organisms in the catch

Table 2: Minimal size and/or weight of fishes and other aquatic species under which their catching, carrying, selling and buying are prohibited during the whole year.

The fish species are measured from the beginning of the snout to the base of caudal fin, crayfish - from eye to the end of caudal fin, frogs - from the top of muzzle to the orifice or in grams. The weight of mussles, sea snails and other similar molusks is measured together with shells. The organisms in the catch with size under permitted must be returned to the water independently of their condition.

The species included in Red book of Bulgaria have special protection, which is carried out by Ministry of Environment and Waters. Their catch is fully forbidden and it is allowed only for scientific research.

CYPRUS

INTRODUCTION

In Cyprus, the authority responsible for all fishery matters is the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment. The DFMR was founded soon after Cyprus independence with a mandate for the development of fisheries and the rational management of marine resources.

The activities of the DFMR concern the research, development and management of fisheries and aquaculture, marine ecology, the protection of endangered species and habitats, physical and chemical oceanography and the prevention and combat of marine pollution. Furthermore, the Department promotes supporting programmes for the fishermen, including the construction of fishing shelters. It is also responsible for the enforcement of the relevant Legislation.

THE CAPTURE FISHERY OF CYPRUS

The Cyprus capture fishery consists of the inshore fishery, the trawl fishery and the polyvalent fishery. There is also one purse seiner operating in the waters of Cyprus. The sport fishery is also included in the capture fishery.

i) Inshore Fishery

The inshore fishery is practiced with small wooden boats of 6m to 12m length overall (O.A.L), which mainly fish with bottom set nets and long lines (passive gears). In 2003 677 persons were occupied as full time fishermen in 500 licensed boats.

Total production of the inshore fishery, numbers of working days and boats, total fleet size and HP, as well as production per working day for the years 1994 to 2003 are given in Table 1.

ii) The Trawl Fishery

The Trawl fishery (mobile gears) consists of 22 trawlers of 21,4m to 26,8m (OAL) with 220-750 HP diesel engines. All of them are stern trawlers of steel or wooden hull. Eight trawlers are licensed to operate in the waters of Cyprus, whereas the others exclusively operate in international waters in the Mediterranean. In 2003 144 fishermen were fully occupied on these 22 trawlers.

Total production, numbers of working days, fleet total size and HP, as well as production per working days of the 8 trawlers fishing in the waters of Cyprus are given on Table 2 for the years 1994 to 2003. The same information on the trawl fishery in international waters is given on Table 3.

iii) Polyvalent Fishery

The Polyvalent Fishery (polyvalent gears) is practiced with boats of about 16m OAL using long lines in the waters of Cyprus and in international waters in the east Mediterranean. In 2003 105 fishermen were fully occupied in 22 boats licensed for multipurpose fishing. Table 4 gives the production, number of working days, fleet total size and HP as well as the production per working day for the years 1994 to 2003 in the multipurpose fishery.

iv) Sport Fishery

In Cyprus about 2000 individuals are licensed sport fishermen, while many other persons fish with rod and line and spear gun for pleasure, without the need of license.

Categories of sport fishing that need license:

• boats with nets and long lines

• scuba divers

• divers with lights and spear-guns

• fishing with nets-without boats

The Sport fishery captures about 15% of the total catch of Cyprus. Its catch is not yet reflected on the Fishery Statistics, as the attention of the DFMR has only recently focused on this fishery.

The Production of the Cyprus Fishery

The capture fishery production in 2003 was 1 740 m. tonnes. The total value of the capture fisheries was about 7 million pounds (12 million euros).

From the study of the detailed data collected is derived that the tendency of the Cyprus fishery is in decline. The trend is more than obvious the last five years.

Management Measures

In order to conserve and to rationally manage the fish stocks, corrective measures and regulations were introduced from 1982 to 2004, imposing a series of management measures to the fishery.

With these measures in the Trawl fishery, the number of trawlers, horsepower, fishing season and depth are under control. In the Inshore fishery the number of boats has been controlled. Monofilament trammel nets are banned in Cyprus and trammel and gill nets have to have a minimum stretched mesh size. Fishing licences limitations have also controlled the Swordfish/Tuna fishery, which only fish with long lines. The Sport fishery is also being regulated with limitations to the quantity of gear that can be used and the time spent on fishing.

Cyprus monitors the condition of the stocks with care and is always ready to introduce practical measures to protect and rationally manage these stocks. At the same time Cyprus recognizes the necessity of managing the fishing resources of the Mediterranean and is willing to cooperate with all the Mediterranean Countries for the rational exploitation of this common resource.

TABLE 1: INSHORE FISHERY PRODUCTION AND FISHING EFFORT (1994-2003)

TABLE 2: TRAWL FISHERY PRODUCTION AND FISHING EFFORT (1994-2003)
CYPRUS WATERS

TABLE 3: TRAWL FISHERY PRODUCTION AND FISHING EFFORT (1994-2003)
INTERNATIONAL WATERS

TABLE 4: POLYVALENT FISHERY PRODUCTION AND FISHING EFFORT (1994-2003)

THE CYPRUS NATIONAL SYSTEM OF FISHERY STATISTICS

Detailed statistics on the quantities caught of 52 fish species are collected by the Department by the means of log-book sheets and weekly coastal boat fishery reports. Statistics are also collected on the effort and the total production of the Cyprus fishery. A series of other statistical data are also collected, as regards to the fishing fleet, the aquaculture, the employment, the prices, the imports, exports, etc.

Fishery statistical data are collected by:

a) Direct Reports given by the various segments of the Fishery
b) Interviews

a) Direct Reports

i) Trawl Logbooks

All trawlers are required by law to keep logbooks. Collection of data is carried out by daily return of logbook sheets, which all skippers are required to hand prior to landing their catch. The logbook sheets are handed to the Fisheries Inspectors, while landed catches are inspected upon landing to ensure that they are weighed and recorded accurately.

Trawl logbooks include the following information: Identification of the trawler, place and depth of fishing, number of active fishing days, dates of the trip, port of landing, the total catch of 22 demersal fish species and breakdown of the catch by species and by quality. The log sheets are collected every day by the Fisheries Inspectors and sent at intervals to the Head Office of the Department to process the data.

ii) Inshore Fishery Production Reports

Production data from the inshore fishery are collected from a sample of this category of fleet. In this system a 10% random sample of the boat owners are provided with files of weekly production reports and are required to record their daily production.

Inshore fishery reports include the following information: Identification of the fisherman and the boat, the fishing station, month and the week of the month. The fishermen report their daily catch and the breakdown of the catch by species summed by week. A total of 40 demersal fish species are reported. The sheets are collected at irregular intervals by the Fisheries Inspectors and sent to the Head Office of the Department to process the data.

It is noted that the fishing equipment of every fisherman (i.e. nets, type of nets and length, long lines etc.) are known from the application for fishing licence.

iii) Polyvalent Fishery Logbooks

All the polyvalent vessels are provided by log- books, which they return to the Fisheries Inspectors every month.

The Polyvalent fishery logbooks include the following information: Dates of departure and return to the port, area of fishing and distance from Cyprus, number of hooks, species of the fish, number of fish and weight of each fish captured. Seven pelagic fish species are reported on these forms. Similarly to the other reports, these logbooks are sent to the Head Office of the DFMR for data processing.

iv) Purse-seiner Production Reports

The purse-seiner (one active vessel) is also provided with production reports, which are similar to the inshore fishery reports. The catch is reported daily and by species and summed up every week. These reports include 12 pelagic species. The area of fishing, month and week of the month is noted on the reports, which are collected at irregular intervals and sent to the Head Office of the DFMR for data processing.

b) Interviews

Interviews are conducted for calculation of the average prices. It is the legal obligation of fishermen and fishmongers to have sale slips and present them upon request to the DFMR. According to the current fish trading system, the prices of the various species and grades of fish are mostly fixed in Cyprus, where the majority of fishermen sell their catch to fish retail shops, which sell directly to consumers. Across Cyprus, the same species or category of fish are offered at the same price by all retail fish shops.

There is no system of price fluctuation, like an auction, or any other process that is based on the market forces of supply and demand. It is not common for fishermen themselves to be engaged in the marketing of their catch.

Interviews with the first hand buyers and the skippers/ fishermen provide the prices of the landings of trawlers and of the inshore fishery. Estimations on the quantities, grades and species breakdown are not necessary, because they are reported on the logbook sheets of the various fishing fleet segments.

The statistical data reports are sent to the Statistics Section of the Department for computer processing and analysis. The computer programmes were designed to meet the Department’s statistical requirements and are adequate for this purpose.

Every year an Annual Statistics Report is published by the Department with a total of 36 tables. Thus a reliable statistical bank exists in the DFMR since its foundation. The collected data are used for the DFMR management purposes (decision guidelines) and requirements. The data are also sent and presented to International Bodies, Organizations and Agencies (i.e. FAO, GFCM, ICCAT and the Eurostat) and used by scientific personnel for their needs.

In order to optimize the existing statistical and information system and achieve data compatible with regional and internationals standards, Cyprus is participating in the MedFIsis TCP project with other Countries of the Eastern Mediterranean.

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN CYPRUS

Research on the capture fisheries of Cyprus

Research on the inshore and trawl fishery of Cyprus is done for the last two decades, in order to carefully follow the state of the stocks. The biology of the most important demersal marine fish species was studied and the necessary parameters were derived in order to enable the evaluation of their stocks.

The species being assessed every year are: Mullus surmuletus, Mullus barbatus, Spicara smaris, Boops boops and Pagellus erythrinus. These species represent more than 50% of the total catch of Cyprus.

Length distribution of the above five fish species are collected by year-round sampling the daily catch of the inshore fishing boats at their landing places from one to the other end of the free coast of Cyprus. Data concerning the trawl fishery are mainly collected on board a research vessel and the commercial trawlers during fishing operations.

The stock assessment methods in use include computer programs; however, the classic method of Beverton and Holt is still in use.

Stock assessment calculations proceed to Age Cohort analysis for each species and to the estimation of the Yield per Recruit. Finally the Ratio of Exploitation of each species is estimated. The results of the previous calculations on the evaluation of the same fish stocks are used to follow the year classes throughout the species life.Stock assessment studies have shown that the stocks of the five most important species of the Cyprus waters are over exploited to various degrees.

The Maximum Sustainable Yield of the fishery is also calculated from the collected data.

A 3-year project started at 2000 in Chrysochou bay -an isolated bay on the North coast - aims to evaluate the effect on the catch of the possible withdrawal of the trawlers fishing in the area.

Research on small pelagics is carried out by purse seine surveys, in order to assess the effect of fishing by the purse seiner on the total catch.

With the accession of Cyprus to the European Union a data Collection program will take place as from 2005 within the obligations of EU Regulation 1543/2000.

Furthermore two new Projects were proposed:

• Evaluation of the effect of fishing methods on the population of Spicara smaris in the waters of Cyprus.

• Study of the population of Albacore (Thunnus alalunga) in the waters around Cyprus and collection of data for the bycatch of big pelagic sharks.

In 2005, two more projects will begin with the cooperation of the University of Thessaloniki, Greece.

• The evaluation and abundance of the commercial marine Crustacea in the coasts of Cyprus.

• The evaluation and abundance of the commercial Cephalopods in the coasts of Cyprus.

Research on Marine Ecology

Research on the marine ecology is undertaken through various National and EU funded projects. National Projects include:

- The Turtle project which aims to the protection and conservation of marine turtles and their biotopes

- Research in marine biodiversity and identification of natural sites of ecological interest.

- Studies on the ecological relationships among marine macrobenthos and the ambient environment, especially in areas affected by activities such as aquaculture and desalination plants, as well as studies on marine alien and invasive species.

- Wetland monitoring is an on ongoing activity, which includes wetlands, such as the Larnaca Salt lake complex and others.

EU Projects:

- MEDVEG, effects of nutrient release from Mediterranean fish farms on benthic vegetation in coastal ecosystems.

- MedMPA Development of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean Region.

Research on Oceanography

The DFMR participates and collaborates in various EU oceanographic research projects in the forms of the 5th and 6th FP programs. Most of them aim to develop the operational oceanography in the Mediterranean Sea, following the MedGOOS, EuroGOOS and MERSEA initiatives:

- CYCLOPS-Cycling of Phosphorous in the Mediterranean.

- MAMA, Mediterranean network to Assess and upgrade Monitoring and forecasting Activities in the area.

- EDIOS, European Directory of Initial Ocean Observing System: Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea Regional Center.

- MFSTEP, Mediterranean Forecasting System Towards Environmental Predictions.

- MERSEA-strand1, Marine Environment and Security for the European Area, strand 1.

- SEA-SEARCH, Pan-European Network for Ocean & Marine Data and Information Management.

- ESEAS-RI- European Sea level research infrastructure.

- MERSEA-IP, Marine Environment and Security for the European Area Integrated Project.

Research in Aquaculture

Research in Aquaculture is being done in the Department’s experimental stations. The research projects of the sector include:

- Reproduction, development of good quality and quantity of eggs, larval rearing and mass production of fry for the species Pagrus pagrus, Umbrina arrosa, Siganus rivulatus, Dentex dentex, Pagellus erythrinus, Puntazzo puntazzo, Ancipenser baeri, and others.

- Development of brood stock populations for Pagellus erythrinus and other species lower in the food chain (herbivorous)

- Development of practical feeds for mass cultivation of Siganus rivulatus

- Development of alternative live food for hatcheries and improvement of existing live food.

- The effect of density, temperature and feeding rate on the growth of and gonad development of Pagellus erythrinus.

FRANCE

Rapport d’activité scientifique pour la France dans le domaine de la recherche halieutique en Méditerranée durant l’année 2003

En France, les travaux de recherche halieutique pour la Méditerranée sont essentiellement réalisés au sein du laboratoire «Ressources Halieutiques» et du service «Technologie des pêches» de l’IFREMER, regroupés au sein du Centre de Recherche Méditerranéen et Tropical de Sète.

RESSOURCES DÉMERSALES

Collecte de données de base

L’échantillonnage des débarquements de merlu (Merlucius merluccius), de rouget (Mullus barbatus, de bar (Dicentrarchus labrax) et de daurade (Sparus aurata) par la flotte chalutière a été réalisé mensuellement dans 3 ports (Sète, Port la Nouvelle et Agde) et dans le port de Carro pour les merlus débarqués par les fileyeurs. Ces données ont été saisies dans la base de données Arpège de l’Ifremer.

Des embarquements ont été réalisés pour étudier les rejets de merlu par les chalutiers français dans le golfe du Lion. Une enquête sur l’activité des flottilles a été réalisée en 2003 le long du littoral français. Les données obtenues ont permis de regrouper les navires en catégories homogènes à l’intérieur desquels ont été réalisées des enquêtes socio-économiques. Les campagnes de chalutage MEDITS menées à partir du navire océanographique «L’EUROPE» et destinées à l’évaluation directe des ressources démersales en Méditerranée le long des côtes françaises, se sont poursuivies en 2003 pour la 10ème année consécutive

Projets de Recherche

Projet MERLUMED : en 2003 a commencé une étude des contaminants dans le merlu (Merluccius merluccius) considéré comme espèce représentative en Méditerranée Nord Occidentale, et dans les principales espèces de son réseau trophique. Ceci nécessite une bonne connaissance du réseau trophique du merlu, de ses principales caractéristiques biologiques et des processus de bioaccumulation pour différents contaminants.

Une action de validation du modèle de croissance est en cours à partir d’opérations de marquage conventionnel et chimique. Par ailleurs de premières analyses de données provenant de la campagne MEDITS-2002 suggèrent que le Rhône n’a pas d’influence directe sur les réseaux trophiques du merlu dans le golfe du Lion. Le laboratoire de Technologie des pêches de Sète a participé à ce programme en réalisant deux campagnes à bord du N/O l’Europe. La première, en janvier 2003, ciblait la capture du merlu sur le talus et les canyons par l'utilisation de palangres. Des problèmes de mise en œuvre et de mauvaises conditions météorologiques n'ont pas permis d'obtenir de bons résultats.

La seconde, en octobre, visait le merlu présent sur le plateau continental. Un chalut (MERMED) a été développé à cet effet et a donné de bons résultats. L'objectif étant une meilleure approche du comportement du merlu, ce chalut à grande ouverture verticale a été monté avec une nappe séparatrice horizontale sur toute sa longueur afin de le diviser en deux parties. Deux poches fixées en bout de chalut collectent séparément les individus passant par la moitié supérieure du chalut et ceux passant par la moitié inférieure. Les premiers résultats montrent que 63% des merlus ont été capturés dans la poche supérieure.

Les travaux prévus dans le cadre du projet communautaire BEMMFISH se sont poursuivis en 2003. L’objectif de ce projet est l’élaboration d’un modèle bioéconomique permettant de simuler diverses options de gestion des pêcheries méditerranéennes.

Le modèle préliminaire a été testé sur les données concernant la pêcherie crevettière espagnole et la pêcherie de merlu franco-espagnole du golfe du Lion. Ces essais ont permis de déterminer certains problèmes techniques à résoudre avant la mise en service opérationnelle du modèle. La fin des travaux est prévue pour le dernier trimestre de l’année 2004. Au cours de l’année 2003, le service de Technologie des pêches a poursuivi ses actions en matière d’étude de l’impact des techniques de pêche sur l’environnement et les ressources en Méditerranée, en particulier les travaux orientés vers l’évaluation des capacités des flottilles de pêche.

RESSOURCES PÉLAGIQUES

Petits pélagiques

Le laboratoire IFREMER de Sète a poursuivi en 2003 l’échantillonnage des petits pélagiques (anchois et sardine) et la réalisation de son programme national pluriannuel d’étude de ces espèces et en particulier sur l’anchois du golfe du Lion. Ce programme consiste en une évaluation annuelle des populations par écho-intégration (campagnes PELMED du N.O. L’EUROPE) et en études sur le comportement et la variabilité spatio-temporelle de l’espèce.

Les évaluations des stocks d’anchois et de sardine du golfe du Lion ont été présentés au sous-comité d’évaluation des stocks. Pour les deux espèces, on a abouti à un diagnostic d’exploitation modérée.

Par ailleurs,comme en 2001 et 2002, des investigations spécifiques ont été menées en collaboration avec l’IRD dans la zone côtière située en dessous de l’isobathe des 20 mètres. Ceci a permis de mettre en évidence l’existence d’un gradient croissant du large vers la côte plus ou moins marqué selon les années. Dans tous les cas les minimums de densité acoustique se trouvent sur le bord du talus continental, c’est à dire entre 100 et au-delà de 140 mètres de fond.

Thon rouge

L’étude du thon rouge a vu en 2003 la poursuite de l’étude de l’influence de la variabilité spatio-temporelle des upwellings côtiers du golfe du Lion, via l’imagerie satellitaire, sur les populations de juvéniles de thon rouge (collaboration entre l’IFREMER et l’IRD).

Les observations aériennes systématiques des bancs de thon rouge dans les eaux de golfe du Lion ont été poursuivies en 2003. L’analyse des données provenant des missions aéroportées réalisées au cours des quatre dernières années a permis de calculer des indices d’abondance du stock de surface dans le golfe du Lion. A partir de ces données et de données satellitaires sur la température et la couleur de l’eau on a montré en particulier que la répartition des bancs de thon rouge était liée à la présence de fronts thermiques et/ou chlorophylliens.

Le projet communautaire FEMS a démarré en 2003. Dans ce projet l’Ifremer est responsable en particulier de la collecte et de la validation des données sur le thon rouge et de l’analyse de l’impact de fluctuations à long terme sur les stratégies de gestion de cette espèce. Les résultats de la pêche récréative au thon rouge ont été recueillies en 2003 et confirment les observations précédentes: les captures de la pêche sportive représentent moins de 1% de la prise totale et sont négligeables au regard de la pêche professionnelle. Elles ne sont donc pas utilisables comme indice d’abondance de la population de thon rouge de l’Atlantique est et Méditerranée.

Enfin, l’activité et la production de la flottille thonière ont continué d’être suivies en soutien à ces travaux. Des observateurs ont pu être embarqués à bord de deux navires senneurs opérant au large de la Libye et des îles Baléares en période estivale, mais il est devenu pratiquement impossible d’échantillonner les tailles des captures, à cause du transbordement des poissons vivants directement depuis les sennes jusqu’aux cages pour engraissement.

GREECE

1. Status of Stocks of Priority Species

2. Status of the Statistics and Information System

There is no any change of the national system of fisheries statistics during the last year. The fisheries data arrives to the FAO through the Greek National Statistics Service. Fisheries data collected in the framework of the Greek National Fisheries Data Collection Programme funding by Greek government and European Union according to the EU Council Regulation 1543/2000 are submitted regularly to the EU/Dg VIX.

3. Status of Research on Progress

3.1 National Fisheries Data Collection Program

Fisheries data are colleted according to Reg. (EC) 1543/2000 and Reg (EC) 1639/2001 for 2004. The National Program includes the following modules that are carried out in yearly basis.

• Collection of data concerning fishing capacities

• Collection of data related to fishing effort that includes collection of data for fuel consumption and fishing effort by type of technique, specific Fishing Effort for stocks of demersal and small pelagic species and specific fishing effort for stocks of large pelagic (migratory) species - Tuna, Swordfish

• Collection of data related to catches, discards and landings

• Collection of data concerning catches per unit of effort for blue fin, albacore and swordfish fisheries in Greece

• Scientific evaluation surveys of stocks that includes the International Bottom Trawl Surveys in the Mediterranean (MEDITS) and bluefin tuna tagging

• Biological sampling of catches: composition by age and by length

• Collection of economic data by group of vessels

• A research project that assess the anchovy stocks in the Aegean

• A research project for investigating possible tuna sport fisheries in Greece

3.2 Depiction and feasibility study of fishing gears used in coastal fisheries

The project is funded by the Operational Program Fisheries 2000-2006, it started in December 2003 and ends in June 2006.

There will be a review on the technical characteristics of gears used in coastal fisheries in Greece. A sample of coastal fishing vessels will be selected and a feasibility study will be carried out as a yearly assessment of the main coastal gear categories and their socioeconomic dependency on fisheries. There will be an attempt of defining the fishing effort of each coastal fishing gear examined. A database will be created for storing all the information collected.

3.3 Development of an Integrated Management System to support the sustainability of Greek Fisheries resources (IMAS-Fish)

The project is funded by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology, Ministry of Development. It started in August 2003 and ends in 2006. The project aims to organize an integrated system, based on the existing fisheries data, which will be able to provide the appropriate information to be used for supporting the sustainable management of living resources in the Greek Seas.

3.4 Centre of Excellence

3.5 The following research projects are funded by European Commission:

• Critical Interactions between Species and their Implications for Precautionary Fisheries Management in a variable Environment-a Modelling Approach (BECAUSE). CONTRACT NUMBER: EU SSP8-CT-2003-502482 (BECAUSE)

• Fisheries independent survey based operational Assessment tools. CONTRACT NUMBER: EU SSP8-CT-2003-502572 (FISH BOAT)

• Nephrops and cetacean species selection information and technology (NECESSITY). CONTRACT NUMBER: EU SSP8-CT-2003-501605

• Operational evaluation tools for fisheries management options (EFIMAS). CONTRACT NUMBER: EU SSP8-CT-2003-502516

• Bio-Economic Modelling of Mediterranean Fisheries (BEMMFISH), V Framework Programme. Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources (Q5RS-2001-01533)

• Developing indicators of Environmental Performance of the Common Fisheries Policy (INDECO Co-ordination Action)

ITALY

Research activities on marine living resources are carried out in Italy by several bodies, both private and public, among which are mainly involved University Departments and Research Institutes (e.g. CNR, SIBM, IREPA, UNIMAR, ICRAM).

SIBM (Società Italiana di Biologia Marina) provides to connect researchers working on marine living resources, organizing meeting and workshop, managing several national and international research programs, publishing an international research journal (Biologia Marina Mediterranea).

Within the National Plan on Fishery and Aquaculture, adopted by the Ministry of Agricultural Policy, several research programs has been carried out in 2003-4, most of which are the continuation of programs previously started. The National Plan on Fishery and Aquaculture is a three-year basis framework that foresees research grants in six main topics: A) Living resources; B) Fishery technology; C) Aquaculture; D) Health and quality of the fishery and aquaculture products; E) Fishery and aquaculture economy; F) Fishery and aquaculture sociology.

The Directorate for fishery and Aquaculture approved, in 2003, 71 new research projects on the following topics: Living resources (43), Aquaculture (19), Health and quality of the fishery and aquaculture products (9).

Among the above mentioned projects, two of them were specifically associated to the needing of defining a sustainable fishery framework:

1) Identification of the managing measures for eleven biological protection zone (closed area) in a framework of sustainable fishery.

2) Spatial and temporal identification of nursery areas along the Italian coast.

In reference with the Reg. Ce 1543/00 - 1639/01 and the Italian National Programme, the following activities have been performed:

MODULE A. Module of evaluation of inputs

- Fishing capacities
- Fishing effort

MODULE B. Evaluation of catches and landings (demersal, large and small pelagic, shellfish)

- Catches and landings

- Collection of data concerning the catches per unit of effort and/or effective effort of specific commercial fleets

- Scientific stock evaluation surveys. The MEDITS survey and the GRUND survey

- Biological sampling of catches: composition by age and length

- Other biological sampling

MODULE C. Module of evaluation of the economic situation of the sector

- Economic data by groups of vessels
- Processing industry

Other studies are carried out on international, national or regional founding.

JAPAN

Introduction

Japanese fishery in the Mediterranean Sea is entirely targeted on bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) by longliners and only incidentally swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and albacore (Thunnus alalunga) are also caught. Recently, Japanese bluefin catch in the Mediterranean Sea decreased from about 800 MT in 1995 to 131 MT in 2001 mostly due to a decline in fishing effort and slightly recovered to 390 and

316 MT in 2002 and 2003, due to better catch rate, respectively (data for 2003 is preliminary, Fig. 1). On the other hand, Japanese import of bluefin tuna from Mediterranean Sea is increasing, and among the import, the proportion of farmed product is drastically increasing as spreading of the bluefin farming to various Mediterranean countries.

1. Trend of bluefin tuna import including farmed products

The increase of farmed bluefin tuna production started when the farming technology originated from southern bluefin tuna in Australia was transferred to the Mediterranean countries. No farmed bluefin was imported to Japan from the Mediterranean Sea before 1997.

General aspect of bluefin tuna farming is summarized and reported by Miyake et al. (2002). Also, summary of Japanese import of farmed bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean up to 2002 based on Japanese BTSD (Bluefin Tuna Statistical Document) was reported to last year’s GFCM/ICCAT meeting (Matsumoto, 2003). A part of the original data has been modified based on the report of that meeting, i.e. a part of products which is not recorded as farmed in the BTSD are regarded as farmed. Here brief summary of Japanese statistics concerning bluefin import is described.

Fig. 2 shows annual trend of catch and import of total or farmed Bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean. It should be noted that estimated whole weight of fish shown in the Figure is at the time of output from the farms for export to Japan and not the weight of fish at the time of input to farming cages. Weight in various product types was converted to corresponding whole weight with conversion factors defined in the ICCAT (Miyake et. al., 2002). The import of farmed products has been drastically increasing from 261 MT in 1997 to 16,553 MT in 2003. Also, import of farmed product in the first half of 2004 (14,744 MT) is close to that of 2003 total. The increase is much more drastic than the increase in the import of total bluefin product accounting for 82% of total import in 2003.

Table 1 and Fig.3 show annual trend in the import of farmed bluefin by exporting country (final transshipment country). In the earlier period, products from Spain accounted for most of the import, but imports from other countries such as Croatia, Malta and Italy are increasing in recent years. Import from Turkey has started in 2002 and import from Libya, Cyprus and Tunisia has started in 2003. It seems that import from Greece also has started in 2004 but detail is not clear because no product from Greece is recorded as farmed.

Several products (products of Turkey, Libya, Cyprus and Malta), which are probably farmed ones, are not recorded as farmed in the Statistical Documents. They were tentatively regarded as farmed (accounted for about 5,000 MT in 2003) in this paper.

2. Status of research in progress

Research activities for bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean Sea have been conducted under the ICCAT Bluefin Year Program (BYP), in collaboration with GFCM. The BYP covers general biological surveys, improvement of statistics and stock assessment. Japan continues to participate in the BYP. The BTSD system mentioned above provides valuable information for improvement of basic catch statistics and for identifying possible under-reporting of the bluefin catches.

Japan conducted archival tagging for bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean in 1999 and 2000. Original plan for releasing adult bluefin from the eastern Atlantic including Mediterranean had to be modified to juveniles to be tagged, due mainly to high cost for purchasing fishes for release. The plan was further changed from wild to farmed bluefin, again due to high cost for chartering boats. Finally, a Croatian company for bluefin farm kindly cooperated in this archival tagging on their fish kept in cages for about four months. A total of 76 juveniles were released in the two years above mentioned and so far 19 fishes were recovered. Brief analysis of this experiment was already presented to the Joint GFCM/ICCAT meeting held in Malta in 2000 (Yamashita and Miyabe, 2000). One tag was recovered this year and a preliminary analysis of the result has been described by Fisheries Agency of Japan and National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries (2004) reported to this year’s ICCAT SCRS meeting. The fish was released in Croatia and moved to Adriatic Sea, Ionian Sea and Aegean Sea and finally moved down south to the waters off Libya. Time at liberty for that fish is more than 4 years and maybe it is longest among the tags released in the Mediterranean.

3. Status of the monitoring program in progress

For monitoring the fishing activities of Japanese longline boats as well as other large longline boats in the Mediterranean Sea, Japanese Fisheries Agency routinely have sent the patrol boats there and presented the sighting information on FOC/IUU boats to the ICCAT. Japan is prepared for presenting the sighting information to the GFCM if it desires so. It should be stressed that publicity to ordinary peoples for the problems of the FOC/IUU activities is very important to awake consumers how these activities undermine the sustainable use of the fisheries resources.

4. Researches suggested for consideration by SAC

As mentioned above, in recent years, the amount of bluefin tuna farming is drastically increasing and that seems to effect stock assessment of this species. However, the data for farming is incomplete so that more precise statistics for farming should be made available from each farming and relevant countries.

As several products are not recorded as farmed in spite of being farmed products, underestimation of import of farmed products occurs. Also, a part of products are not imported to Japan but are consumed in their own countries or exported to other countries such as the United States. Details of these statistics are necessary for monitoring how farming products are traded. Also, to improve estimation of farmed bluefin tuna in whole weight, conversion keys should be developed for all types of processed products and preferably by each farming sites.

References

Anonymous. 2003. 2003 Mediterranean Swordfish Stock Assessment Session (Madrid, Spain - May 26 to 30, 2003). ICCAT SCRS/2003/015. 25pp.

Fisheries Agency of Japan and National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries. 2004. National report of Japan. ICCAT NAT/2004/018. 15pp.

Matsumoto, T. 2003. Summary of the Japanese statistics for the import of farmed Bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean. Meeting of the Ad Hoc GFCM/ICCAT Working Group on Sustainable Tuna Farming/Fattening Practices in the Mediterranean. 14pp.

Miyake, P.M., J.M. de la Serna, A. di Natale, A. Farrugia, N. Miyabe and V. Ticina 2002. General review of bluefin tuna farming in the Mediterranean area. ICCAT SCRS/02/036. 10pp.

Yamashita, H. and N. Miyabe. 2000. Report of 1999 bluefin tuna archival tagging in the Mediterranean Sea conducted by Japan. ICCAT SCRS/00/126. 15pp.

Table 1 Annual trend in the amount of Japanese import of Mediterranean farmed bluefin tuna by country of shipment (mt). Estimated whole weight at the time of harvest from the farms for export to Japan is used.

* Only for the first half of the year

Fig. 1 Annual trend in the Japanese bluefin tuna catch in the Mediterranean. Data for 2003 is preliminary.

Fig. 2 Annual trend in the amount of total catch and Japanese import of Bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean based on Japanese statistical documents (estimated round weight: mt).

Open circle: total catch, solid circle: Japanese import of total product, diamond: Japanese import of farmed product (left axis), and white bar: percentage of farmed products in the Japanese import of bluefin tuna (right axis). Data coverage before 1995 is incomplete. Catch data for 2003 and 2004 are not shown since they are not reliable as yet.

* Import data for 2004 is only for the first half.

Fig. 3 Annual trend in the amount of Japanese import of farmed bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean by country of shipment. Estimated whole weight is used.

*Data for 2004 is only for the first half.

MALTA

1. Introduction to the Malta Centre for Fisheries Sciences (MCFS)

The MCFS has established itself, nationally and internationally, as an advisory body and research centre in the fields of capture and culture fisheries. It serves the Fisheries Conservation and Control Division (FCCD) within the Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment (MRAE) by giving scientific and management advice on the exploitation of living marine resources within the framework of the national Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (Chapter 425) and international fisheries legislation and instruments which have been ratified by Malta. The MCFS is also a focal point for international scientific fisheries bodies and regional fisheries research projects funded and/or coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) and by the European Union (EU). In addition, it has embarked on several bilateral and multilateral research initiatives in collaboration with foreign and local institutions with interests in fisheries and other marine sciences as well as with private companies involved in the fisheries and aquaculture industries.

2. Status of Stocks of Priority Species

Monitoring of the abundance of both demersal and small pelagic species has been carried using direct methods. Catch effort and biological data have also been collected for these species along with dolphin fish, bluefin tuna and swordfish. No assessments have been carried out since the time series of data is still limited, however preliminary analysis of the results being obtained indicate that demersal stocks within the 25 mile Maltese Fisheries Conservation Zone are not over-exploited.

3. Status of Research in Progress

With the assistance of FAO, the fisheries statistical programme MaltaStat has been enhanced particularly in the collection of catch and effort statistics by gear and species for vessels under 10m in length (over 92% of the national fleet), using a sampling scheme.

The time series of abundance indices for demersal species has been increased through two trawl surveys, MEDITS and GRUND, with the assistance of the Istituto di Ricerche delle Risorse Marine e l’Ambiente (IRMA-CNR) of Mazara del Vallo. A database and information system, SEATRIM, to store and process trawl survey data has also been finalised in collaboration with IRMA-CNR and preliminary results, with implications on the status of the stocks, are being obtained. Sediment samples have been collected from each trawl survey station and studies on the sediment types and the infauna have been carried out; correlation studies between the results obtained and abundance distribution of important commercial species are also underway within the framework of MEDSUDMED.

Data collection programmes, in relation to population dynamics studies on dolphin fish, tuna and swordfish have been maintained with the support of COPEMED. The collection of catch and effort data for the dolphin fish fishery has been greatly improved, and a matrix for age, length, weight and maturity has been drawn up for this species. The MCFS is also involved in the pilot study on the Operational Units of the dolphin fish fishery being conducted by COPEMED.

Egg/plankton and acoustic surveys have taken place in Maltese waters for the first time ever in collaboration with the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Italy) and the support of the MedSudMed project. Oceanographic and abundance data have been collected and will be processed and analysed in the next few months.

As a new European Union member state, Malta has drawn up its National Fisheries Data Collection Programme for 2005 in line with EC regulation 1639/2001.

4. Status of the Social Sciences Studies in Progress or Achieved during the Intersessional Period

Economic data in relation to the dolphin fish fishery have started to be collected.

A socio-economic pilot study on Maltese fisheries in general is currently being designed in accordance with Malta’s EU National Fisheries Data Collection Programme.

5. Marine Environmental Studies in Progress

The MCFS has maintained its active participation in the FAO sub-regional project, MedSudMed, in all four components of the project:

• Spatial distribution of demersal resources in relation to environmental parameters and fishery characteristics

• Use of marine protected areas as a tool for fisheries management

• Oceanographic processes influencing abundance and distribution of small pelagics

• Development of a regional database and information system for data related to fish stocks, fisheries and environmental parameters

6. Research Suggestions for Consideration by SAC

Malta would welcome the introduction of research at regional level on the interaction between fishing technology and fisheries resources, including selectivity studies.

ROMANIA

MARINE FISHERY RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Today the National Institute for Marine Research and Development “Grigore Antipa”Constanta (NIMRD) is the leading marine research and fishery institution in Romania, as well as national co-ordinator and focal point with respect to international research tasks and responsibilities in the field of marine science.

The NIMRD, previously Romanian Marine Research Institute (RMRI), was established in 1970 to continue the centenary tradition in marine research initiated by Emil Racovita, Ioan Borcea and Grigore Antipa.

The main activity of the institute includes fundamental, applied and technological development research in the fields of oceanography, marine and coastal engineering, ecology and environmental protection, as well as of the management of living resources in the Black Sea and other ocean areas, in order to fulfill the national and international requirements of the Romanian EEZ at the Black Sea and the obligations assumed by Romania as a part of international conventions in those fields.

Ongoing activities concerning marine living resources consist in:

• seasonal control of the specific abiotic and biotic environmental conditions and of the way in which they influence the evolution of the marine ichthyofauna;

• establishment of distribution models and migration conditions in various marine sectors;

• study of the variation of biological and biochemical parameters (growth, age, first sexual maturation, recruitment age, prolificacy, fatness degree, gonad maturation degree, natural mortality, recruitment, etc.);

• establishment of degree of main anthropogenic factors influence on the main fish stocks;

• study of fish spawning and recruitment dynamics;

• identification of ways for ameliorating the disturbing effect of the present fishing systems on the ecosystem components;

• assessment of fishery resources potential and their evolution tendencies; assessment of fish stocks by holistic and analytical methods;

• elaboration of the national and regional management, conservation and protection measures;

• regional cooperation in view of making the inventory of fishery resources and their management; participation in information exchange.

In accordance with the resolution 4, the point 3 of Diplomatic Conference from Bucharest, 1992, at beginning of the year 1994, in the frame of GEF Programme for Black Sea Environmental Protection, in the NIMRD Constanta have been created the Regional Fisheries Activity Centre. In accordance with their mandate, the Activity Centre will create a mechanism for the data gathering concerning the fish catches, stocks, installed capacity, aquaculture projects, etc.; it will supply the basic advice for the future strategies management and for the Fisheries Convention and living resources conservation from the Black Sea.

At once with establishment of the Advisory Group on Environmental Aspects of Management of Fisheries and Other Living Resources, in 2000, which constitutes an subsidiary body of the Black Sea Commission, the Regional Fishery Activity Centre has the obligation to offer them technical support. Activities to be provided:

• facilitates the exchange of national information on regulations regarding fishing right allocation, fishery efforts, impact of aquaculture and fisheries on natural ecosystems, and good environmental practices for fisheries and aqua culture;

• creates, maintains and upgrades the Black Sea Fisheries Database comprising information on fisheries statistics, environmental conditions, stock assessments and interdisciplinary research programs in the Black Sea Region as a component of the Black Sea information system

• develops and promotes standardized techniques of the catch estimates, assessment methods for stocks and exploitable biomass of key species;

• facilitates annual exchanges of national fisheries statistics data and National Fishery Researches Reports;

• coordinates regular stock assessments and common vessel surveys;

• prepares recommendations for management plans for selected key fish stocks and draft common fisheries management procedures, taking into account those promoted by EU, FAO and other international specialized institutions

• prepares and coordinates the specific projects for protection and rehabilitation of the critical habitats and threatened key species, in particular spawning and nursery grounds for demersal species like sturgeons, spiny dogfish and turbot;

• prepares and coordinates specific projects for development of marine aquaculture in the Black Sea area;

• cooperates with relevant international and regional fisheries organizations: FAO/GFCM, ICES, BSEC, Fisheries Commission for the Baltic Sea and for the Mediterranean Sea, etc;

• reports to the Commission and makes recommendations regarding above-mentioned issues

At the Romanian Black Sea coast is a routine in implementation of catch sampling, age reading, establish the qualitative and quantitative structure of catches, the population structure on age and length classes and also, to make at sea survey. The National Institute for Marine Research and Development “Grigore Antipa”Constanta have historical catch data on a period more than 50 years ago and catch structure on length and age classes, more than 40 years ago.

The species for which we have these data are sprat, whiting, anchovy, horse mackerel, turbot, spiny dogfish, red mullet, Danube shad, blue fish, and gobies.

Taking into consideration that the majority of commercially important fish from the Black Sea are pelagic species with a large spreading, for to assess the stocks and to predict the catches through analytical methods with higher accuracy degree and able to offer information for maintaining and rehabilitation of the fish populations at levels which can assure a sustainable exploitation, a regional cooperation is requested.

Till to achieve the desideratum of the regional cooperation through the Convention on Fishing and Protection of Marine Living Resources, the Romanian Institute for Marine Research and Development "Grigore Antipa" Constanta, through the research themes, tried to obtain information on the evolution tendencies of the fishing resources status, acquisition the necessary data for participation at the working groups of the future convention, and to offer to decision makers the scientific fundamental information, such as:

• statistic of catches and fishing effort;

• assessment of the fishing agglomerations in accordance with the environmental factors;

• data about reproduction intensity and the level of recruitment for main commercially species;

• spawner agglomerations from the Romanian littoral;

• maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and the fishing mortality F_MSY, determined through methods of the surplus production;

• yield and biomass / recruit through the Beverton and Holt methods;

• impact of fishing gears on dolphins.

Were determined all the necessary parameters for participation at the joint assessment of the fish stocks, as follows: catch and effort; structure on length and age classes of the catches; biologic data (maturation degree, relation length/weight, etc.); generally data about the species biology (reproduction season, migration, etc.); growing parameters; mortality ratios; selectivity of gears, standardization of the fishing effort.

For assessment of eggs, larvae and juvenile abundance, spawners biomass and fishing agglomerations, the following methods were used at Romanian littoral:

• the swept area method for evaluation of eggs, larvae and juvenile abundance;

• the swept area method for evaluation the biomass of fishing agglomerations of sprat, whiting, turbot and dogfish;

• methods Sette-Ahlstorm (Sette and Ahlstrom, 1948) and Parker (Parker, 1980) are used for to assess the biomass of spawners of anchovy and horse mackerel.

For sprat, the recruitment abundance was assessed by data of survey with fingerling trawl, which was regularly carried out in April-May. The biomass of adult agglomerations has been assessed by pelagic trawl with a rigging system ensuring it work near bottom.

For whiting, assessment of stock was made mainly by data of surveys with standard bottom trawl in March-April or in autumn season when density of near-bottom schools on the shelf is maximum.

Registration of spiny dogfish traditionally is made during spring and autumn surveys with standard bottom trawl.

Also, the stock of turbot has assessed by data surveys with standard bottom trawl in spring and autumn.

Anchovy and horse mackerel spawner biomass has been assessed using the data about eggs abundance that was determined with Bongo nets. In order to obtain materials to forecast the level of stock recruitment, in late summer (August-September), in surface layer of the sea, surveys have been carried out with special small-mesh fingerling trawl.

ROMANIAN MARINE FISHERY

The structure on species of the catches mirrored only partly the composition of Black Sea ichtyofauna from the Romanian sector, because the type of gear conditions the ratio between the different fish species. As a general rule, the pelagic species, small-sized and short life cycle (sprat, anchovy) keep continue to be dominant in catches.

During 1980-1989, the fishing fleet had 20 trawlers, after 1999, 7-14, presently 6. The number of fisherman decreased from 180- 200 up to 50-60 in the commercial fleet. The fishery gears used by the trawlers are the pelagic trawls, equipped for demersal use.

Since 1990, the new conditions of fishing (no state subvention, economical competition and privatization) radically changed the Romanian marine fishery.

In 1960-1989 the stationary fishing was carried out by three state companies, in 18 fishing locations along the Romanian littoral between Sulina and Mangalia, with about 70-150 pound nets yearly. The catches of this fishery oscillated among 3120-7900 t, mainly consisting of pelagic species, while the bottom species were found only as by-catches.

During the last 10 years, the fishing effort decreased continually, up to 32-41 pound nets on the whole littoral. A number of 150-200 fishermen acted in the last years, comparatively with 400-500 from '80 decade. The total catch in the passive fishery has been gradually reduced from 2490 t in 1993 to 423 t in 2001 and 641 t in 2002.

In short:

• Presently, the industrial fishing activity at the Romanian Black Sea littoral has a seasonal character and is developing by two methods:

  - Passive fishery, performed all long Romanian littoral, in the fishing units settled between Sulina and 2 Mai-Vama-Veche, using stationary gears: pound nets, gill nets, sturgeon gill nets and beach seine), on 3-10 m depths, with pound nets;

  - Active fishery, with coastal trawlers B-410, Baltica and TCMN types acting in offshore waters, on 20 m depths, using industrial pelagic trawl.

• The qualitative and quantitative structure of the catches achieved in the Romanian marine sector had an variable evolution accordingly with the status of fish populations, effort of fishing, type of fishing gears and the conditions of forming and maintaining the fish agglomerations, especially in the coastal area.

• Analyzing the structure of the catches, it was noted that the dominant species were the sprat, shad, anchovy and horse mackerel prevailing in the passive fishery; the main target of the fishing with trawlers was the sprat (more then 80%), during the autumn months occurring the horse mackerel, grey mullet and bluefish.

• During the fishing season (March-October) of the last ten years, the level of catch oscillated from one year to another, ranged from 2,100 to 3,800 t, excepting the 1998 when a value of 4,431 t was reached.

• As a general rule, at the Romanian littoral the passive fishing is focussed in the first 3-4 months of the fishing season (April-July), when the main fishing species (sprat, whiting and anchovy) are moving toward the coasts in searching food and for spawning.

• The sprat fishing agglomerations, assessed by trawling swept area method, are still at low levels, presenting high fluctuations from a period to another, accordingly with the existence of favorable conditions for making agglomerations.

• During the last years, the anchovy gave the highest part of catches obtained in the shallow waters (where the pound nets are installed, 3-11 m depths); its contribution in the pound nets catches increased from 34.2% (1999) to 44% (2001).

• The horse mackerel occurs at the Romanian littoral later May, but with small quantities (0.6%), but progressively increasing up to September (about 11%). In the offshore sector, the horse mackerel is signalled only in September.

• The agglomerations of bluefish occurred in high quantities, both in shallow and offshore waters, in August, September and October; during the rest of months this species could appear only in isolated individuals.

• On whole fish species of commercial importance at Romanian littoral, the stock state is enough different, with an obvious tendency of recovery for anchovy and a slight tendency to re-establish for bluefish, grey mullet and horse mackerel. In a critical period for others fish species, only the sprat and whiting have presented a natural fluctuation almost normal and a state relative good.

Catches realized at the Romanian littoral

Total catches of pelagic species at the Romanian littoral

Total catches of demersal species at the Romanian littoral

The main problems that face the Romanian fishery are:

- Strong reduction of catches in the passive fishery owing to the decrease of the anchovy and horse mackerel stocks and to the intensity of fish migration from shallow waters, where the environmental conditions have been continuously deteriorating. The incomes of the fishery companies as well as their staff are drastically reduced.

- The change of catch structure, where the less valuable species are predominant, limits the production and its diversification of final products.

- So far have been no suitable legal and institutional framework, and this fact has favoured the proliferation of the illegal and uncontrolled fishery in the Romanian exclusive economic zone of the Black Sea. The over-fishing is mainly directed to the valuable species (e.g. turbot).

- The free market and imported products have caused the limitation of the traditionally prepared products and the reduction of their price until the limit of the profitableness.

- Absence of an integrated management at the whole Black Sea basin, imposed by the transzonal character of distribution and migration of main marine pelagic fish.

Finally, protection of living resources from Black Sea must be realized on the basis of an adequate legal and institutional framework both at national and regional level.

The transboundary character of the living resources from the Black Sea imposes the necessity for coordinated efforts at regional level for their exploiting and protection.

Major lacks in the management practices at national level are:

- no coordination at regional level regarding the assessment of fish stocks and the environmental factors influencing them;

- not fully implementation of regulations in compliance with UE norms regarding the permits for fishing, vessel licenses, establishing the fishing quotas and other conditions for fishing (zones, periods, type of gears);

- achievement of efficient systems for fishing inspection and control;

- lack of facilities for preventing the illegal fishing;

- lack of annual assessment of the fish stocks at regional level.

Basis for sustainable development:

a) Legal framework:

- Bucharest Convention (Convention on the Black Sea protection against pollution);

- ACCOBAMS Agreement;

- Law 192/2001 (Fishing Fund, Fishery and Aquaculture);

- Law 17/1990 and 36/2002 (Juridical regime of inner maritime waters, of territorial sea and Romanian contiguous zone);

- Law 137/1995 (Environmental Protection);

b) Institutional framework:

- National Company for Fishery Administration
- Fishery Inspection
- esearch Institutions
- Regional Activity Centre for Fishery in the Black Sea

c) Management system:-

- Vessel licensing
- Fishing authorisation
- Fishing Vessel Register
- Quota System

BLACK SEA FISHERIES REGIONAL COOPERATION - AG FOMLR

The Advisory Group on Environmental Aspects of Management of Fisheries and Other Living Resources (AG FOMLR) is an integral part of the Black Sea Commission, institutional structure and constitutes its subsidiary body.

The AG FOMLR is directly subordinated to and supported by the Black Sea Commission and its Permanent Secretariat and shall report to the Black Sea Commission on yearly basis. The general coordination for the AG FOMLR is assigned by the Commission to the appropriate officer of its Permanent Secretariat and supported by the Director of the Activity Centre on Environmental Aspects of Fisheries and Other Marine Resources Management.

The AG FOMLR is comprised of the national focal points nominated by the Contracting Parties and responsible for facilitation of links between the Black Sea Commission and the relevant national fisheries authorities and regional and national scientific; the national focal points speaks on behalf of their countries and are responsible for the accurate and timely delivered national information on the management of fisheries and other living resources necessary for the Black Sea Commission.

The AG FOMLR acts in advisory, coordinating, and information capacities for the regional purposes of the Black Sea Commission by:

• drafting recommendations and policies for the Black Sea Commission for the followings:

  - preparing a draft and facilitating the adoption of the Legally Binding Instrument for Fisheries in the Black Sea

  - formulating the regional policies and proposing regional strategy and actions for implementation of the ecosystem-based fisheries management and for implementation of the FAO Code for Responsible Fisheries in the Black Sea;

  - strengthening the relationships between the fisheries sector and environmental authorities (both national and international relevant institutions and governmental bodies as well international organizations and the private sector)

  - assisting the Contracting Parties in implementing regionally the FAO Code for Responsible Fisheries

  - cooperation with FAO and other organizations and agreements

  - measures to prevent the illegal fishing practices

  - harmonization of a legal and institutional framework at the regional level aimed at sustainable use of living resources

  - assessments of the efficiency of fisheries management system and impact of the existing fisheries practices

  - improvement of management of the Black Sea fish stock exploitation based on harmonized methodologies of assessments based on agreed regional criteria

  - development of projects and programs for protection and rehabilitation of marine living resources and fish habitats

  - improvement of the aquaculture practice and technologies which do not harm coastal and marine environment, biological diversity and human health

• acting as a regional consulting body for regionally important activities related to environmental aspects of fisheries for the Black Sea countries in close collaboration national authorities and with FAO

• compiling the information on national systems of enforcement and fish stocks in order to establish a regionally harmonized enforcement system

• coordinating the regional trainings in responsible management in fisheries and measures for combating illegal fishing as it deems necessary;

• drafting proposals and attracting the international financial assistance for solving regionally important environmental problems related to sustainable use of marine living resources ;

• ensuring the regular information flow into regional database on the fisheries and other marine living resources an integral part of the Black Sea Information System.

The AG FOMLR shall closely cooperate with the other advisory groups of the Black Sea Commission in order to propose the coherent and cost effective measures for the protection and rehabilitation of the Black Sea ecosystem, namely:

- with AG ESAS for establishing the sensitive areas and their mapping in particular referring to the migratory routes of transboundary fish species;

- with AG CBD for establishing conservation status of fish species and their habitats;

- with AG ICZM for promoting development of aquaculture sector and preventing introduction of species of possible harm for the indigenous fish populations;

- with PMA in assessing the environmental impact of fisheries and identifying monitoring needs for fisheries and aquaculture important areas based on ecosystem approach.

Briefly, the basis for sustainable development must be build through the implementation:

- ecosystem based fisheries management;
- provisions of the BSSAP (Black Sea Strategic Action Plan);

The main objectives of cooperation:

- Preparation of Legal Binding Document for Fisheries;
- Harmonization of fishery regulations at the regional level;
- Regular regionally coordinated stock assessment
- Regional/national quota system
- Regional/ national vessel licensing system
- Implementation of FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.
- Establishment of fishing free zone.

SPAIN

Three institutions are regularly involved in marine research in the Spanish Mediterranean: Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) and Gabinete de Economía del Mar de la Universidad de Barcelona (GEM). Moreover at least 20 Universities and public Institutions are specialized in marine research.

During 2003-2004, the IEO have monitored the fisheries of the main commercial species at the principal landing sites. For these species not only data on landings and effort are recorded but also biological information under the guidelines of the National Program supported by the EU for the collection and management of fisheries data in accordance with Community programmes. Data information is managed in the frame of the database SIRENO developed by the IEO. The target demersal species sampled are Hake, Red mullet, Stripped red mullet, Anglerfish (2 species), Horse mackerel (2 species), Common octopus, Eledone cirrhosa, Aristeus antennatus and Parapenaeus longirostris, while the target small pelagic species are Anchovy and Sardine, and the target large pelagic species are Albacore, Bluefin tuna and Swordfish.

Available assessments of demersal and small pelagic species have been presented to the respective SAC Working Groups. More specifically, assessments were discussed for hake, red mullet, stripped red mullet, Aristeus antennatus, anchovy and sardine. Large pelagic fisheries were analized in ICCAT and in the ICCAT-GFCM Working Groups.

The 10^th international bottom trawl survey MEDITS was carried out with the aim of estimating relative abundances indexes for the main demersal species; this survey is also an activity related with the National Program. Two other bottom trawl surveys, initiated in 2001, were performed: BALAR survey off Mallorca and Menorca (GSA5), areas not covered by the MEDITS survey, and the LEDER survey off Alicante (GSA3).

ECOMED, an acoustic survey to estimate small pelagic biomass in GSA1 and GSA3 was carried out in autumn 2003. Additionally a Continuous Underwater Fish Egg Sampler (CUFES) was used to delimit the sardine spawning areas.

Another survey, TUNIBAL, was carried out in GSA5 defining the spawning areas for bluefin tuna as well as monitoring the environmental conditions of its spawning habitat.

Moreover, during this intersessional period a series of quarterly surveys monitoring oceanographic conditions off Málaga (GSA1), Murcia (GSA3) and Mallorca (GSA5) were carried out.

During 2003-2004, seven selectivity experiences using a 40 mm square mesh of trawls gears regularly used by the trawl fleet were performed. The main results show that the use of square mesh would improve the exploitation pattern for the main commercial species.

Other research activities are related to Marine Protected Areas. In this case, three topics are studied: quantification of exported biomass from the MPAs to adjacent areas, evolution of the resources in areas previously exploited and currently protected and monitoring of artisanal fisheries.

BACK COVER

The seventh session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) was held in Rome, Italy, from 19 to 22 October 2004. It was attended by delegates from nineteen Members of the Commission. The Committee reviewed work by its subcommittees during the intersessional period, appraised scientific activities, formulated advice on fishery management and identified complementary research needs. It agreed on its workplan for 2005. In particular, SAC emphasized the need to ensure the availability of more scientific contributions, data and analysis, as well as a greater coverage of GFCM Geographical Sub-Areas (GSAs). It stressed the need to foster on task-oriented advisory process driven by the Commission and to formulate multidisciplinary management advice, encompassing multispecies fisheries and in conformity with an ecosystem approach. SAC reiterated the importance of identifying indicators and reference points for each fishery and operational unit. It strongly advised to refrain expending deepwater fishing operations beyond 1 000-metre depth. The Committee provided additional suggestions for increasing its functional efficiency. It favoured the formalization of the Coordinating meeting of the Sub-Committees and the strengthening of the Joint GFCM/ICCAT Working Group on Large Pelagics through updating its mandate. SAC also called for greater cooperation with the Committee on Aquaculture (CAQ) on selected issues.