Research for PECH Committee - Discard ban, Landing Obligation and MSY in the Western Mediterranean Sea - the Spanish Case

Staidéar 13-11-2018

The demersal fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea are heavily overfished but the landing obligation will not help to reach MSY because it will not decrease fishing mortality. The new proposal of the Commission introduces total allowable effort as a new way to regulate Western Mediterranean demersal fisheries by significantly reducing fishing time. However, this new management measure must be complemented with increased gear selectivity, implementation of closed areas and local co-management plans.Different approaches to reduce fishing mortality may have different socio-economic impact.