Evaluation of Demersal Resources as Essential Tool for a Long Term Common Fisheries Policy (CFP): the Role of the Scientific Research

The Common Fisheries Policy, the European Union's instrument for the management of fisheries, was reformed in 2002 to ensure sustainable exploitation of fisheries stocks. The reform introduced a precautionary long-term approach to protect and conserve living aquatic resources and to minimise the impact of fishing activities on marine ecosystems. The most part of fish stocks are overexploited; these populations could increase if fishing pressure decreased for only few years. Fisheries stocks today are constituted of young and small fish that are mostly caught before they can reproduce. In 2009 the EC published a Green Paper aimed to stimulate a debate on the reform. On this topic, the researchers of IAMC of Messina are involved in several national and European projects aimed to the evaluation of the demersal resources. The focal points undertaken are: stocks monitoring by trawl surveys and commercial landings: two case-studies are reported, the evaluation of Helicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus and of Aristaeomorpha foliacea and Aristeus antennatus; gear selectivity: the effect of mesh configuration and mesh size on the codend selectivity of the species A. foliacea and Mullus barbatus have been investigated; nursery areas distribution have been identified using GIS approach; no-taken zones monitoring; analysis of demersal assemblages; evaluation of parasitosis effects on ichthyic populations and genetic identifications of demersal stocks. A synthesis of the main themes treated during last years is reported together with the more interesting results obtained.