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Tzanatos, E., Castro, J., Forcada, A., Matić-Skoko, S., Gaspar, M., and Koutsikopoulos, C. 2013. A Métier-Sustainability-Index (MSI25) to evaluate fisheries components: assessment of cases from data-poor fisheries from southern Europe. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 70:78–98. The present work presents an integrated comparative assessment of the sustainability of fishing tactics or métiers (combinations of area, season, fishing gear, and target species). An index, which includes biological, conservation, socioeconomic, and management criteria, was created for this purpose: the “Métier Sustainability Index” (MSI25). It was designed using the traffic lights approach and comprises 25 indicators that refer to the “health” of the fisheries. Additionally, the MSI25 provides an indication of the “certainty” of that information with regard to the data type/heterogeneity. Subsequently, the index was tested using data from six case studies (81 métiers) from the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. The index showed that 63.0% of the métiers were “sustainable”, 21.0% were “unsustainable” and 16.0% were “under pressure”; 59.3% of characterizations were considered as “certain”. The index evaluation showed significant differences between areas and gears. This paper considers the characteristics of the datasets used, the case management status, and the applicability of the index in improving the management of specific fisheries. Overall, the MSI25 was found to be a useful tool for the evaluation and management of highly heterogeneous fisheries and data from various sources and types.

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Punzón, A., Hernández, C., Abad, E., Castro, J., Pérez, N., and Trujillo, V. 2010. Spanish otter trawl fisheries in the Cantabrian Sea. – ICES Journal of Marine Science 67: 1604–1616 A non-hierarchical classification technique (clustering large applications, CLARA) was used to identify four fishing tactics of Spanish otter trawlers in the Cantabrian Sea (ICES Division VIIIc) from 1983 to 2004: mixed fishing, blue whiting fishing, horse mackerel fishing, and mackerel fishing. There were no significant differences in the fishing tactics employed by two trawl fleets identified using a non-hierarchical classification technique (partition around medoids). There was, however, a decline in the use of the blue whiting fishing tactic from 2000 on, perhaps as a result of competition with pairtrawls, a gear whose main target species is blue whiting. There was an increase in the number of trips using the mackerel fishing tactic from 1996, a change possibly caused by improved market conditions. Between 2000 and 2004, the fleets had two distinct behaviour patterns, identified depending on the area in which they operated. The study area could therefore be subdivided into two areas based on the prevalence of the fishing tactic followed. The horse mackerel fishing tactic was more commonly used in the west, and the mixed fishing tactic in the east.

The landing obligation policy was one of the major innovations introduced in the last Common Fisheries Policy reform in Europe. It is foreseen that the policy will affect the use of fishing opportunities and hence the economic performance of the fleets. The problem with fishing opportunities could be solved if single-stock total allowable catches (TACs) could be achieved simultaneously for all the stocks. In this study, we evaluate the economic impact of the landing obligation policy on the Spanish demersal fleet operating in the Iberian Sea region. To generate TAC advice, we used two sets of maximum sustainable yield (MSY) reference points, the single-stock MSY reference points defined by ICES and a set of multistock reference points calculated simultaneously using a bioeconomic optimization model. We found that the impact of the landing obligation is time and fleet dependent and highly influenced by assumptions about fleet dynamics. At fishery level, multistock reference points mitigate the decrease in the net present value generated by the implementation of the landing obligation. However at fleet level, the effect depends on the fleet itself and the period. To ensure the optimum use of fishing opportunities, the landing obligation should be accompanied by a management system that guarantees consistency between single-stock TACs. In this regard, multistock reference points represent an improvement over those currently in use. However, further investigation is necessary to enhance performance both at fleet level and in the long term.

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SUMMARY:The classification and identification of all the Spanish fishing activity targeting deep-sea species was conducted using a non-hierarchical classification technique designed for large matrices (CLARA). Otter trawl and set longlines were the main gears used in deep-sea ecosystems. The otter trawl fleet conducted 3 deep-sea fishing tactics. The only otter trawl fishing tactic targeting deep-sea species was that working in the VI ICES Division and targeting Alepocephalus baiirdi. The other 2 otter trawl fishing tactics targeted shallower shelf demersal resources, deep-sea species being secondary (Phycis blennoides). The longline fleet carried out 7 fishing tactics targeting deep-sea species (Molva spp.; deep water sharks; P. blennoides; Pagellus bogaraveo; and Trichiuridae) and 2 fishing tactics targeting Conger conger, which perform as deepsea fishing tactics in the narrow continental shelf area. This classification, together with knowledge regarding their seasonal performance and spatial distribution, may help to design fisheries sampling protocols and to improve the management of these fleets, thus reducing their impact on deep-sea habitats.Keywords: Northeast Atlantic, métiers, fisheries, deep sea, trawl, longline, multivariate. RESUMEN: Pesquerías españolas de gran profundidad en el Atlántico Nordeste. Estacionalidad y distribución espacial. -Para la clasificación e identificación de todas las pesquerías españolas que actúan sobre especies de gran profundidad se ha utilizado una técnica de cluster no jerárquica diseñada para grandes matrices (CLARA). El arrastre con puertas y el palangre de fondo fueron los aparejos más importantes. Solamente la táctica pesquera de arrastre con puertas desarrollada en la División VI del ICES está dirigida a especies de profundidad, siendo la especie objetivo Alepocephalus baiirdi. Las otras dos tácticas pesqueras con arrastre de puertas son mixtas, teniendo como objetivo especies típicas de plataforma, y teniendo las especies de profundidad como secundarias (Phycis blennoides). La flota de palangre desarrolla siete tácticas pesqueras dirigidas a especies de profundidad: Molva spp.; tiburones de profundidad; P. blennoides; Pagellus bogaraveo; Trichiuridae; y dos pesquerías dirigidas a Conger conger, que se comportan como tácticas pesqueras de profundidad en las zonas de plataforma estrecha. Esta clasificación junto con el conocimiento acerca de su comportamiento estacional y espacial, ayudarán al diseño de los protocolos de muestreo de estas pesquerías así como a la mejora de la gestión de estas pesquerías contribuyendo a una reducción de su impacto en los hábitats profundos.