The plan covers fisheries for species in Spanish, French and Italian waters of the Mediterranean Sea. According to the Annual Economic Report (AER) of 2023, more than 4,300 fishers and over 1,200 trawlers are active in the western Mediterranean Sea, including both the demersal coastal and deep-water sectors.
During the plan’s transition period, a fishing effort regime for trawlers was introduced to achieve an overall reduction of 40 per cent of fishing effort within five years. In December 2021, based on scientific advice, the Council introduced a holistic approach, combining effort measures for both trawlers and longliners and catch limits for deep-water shrimps.