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The exploitation status of marine fisheries stocks worldwide is of critical importance for food security, ecosystem conservation, and fishery sustainability. Applying a suite of data-limited methods to global catch data, combined through an ensemble modeling approach, we provide quantitative estimates of exploitation status for 785 fish stocks. Fifty-three percent (414 stocks) are below B-MSY and of these, 265 are estimated to be below 80% of the B-MSY level. While the 149 stocks above 80% of B-MSY are conventionally considered "fully exploited," stocks staying at this level for many years, forego substantial yield. Our results enable managers to consider more detailed information than simply a categorization of stocks as "fully" or "over" exploited. Our approach is reproducible, allows consistent application to a broad range of stocks, and can be easily updated as new data become available. Applied on an ongoing basis, this approach can provide critical, more detailed information for resource management for more exploited fish stocks than currently available.

The Mediterranean and Black Sea list of stocks to be used for computing the indicators was based on a ranking system approach for which the species having a rank in the first ten positions either in total live weight or total economic values were chosen. Landings and economic values for the Mediterranean and Black Sea (FAO area 37) provided by “2016_STECF 16-11 - EU Fleet Economic and Transversal data tables” were used. The reference years were 2012 and 2014 (the last three years available for all the GSAs) and, as geographic strata, the Geographical Sub Areas (GSAs) belonging to EU countries and for which data were available were considered. In the top ranking 10 stocks based on both in terms of live weight and economic value by GSA applied to AER Landings, many combined/nei groups categories were selected. Based on local expert knowledge it was possible split some mixed categories at species level while, it was decided to drop from the list both the misreporting species and the mixed categories for which it wasn't possible defined clearly the species composition. Eventually 230 stocks were selected., JRC.D.2-Water and Marine Resources

The a4a approach to Management Strategies Evaluation ( MSE ) is to develop a set of common methods and procedures to build a minimal standard MSE algorithm. This has the most common elements of both uncertainty and management options. Such a tool set should allow for the development of MSE simulations for many fisheries in an operational time frame. Between the 30th of January and the 3rd of February, in Ispra, Italy, the JRC organized a workshop on development of MSE algorithms with R/FLR/a4a. The workshop was a mix of hands-on coding and discussion/implementation of concepts associated with MSEs. The participants used the most recent version of the a4a MSE code, modularized the most important processes and developed their own version of several processes so that the MSE could model and test alternative management procedures to the one initially coded., JRC.D.2-Water and Marine Resources

Common Fisheries Policy Monitoring - Protocol for computing indicators This document presents the protocol to compute indicators for monitoring the Common Fisheries Policy. A set of indicators both design-based and model-based are described mathematically. The list of stocks that should form the dataset on which the indicators are computed is also described as well as a set of rules to update the stocks' lists when needed. The protocol was presented and approved by the STECF's 2015 winter plenary (STECF-PLEN-15-03)., JRC.G.3-Maritime affairs

With the objective of applying the a4a methods to real life situations the JRC held a Workshop on stock assessment for the Hellenic small pelagic stocks in the Aegean Sea (JRC, Italy) between the 4th and 7th of May 2015. The main objectives were to compare assessment models and incorporate environmental indices into stock forecasts., JRC.G.3-Maritime affairs

DG Mare called the DCF Data from Member States in the Mediterranean and Black Sea on April 2014, defining the deadline of 9 June 2014 for data submissions from member states, under the Community Framework of Data Collection Regulation (DCR) (Council Regulation (EC) № 199/2008 of 25th February 2008). A second deadline specific for the Black Sea was established on 8 September 2014. The data call also defined a third deadline 12 January 2015 for the submission of trawl surveys data for Mediterranean MS. aruptii. The DCF data submitted by national correspondents are duly evaluated in the present coverage report by JRC DCF team as part of an Administrative Arrangement with DG MARE. The report provides a detailed review of the timeliness and completeness of data submissions by Member States., JRC.G.3-Maritime affairs

This work presents the application to Mediterranean stocks of a set of model-based indicators, being developed for monitoring the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The work constitutes an application of the methodology, as such the results should not be used as representative of the CFP implementation in the Mediterranean. This document is mainly constituted of R code, showing how the indicators can be computed and presenting a set of diagnostics and stability tests. The models tested were a linear model, a linear mixed effects model with random intercept by stock, a GAMM with random intercept by stock and a GAMM with random intercept by Mediterranean GSA and species. The stability tests were designed to evaluate the estimates of recent (2003-2013) time series of trends in SSB and annual mean values of F/Fmsy. The results were presented to the STECF's 2015 winter plenary (STECF-PLEN-15-03)., JRC.G.3-Maritime affairs

The reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) has introduced a landings obligation to end the practice of discarding at sea. The ecological and economic effects of these landings obligations are unknown for many mixed fisheries. It seems likely, though, that fishing fleets will adaptively respond to the new policy, trying to sustain viable fisheries under the new policy constraints. Here, we present a methodology to project the effects of the landings obligation on the sustainability and profitability of mixed fisheries under quota management using a dynamic state variable model. The adaptive response of the fleets to different implementation scenarios will be mimicked evaluating some scenarios that include: (i) a complete discards ban, and (ii) a combination of de minimis and inter-species flexibility in quota use. These scenarios will be compared with the results of maintaining a policy permitting all discards. The final comparison across alternative discard management regimes will look at both the ecological and economic indicators. The Basque trawl mixed fishery on the Bay of Biscay is used as case study., JRC.G.3-Maritime affairs

Under the scope of the a4a Initiative, the JRC is promoting cooperative activities between fisheries scientists with the aim to test, disseminate and promote a4a methods. These Small Research Projects (SRP) are focus on comparing the results of assessments from other models to assessments obtained from the a4a statistical catch-at-age model, and explore research questions using case studies. The Workshop dedicated to the Mediterranean took place in Ispra, Italy, the 23rd to the 27th of June. The main objectives were to compare assessment models and develop multi-fleet forecasts methodologies. These can be applied in the context of ex-ante/ex- post evaluations of multi-annual plans, performed by STECF in order to provide scientific advice to the European Commission., JRC.G.3-Maritime affairs

Current European fisheries management is changing rapidly, aiming towards implementation of an “Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries” in which maximum sustainable yields is maintained for all commercially important fish stocks. Such a maximum sustainable yield is conceptually trivial when species are considered in isolation. However, when ecosystem effects such as competition and predation are accounted for, trade-offs between socio-economic factors and ecosystem functioning occur, dependent on management choices. In addition, fishing vessels will be obliged to land all fish caught, banning “discarding” of fish. The recent discard ban imposed in the reformed European Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) enhance the known dilemma of resolving the strain between biological, economic and conservation objectives in fisheries., JRC.G.3-Maritime affairs

The main objectives of the study presented in this report were to test the FLBEIA API, condition an operating model for the North Sea mixed fisheries and provide feedback on bioeconomic modelling limitations. Additionally, Fishrent and Fcube were also tested. FLR, FLBEIA, Fishrent and Fcube are software packages implemented by the scientific community studying fisheries to run bioeconomic models. A large test was carried out on FLBEIA by both running existing examples and trying to implement a bioeconomic model for the North Sea. In general the group felt FLBEIA is on the correct path to provide a bioeconomic modeling framework, although some work is still required. FLBEIA is not ready yet for production. A list of bugs and improvements was assembled. Conditioning a bioeconomic operating model for the North Sea showed the difficulties of merging economic and biological information. Inconsistencies on the effort definition seem to create additional problems when relating both sources of information. This subject must be further explored. The exercise was successful but data problems prevented the performance of a full economic analysis, although trend analysis on economic indicators for each scenario tested was possible. Nevertheless, these results must be taken carefully., JRC.G.4-Maritime affairs

The a4a initiative seeks to overcome these issues by developing a flexible, robust and easy to use stock assessment model, thus making stock assessment accessible to a wide range of scientists that do not have the high skilled quantitative background required to run very complex models. Forthcoming research will describe how to overcome the burden of producing catch advice for such a large number of stocks. This technical report presents assessment model simulation testing undertaken under the a4a Initiative., JRC.G.4-Maritime affairs

The a4a initiative aims to provide timely and cost effective advice for the circa. 250 fish stocks that, through the EU Data Collection Framework, will have at least 10 years of data by the year 2020. Current processes for assessing the state of and managing fish stocks are intensive processes, each stock requiring the attention of one or more stock assessment scientist to produce preliminary catch advice, which is subsequently reviewed by one or two committees before the final catch advice is published. Ingrained in the development of these processes has been the development of more and more complex stock assessment models which typically require highly skilled personnel to set up and run., JRC.G.4-Maritime affairs

This work replies to a request from STECF EWG 11 15 to JRC to provide tests on the robustness of the target shing mortality (Ftrgt) and biomass trigger (Btrg) used on the harvest control rule (HCR) of the Baltic pelagic stocks. The main conclusion is that the successful candidates must assure Btrg is above the S/R break point and an exploitation level that is consistent with Btrg considering the stock dynamics., JRC.G.4-Maritime affairs

This work deals with uncertainty on the estimation of Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) Y considering the most likely factors to affect the stocks subject to Fisheries Partnership Agreements. A Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) algoritm was used using three management procedures., JRC.G.4-Maritime affairs

Commission Decision of 25 February 2016 setting up a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, C(2016) 1084, OJ C 74, 26.2.2016, p. 4–10. The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to marine and fisheries biology, fishing gear technology, fisheries economics, fisheries governance, ecosystem effects of fisheries, aquaculture or similar disciplines. The Expert Working Group meeting of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries EWG 16-17 was held from 19 Nov-25 Nov 2016 in Ispra, Italy to assess the status of demersal and small pelagic stocks in the Mediterranean Sea against the proposed FMSY reference points. Thehe report was reviewed by the STECF plenary in March 2017., JRC.D.2-Water and Marine Resources

Commission Decision of 25 February 2016 setting up a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, C(2016) 1084, OJ C 74, 26.2.2016, p. 4–10. The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to marine and fisheries biology, fishing gear technology, fisheries economics, fisheries governance, ecosystem effects of fisheries, aquaculture or similar disciplines. This report deals with monitoring the performance of the Common Fisheries Policy., JRC.D.2-Water and Marine Resources

Commission Decision of 25 February 2016 setting up a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, C(2016) 1084, OJ C 74, 26.2.2016, p. 4–10. The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to marine and fisheries biology, fishing gear technology, fisheries economics, fisheries governance, ecosystem effects of fisheries, aquaculture or similar disciplines. The Expert Working Group meeting of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries EWG 16-08 was held from 14 December to 18 December 2015 in Rome, Italy to assess the status of demersal and small pelagic stocks in the Mediterranean Sea against the proposed FMSY reference points. The report was reviewed by the STECF plenary in April 2016., JRC.E.6-Demography, Migration and Governance

Commission Decision of 25 February 2016 setting up a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, C(2016) 1084, OJ C 74, 26.2.2016, p. 4–10. The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to marine and fisheries biology, fishing gear technology, fisheries economics, fisheries governance, ecosystem effects of fisheries, aquaculture or similar disciplines. The Expert Working Group meeting of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries EWG 16-13 was held from 26 Sep-30 Sep 2016 in Barza, Italy to assess the status of demersal and small pelagic stocks in the Mediterranean Sea against the proposed FMSY reference points.The report was reviewed by the STECF plenary in October 2016., JRC.D.2-Water and Marine Resources

An ad hoc Expert Group on ‘Monitoring the performance of the Common Fisheries Policy’ composed of JRC experts was held on 1-5th February 2016 at JRC, Ispra, Italy. The ad hoc report was finalized and subsequently reviewed by the STECF by written procedure during March 2016. This report is a CORRIGENDUM to the report STECF-16-03., JRC.G.3-Maritime affairs

The STECF expert working group "EWG 1419 - Mediterranean assessment part 2", has convened in Rome during 19-23 January 2015 and addressed a series of issues as requested by DG MARE in the correspomnding terms of references. The detailed output of this working group efforts is included in the following report. The report was reviewed by the STECF spring plenary during 13-17 April 2015., JRC.G.3-Maritime affairs

The Expert Working Group meeting of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries EWG 15-11 was held from 31 Aug - 04 Sep 2015 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain to assess the status of small pelagic stocks in the Adriatic Sea. The report was reviewed by written procedure during September 2015., JRC.G.3-Maritime affairs

The STECF EWG-15-06 took place to set up best practice standardized procedures to reconstruct times series of historical discard and landings data to be used in future stock assessment of Mediterranean stocks, to check and revise R codes, to carry out a sensitivity analysis, and to set up a best practice standardized procedures for estimating ranges of FMSY and biomass reference points. The STECF reviewed the report during its 49th plenary meeting held from 6 to 10 July 2015 in Varese, Italy., JRC.G.3-Maritime affairs

The Expert Working Group meeting of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries EWG 15-11 was held from 31 Aug-04 Sep 2015 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain to assess the status of demersal and small pelagic stocks in the Mediterranean Sea against the proposed FMSY reference points. The report was reviewed by the STECF plenary in November 2015., JRC.G.3-Maritime affairs

The Expert Working Group meeting of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries EWG 13-19 was held from 9 – 13 December 2013 in Brussels, Belgium to assess the status of demersal and small pelagic stocks in the Mediterranean Sea against the proposed FMSY reference point. The report was reviewed by the STECF during its spring plenary held from 24 to 28 March 2014 in Brussels (Belgium)., JRC.G.4-Maritime affairs

The Expert Working Group meeting of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries EWG 14-14 was held from 6 -10 October 2014 in Barza d'Ispra, Italy to assess the status of demersal and small pelagic stocks in the Mediterranean Sea against the proposed FMSY reference points. The report was reviewed by the STECF by written procedure in October 2014., JRC.G.3-Maritime affairs

The Expert Working Group meeting of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries EWG 13-09 was held from 15 – 19 July 2013 in Ispra, Italy to assess the status of demersal and small pelagic stocks in the Mediterranean Sea against the proposed FMSY reference points. The report was reviewed and endorsed by the STECF during its Spring plenary held from 4 to 8 November 2013 in Brussels (Belgium)., JRC.G.4-Maritime affairs

The Expert Working Group meeting of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries EWG 13-12 was held from 30 September – 4 October 2013 in Ispra, Italy to assess the status of demersal and small pelagic stocks in the Mediterranean Sea against the proposed FMSY reference point. The report was reviewed by the STECF by written procedure in October 2013., JRC.G.4-Maritime affairs

The Ad-hoc Working Group of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries EWG worked by correspondence to conducut assessemts of Merluccius merluccius, Mullus barbatus, Mullus surmuletus, Boops boops, Spicara smaris/Spicara flexuosa and Nephrops norvegicus in Aegean and Ionian waters. The report was reviewed by the STECF during its 41st plenary held from 5 to 9 November 2012 in Brussels (Belgium)., JRC.G.4-Maritime affairs

The Expert Working Group meeting of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries EWG 12-10 was held from 16 – 20 July in Sete, France, to assess the status of demersal and small pelagic stocks in the Mediterranean Sea against the proposed FMSY reference point. The report was reviewed and endorsed by the STECF during its 41th plenary held from 5 to 9 November 2012 in Brussels (Belgium)., JRC.G.4-Maritime affairs