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MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE DEROGATION OF THE GREEK PURSE SEINE FLEET FROM THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 13 OF (EC) 1967/2006 ATHENS 2008

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Page 1: MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE DEROGATION OF THE GREEK …

MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE

DEROGATION OF THE GREEK PURSE SEINE

FLEET FROM THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE

13 OF (EC) 1967/2006

ATHENS 2008

Page 2: MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE DEROGATION OF THE GREEK …

2

Contents 1. MANAGEMENT PLAN OBJECTIVE .......................................................................................................... 3

2. THE PURSE SEINE FISHERY IN GREECE ............................................................................................... 4

2.1. General ........................................................................................................................................................ 4

2.2. The Greek purse seine fleet ......................................................................................................................... 4

2.3. Greek legislation in force ............................................................................................................................ 5

2.4. EU legislation .............................................................................................................................................. 6

2.5. Fishing effort ............................................................................................................................................... 6

2.6. Landings ...................................................................................................................................................... 7

2.7. Discarded catches from the purse seine fishery ........................................................................................... 8

3. MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE SUSTAINABLE EXPLOITATION OF THE ANCHOVY

AND SARDINE STOCKS ............................................................................................................................... 10

3.1. Target-species of the management plan .................................................................................................... 10

3.2. Current state of the management plan's target-stocks................................................................................ 11

3.2.1. Landings ................................................................................................................................................. 11

3.2.2. Discards of the target-species ................................................................................................................. 13

3.3. Effects of purse seine operations to the environment ................................................................................ 14

3.3.1. Impact to the demersal stocks ................................................................................................................. 14

3.3.2. Impact to the sea bottom and benthos .................................................................................................... 14

3.4. Financial impact from the application of the Reg. (EC)1967/2006 on the purse seine fishery in

Greece. .............................................................................................................................................................. 16

3.4.1. Significant reduction of the available small pelagic fish available for fishing ....................................... 16

3.4.2. Increase of the fishing trip duration ........................................................................................................ 18

3.4.3. Reduction of the available traditional fishing grounds (by area)............................................................ 19

3.5. Reference points for the application of the management plan................................................................... 20

3.5.1. Anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus) ....................................................................................................... 20

3.5.2. Sardine (Sardina pilchardus) .................................................................................................................. 22

4. MONITORING PLAN FOR THE TARGET-STOCKS AND THE REFERENCE POINTS ..................... 25

4.1. Eco-sounding and hydroacoustic survey ................................................................................................... 25

4.2. Landing sampling ...................................................................................................................................... 26

4.3. Purse seine segment landings .................................................................................................................... 27

4.4. Study of possible additional measure for the reduction of discards .......................................................... 27

4.5. Time schedule of the monitoring plan for each year ................................................................................. 28

4.6. Administration procedures regarding the special fishing permits ............................................................. 28

5. RESUME ...................................................................................................................................................... 30

6. REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................. 33

Annexes

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1. MANAGEMENT PLAN OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present management plan is to support derogation from the provisions of

paragraph 3 of article 13 of the Reg. (EC) 1967/2006 in accordance to paragraph 5 of the same

article in relation to the minimum distances and depths and other measures

Article 13, paragraph 3: minimum distances and depths for the operation of fishing gears

The use of purse seines shall be prohibited within 300 meters of the coast or within the 50 metres

isobath where that depth is reached at a shorter distance from the coast. A purse seine shall not be

deployed at depths less than 70 % of the overall drop of the purse seine itself as measured in Annex

II to this Regulation.

The present management plan provides specific information so that the purse seine vessels operate

under the previous measure regime i.e. allow fishing with purse seines shall be prohibited within

300 meters of the coast or within the 30 meters isobath where that depth is reached at a

shorter distance from the coast regardless the vertical drop size of the nets.

The present management plan provides also for the issuing of special fishing permits in accordance

with Regulation (EC) 1627/94

The present management plan provides:

scientific evidence which prove that derogation of the provisions of article 13, paragraph 3

in relation to the purse seine gear and the traditional way of use in Greece today are

substantiated

information related to the purse seine fishery in Greece so that the negative effects from the

application of the new measures on the fishery production and economics of the sector are

recognized

technical information on the use and operation of the traditional purse seine gear

a detailed management plan for the management of the purse seine target species stocks in

accordance to article 6, of (EC) 2371/2002 on management plans and article 19 of (EC)

1967/2006 and especially:

1. identify the target species and their ranking of priority

2. set reference points and targets for their sustainable exploitation

3. identify the fleet segment

4. elaborate the management plan in accordance to the ecosystem-based approach and

precautionary approach

5. propose management measures for the protection of the stocks in accordance to article

19, (EC) 1967/2006 considering the state of stocks, the biological characteristic of the

target-species, the characteristics of the fishery and the fleet and the economic effects

from the application of the new measures

6. the proposal of technical measures, the technical characteristics of the gears, the areas

and periods for fishing of target-species, the minimum landing sizes

7. the protection of the environment from the use of the gear

8. the proposal of indicators and indicator's monitoring plan for the control of the stocks of

the target-species

9. the definition of an annual monitoring plan of the management plan's control indicators

10. the study of the selectivity of the purse seine nets

11. the procedure for the issuing of special fishing permits in accordance to the Reg (EC)

1627/1994

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2. THE PURSE SEINE FISHERY IN GREECE

2.1. General

The purse seine fishery is especially important for the Greek fishery sector economy since it is the

only gear which targets small pelagic species and especially anchovy and sardines. The purse seine

is a mobile circular net which is rather selective since its operation is based on the attraction of

small pelagic fish schools using low light intensity and consequently the encirclement of the schools

with the net. This operation is conducted only if the fish school is of the expected size in terms of

number of individuals, species and individual size as reported to the fishermen by the electronic fish

finder systems on board. Another reason which justifies the fact that the gear is selective is that the

net mesh is open through its operation and therefore, under sized fish may escape. The purse seine

segment of the Greek fleet provides the local market with the 90% of the total anchovy and sardines

landed annually since the fishing of such species using pelagic trawls is prohibited in Greece.

2.2. The Greek purse seine fleet

There are 290 purse seine vessels in the Greek fleet in accordance to the Fleet Register of December

31, 2006 (indicative). There are also 121 vessels registered with both purse seine and trawler

licenses and therefore the total number of purse seine vessels in Greece is 425 vessels. The number

of the vessels (as in all other feet segments) is constantly reducing due to the decommissioning

plans enforced by the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food. The age distribution of the

purse seine fleet is illustrated in Figure 1. The distribution shows that most vessels are old with half

of them constructed before 1985.

4 53 2

13

7 6 69

14

24

42

76

21

36

21

1

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1930

1935

1940

1945

1950

1955

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2006

ΑΡΙΘ

ΜΟ

Σ Σ

ΚΑΦ

ΩΝ

Figure 1. Age distribution of purse seine vessels (primary gear license)

Source: Fleet register December 31, 2006

In accordance to the data in the Greek National Program for Fisheries Data Collection (Data

Collection Regulation) for the year 2006, the number of professional fishermen directly employed

on purse seiners are 4000 and given their family status, the total population which is dependent on

the purse seine segment is estimated to be 16000 persons (average 38 persons per vessel).

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The main species landed by the purse seines in Greece are Engraulis encracicholus, Sardina

pilchardus, Trachrurus spp, Boops boops, Spicara spp, Sardinela aurita, Scomber japonicus και

Scomber scomber.

The evolution of the Greek purse seine fleet is summarized in Table 1 (Fig. 2).

Table 1. Evolution of purse seine fleet in Ionian and

Aegean Seas

Year Aegean Sea Ionian Sea

1998 301 53

1999 291 50

2000 282 52

2001 283 51

2002 277 50

2003 268 49

2004 265 45

2005 256 42

2006 250 40

Αριθμός ζκαθών Γρι - γρι

R2 = 0.9724

R2 = 0.8507

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Έηος

Αρ

ιθμ

ός

ζκ

αθ

ών

Αιγαίο Ιόνιο

Figure 2. Number of purse seine vessels (- ■ - Aegean Sea; - ▲ - Ionian Sea)

The purse seine fleet has been reducing during the last decade in the Aegean and the Ionia Seas.

Almost 85% of the fleet is operating in the Aegean Sea and its distribution is not uniform since

most of them operate from large harbours like Piraeus and Thessaloniki. From the total vessels,

61% operates in North Aegean Sea, 24% in the South Aegean Sea and 15% in the Ionian Sea. This

reduction is owed to the success of the decommission plans applied since 1994.

2.3. Greek legislation in force

In accordance to today's Greek legislation – not considering the EU legislation applied in Greece –

the management of the purse seine fishery and the management of the small pelagic stocks is

conducted with the following additional local measures (national laws):

Number

Number of purse seine vessels

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1. Purse seine (night) fishery operation is prohibited for the period December 15 and February

28 every year

2. Purse seine fishery is prohibited for 2 days before and 2 days after each full moon

3. The minimum mesh size is 16 mm for the purse seine vessels operating at night and 40 mm

for the purse seines operating during daytime

4. Purse seine is prohibited within a distance of 100 m from the coastline regardless the depth

5. Purse seine fishery is prohibited in various geographic areas

6. The use of pelagic trawlers is banned while the fishing of small pelagic fish by bottom

trawlers is prohibited.

2.4. EU legislation

According to the new regulation of fishing in Mediterranean [(EC) 1967/2006], Article 13,

paragraph 3: minimum distances and depths for the operation of fishing gears, the use of

purse seines shall be prohibited within 300 meters of the coast or within the 50 meters isobath

where that depth is reached at a shorter distance from the coast. A purse seine shall not be deployed

at depths less than 70 % of the overall drop of the purse seine itself as measured in Annex II to this

Regulation.

2.5. Fishing effort

The evolution of purse seine fishing effort expressed in fishing days per year, day x GT and day x

Kw indicators is summarized in Table 2 (Fig. 3)

Table 2. evolution of purse seine fishing effort in the Aegean and Ionian seas.

Year Fishing Days Days x GT Days x Kw

Aegean Sea

1998 163.5 1,740,457 8,626,653

1999 162.9 1,723,797 8,315,669

2000 162.2 1,681,888 8,070,459

2001 166.3 1,741,079 8,333,390

2002 162.0 1,685,983 7,964,052

2003 176.5 1,851,229 8,400,991

2004 154.4 1,636,404 7,336,972

2005 168.5 1,780,085 7,829,104

2006 163.2 1,718,645 7,548,697

Ionian Sea

1998 139.5 209,534 1,176,532

1999 149.9 215,334 1,211,466

2000 146.8 225,622 1,235,496

2001 140.5 213,053 1,160,748

2002 155.9 234,732 1,251,359

2003 153.3 231,338 1,212,886

2004 162.9 228,194 1,194,799

2005 166.9 222,578 1,188,020

2006 155.9 207,793 1,109,105

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Σσνολικός αριθμός ημερών αλιείας Γρι - γρι

R2 = 0.705

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Έηος

Εηή

ζιο

ς α

ριθ

μό

ς η

μερ

ών

αλιε

ίας

Αιγαίο Ιόνιο

Μέζος εηήζιος αριθμός ημερών αλιείας ανά ζκάθος

R2 = 0.6278

120

130

140

150

160

170

180

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Έηος

Εηη

ζιο

ς α

ριθ

μός

ημ

ερώ

ν α

λιε

ίας

Αιγαίο Ιόνιο

Αλιεσηική προζπάθεια Γρι - γρι

R2 = 0.6023

0

1000000

2000000

3000000

4000000

5000000

6000000

7000000

8000000

9000000

10000000

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Έηος

Ημ

έρες

x K

w

Αιγαίο Ιόνιο

Αλιεσηική προζπάθεια Γρι - γρι

R2 = 0.0315

0

200000

400000

600000

800000

1000000

1200000

1400000

1600000

1800000

2000000

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Έηος

Ημ

έρες

x G

RT

Αιγαίο Ιόνιο

Figure 3. Evolution of purse seine vessel fishing effort (- ■ - Aegean Sea; - ▲ - Ionian Sea)

During the last decade, fishing effort has remained stable or slightly declining except the average

per vessel number of fishing days in Ionian Sea. The purse seiners, since they can operate

efficiently only when the sea weather is calm (5-6 Bf maximum) – eventhough they legally

operate for most part of the year - their actual operational period is not more than 5-6

months.

2.6. Landings

The total landings from purse seine fishery range between 30000 and 50000 tonnes from the

Aegean sea (subarea 3.1) and 2000 to 5000 tonnes from the Ionian Sea (subarea 3.2). From these

landings, 92-98% are small pelagic (Engraulis encracicholus, Sardina pilchardus, Trachrurus spp,

Boops boops, Spicara spp, Sardinela aurita, Scomber japonicus και Scomber scomber). Data on the

landings from the Greek National Program for Collection of Fisheries Data in accordance to

EC/1534 and EC/1639 as well as the databases kept by the Institute for Marine Biological

Resources of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research are summarized in Table 3 (Fig. 4).

Total number of fishing days Annual average number of fishing days per vessel

Fishing effort (days x gt) Fishing effort (days x kw)

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Table 3. Purse seine fleet landings from Aegean Sea and Ionian Sea (total, pelagic fish segment, demersal fish segment)

LANDINGS Percent of total purse seine landings

Percent of purse seine

landings of demersal

species to the total

national demersal species

landings

YEAR TOTAL PELAGIC

SPECIES

DEMERSAL

SPECIES

PELAGIC SPECIES

(%)

DEMERSAL

SPECIES (%) DEMERSAL SPECIES (%)

Aegean Sea

1998 29,948 28,173 1,776 94.1% 5.9% 9.00%

1999 45,646 44,672 974 97.9% 2.1% 1.91%

2000 42,677 40,882 1,794 95.8% 4.2% 2.86%

2001 42,534 40,813 1,720 96.0% 4.0% 3.01%

2002 34,546 31,757 2,789 91.9% 8.1% 3.71%

2003 36,590 34,896 1,694 95.4% 4.6% 2.2%

2004 41,571 40,901 670 98.4% 1.6% 0.89%

2005 46,298 44,749 1,548 96.7% 3.3% 2.35%

2006 49,780 49,133 648 98.7% 1.3% 1.05%

2007 41,851 41,291 560 98.7% 1.3% 1.09%

Ionian Sea

1998 2,644 2,482 162 93.9% 6.1% 1.82%

1999 2,048 1,868 180 91.2% 8.8% 3.62%

2000 3,198 2,941 258 91.9% 8.1% 1.29%

2001 1,934 1,903 32 98.4% 1.6% 0.19%

2002 3,325 3,185 140 95.8% 4.2% 0.81%

2003 5,045 4,992 52 99.0% 1.0% 0.46%

2004 2,809 2,606 203 92.8% 7.2% 2.08%

2005 4,494 4,080 414 90.8% 9.2% 3.28%

2006 3,927 3,679 248 93.7% 6.3% 1.76%

2007 2,157 2,035 122 94.4% 5.6% 0.85%

The purse seine landings have not shown a declining trend over the last years. The demersal

species landed as by-catch by purse seines is insignificant and 3% of the total purse seine

landings annually or the 2.5% of the total national landed amounts of demersal species (from

all fleet segments).It is therefore justified the fact that the purse seine as a gear does not target

demersal species and does not affect demersal species ecosystems.

Αιγαίο Πέλαγος

Εκθορηώζεις Γρι - γρι

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Έηος

Εκ

θο

ρηώ

ζει

ς ζ

ε t

Σσνολικές Πελαγικά είδη Βενθοπελαγικά είδη

Ιόνιο Πέλαγος

Εκθορηώζεις Γρι - γρι

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Έηος

Εκ

θο

ρηώ

ζει

ς ζ

ε t

Σσνολικές Πελαγικά είδη Βενθοπελαγικά είδη

Figure 4. Annual landings of purse seine vessels (1998-2007) from the Aegean and Ionian Seas

(-■- Total; -▲- Pelagic species; -♦- Demersal species)

2.7. Discarded catches from the purse seine fishery

According to research projects data on purse seine fishery, the discarded catch is a very small

percentage of the total landings of the purse seine fishery. (National Program for Collection of

Fisheries Data in accordance to EC/1534 and EC/1639).

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Table 4. Percentage of discarded catches to the total landings of the purse seine fishery

in Greece

Year Demersal

Species (%)

Pelagic Species

(%) Total

2003 0.4534 2.3148 2.7683

2004 0.1849 7.7386 7.9235

2005 0.1145 4.1004 4.2149

2006 0.0346 2.5795 2.6141

As summarized in Table 4, the discarded catches range between 3 and 8% with an annual

average of 4.1%. The main amount is small pelagic species while the demersal species are

insignificant with an annual average of 0.2% of the total discards.

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3. MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE SUSTAINABLE EXPLOITATION OF

THE ANCHOVY AND SARDINE STOCKS

According to the regulation (EC)2371/2002, the present management plan refers to the Greek

fishing vessels which have a fishing permit to use the gear 'purse seine'. In accordance to article 6 of

the regulation (EC) 2371/2002, the present management plan:

identifies the target-species for which a special fishing permit system is to be enforced and

which are landed only with the purse seine fishing gear

provides information on the present state of the target-stocks

identify and describe the known effects of the purse seine fishing gear to the environment

identify and describe the known effects of the application of these measures to the purse

seine fishery sector

set reference points for each species based on biomass, fishing mortality and exploitation

rate. The evaluation of these points will be conducted on an annual basis and if the case that

the values of these indicators fall below the reference points then the special fishing permits

will be revoked

describe the details of a monitoring plan for the above reference points which will assess the

state of the stocks of the target-species in relation to the reference points

3.1. Target-species of the management plan

The target species and by priority will be (1) the anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) and (2) the

sardine (Sardina pilchardus).

The anchovy and the sardine are the most valuable small pelagic species in Greece. They form the

main amount of small pelagic landings (Table 4). Both these species in Greece are mostly fished

with the purse seine fishing gear.

Both these species have special characteristics which are important and should be carefully

considered for their management. In particular:

1. they exhibit large biomasses due to their low position in the food chain

2. they show considerable horizontal and vertical migrations

3. they exhibit small life span. Most of the landed specimens are not older than 3 years

4. their stock status depends significantly on their annual recruitment due to their small life

span and this results to significant biomass fluctuations depending on the environmental

conditions

5. there exist 2 genetically separate stocks of anchovy, that of the Aegean Sea and that of the

Ionian Sea. On the contrary, the sardine stock is pammictic.

The anchovy and sardine are landed usually close to the areas of high productivity. These species

form almost 80% of the total purse seine segment landings. The production of these species is

illustrated in Figure 5. In particular during the last decade, the purse seine annual landings range

between 9500 and 24000 tn for anchovy and 7000 and 18000 tn for sardines.

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0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

1950

1959

1968

1977

1986

1995

2004

Έηος

Εκθορηώζεις

(t)

Εκθορηώζεις γαύροσ ζύμθωνα με ηην

Εθνική Σηαηιζηική Υπηρεζία

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

1950

1959

1968

1977

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Έηος

Εκθορηώζεις

(t)

Εκθορηώζεις γαύροσ ζύμθωνα με ηην

Εθνική Σηαηιζηική ΥπηρεζίαΕκθορηώζεις ζαρδέλας ζύμθωνα με ηην

Εθνική Σηαηιζηική Υπηρεζία

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

1950 1959 1968 1977 1986 1995 2004

Έηος

Εκθορηώζεις

(t)

Εκθορηώζεις ζαρδέλας ζύμθωνα με ηην

Εθνική Σηαηιζηική Υπηρεζία

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

1950 1959 1968 1977 1986 1995 2004

Έηος

Εκθορηώζεις

(t)

Figure 5. Anchovy and sardine landings (tn; National Statistical Service)

3.2. Current state of the management plan's target-stocks

3.2.1. Landings

The total landings from purse seine fishery (all species) range between 30000 and 50000 tonnes

from the Aegean sea (subarea 3.1) and 2000 to 5000 tonnes from the Ionian Sea (subarea 3.2). From

these landings, 92-98% are small pelagic (Engraulis encracicholus, Sardina pilchardus, Trachrurus

spp, Boops boops, Spicara spp, Sardinela aurita, Scomber japonicus και Scomber scomber). Data

on the landings from the Greek National Program for Collection of Fisheries Data in accordance to

EC/1534 and EC/1639 as well as the databases kept by the Institute for Marine Biological

Resources of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research are summarized in Table 5.

Table 5. Purse seine vessel's landings (total and per target species)

LANDINGS

PERCENTAGE TO THE

TOTAL PURSE SEINE

LANDINGS

Year Total Pelagic species Anchovy and

Sardines

Pelagic Species

(%)

Anchovy and

Sardines (%)

Aegean Sea

1998 29,948 28,173 22,162 94.1% 74.0%

1999 45,646 44,672 28,538 97.9% 62.5%

2000 42,677 40,882 28,872 95.8% 67.7%

2001 42,534 40,813 28,122 96.0% 66.1%

2002 34,546 31,757 21,675 91.9% 62.7%

2003 36,590 34,896 24,403 95.4% 66.7%

2004 41,571 40,901 28,008 98.4% 67.4%

2005 46,298 44,749 33,723 96.7% 72.8%

2006 49,780 49,133 40,624 98.7% 81.6%

2007 41,851 41,291 33,444 98.7% 79.9%

Ionian Sea

1998 2,644 2,482 1,873 93.9% 70.8%

1999 2,048 1,868 1,380 91.2% 67.4%

2000 3,198 2,941 2,055 91.9% 64.2%

2001 1,934 1,903 1,210 98.4% 62.6%

Annual anchovy landings Annual sardine landings

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LANDINGS

PERCENTAGE TO THE

TOTAL PURSE SEINE

LANDINGS

2002 3,325 3,185 2,129 95.8% 64.0%

2003 5,045 4,992 3,780 99.0% 74.9%

2004 2,809 2,606 2,053 92.8% 73.1%

2005 4,494 4,080 2,897 90.8% 64.5%

2006 3,927 3,679 2,924 93.7% 74.5%

2007 2,157 2,035 1,703 94.4% 78.9%

Αιγαίο Πέλαγος

Εκθορηώζεις Γρι - γρι

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Έηος

Εκ

θορ

ηώζ

εις

ζε

t

Σσνολικές Πελαγικά είδη Γαύρος - Σαρδέλα

Ιόνιο Πέλαγος

Εκθορηώζεις Γρι - γρι

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Έηος

Εκ

θορ

ηώζ

εις

ζε

t

Σσνολικές Πελαγικά είδη Γαύρος - Σαρδέλα

Figure 6. Total purse seine segment landings (in tonnes) in Aegean and Ionian Seas

(-■- Total; -▲- Pelagic species; -●- Anchovy, Sardine)

The main volume of landings is composed of anchovies and sardines alone (63-82% of total purse

seine landings for both species). The distribution of landings in Greece differs from north to south

and from east to west (see also Stergiou 1997). The distribution is summarized in Table 6.

Table 6. Anchovy and sardine landings in the Aegean Sea sub-areas (in tonnes)

Year Aegean Sea North Aegean

Sea

South Aegean

Sea

North Aegean

Sea (%)

South Aegean

Sea (%)

1998 22 162 19 724 2 438 89.00% 11.00%

1999 28 538 25 113 3 425 88.00% 12.00%

2000 28 872 27 224 1 648 94.29% 5.71%

2001 28 122 26 498 1 624 94.23% 5.77%

2002 21 675 19 708 1 967 90.92% 9.08%

2003 24 403 22 836 1 567 93.58% 6.42%

2004 28 008 25 598 2 410 91.40% 8.60%

2005 33 723 30 958 2 765 91.80% 8.20%

2006 40 624 37 052 3 572 91.21% 8.79%

2007 33 444 30 896 2 548 92.38% 7.62%

The landings of both species originate mainly from the Aegean sea (93% annual average) during the

last decade. In addition, landings originating from the North and central Aegean Sea form the 80%

of the total national landings of these species.

Total Landings – Aegean Sea Total Landings – Ionian Sea

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3.2.2. Discards of the target-species

The amounts of anchovies and sardines discarded during purse seine fishery operations are

insignificant justifying the fact that the gear is highly selective. The estimated percentage of

discards is summarized in Table 7.

Table 7. Percent of discarded anchovies and

sardines over the total landings.

Year Anchovy

(%)

Sardines

(%)

2003 0.06 0.01

2004 0.02 0.61

2005 0.03 0.04

2006 0.01 0.37

The average size of the 50% of the discarded anchovies is 86,2 mm while for the sardine is 106.9

mm. Almost 80% of the discarded anchovies and 60% of the discarded sardines are undersized (Fig.

7).

Ποζοζηά απορριπηομένων αηόμων ζαρδέλας ανά κλάζη μήκοσς

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

55 65 75 85 95 105 115 125 135 145 155 165 175 185 195 205 215 225 235 245 255

Ολικό μήκος (mm)

%

Ποζοζηά απορριπηομένων αηόμων γαύροσ ανά κλάζη μήκοσς

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

55 65 75 85 95 105 115 125 135 145 155 165 175 185 195

Ολικό μήκος (mm)

%

Figure 7. Percent of discarded anchovies and sardines per length class

Percent of discarded sardines per length class

Percent of discarded anchovies per length class

Total length (mm)

Total length (mm)

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3.3. Effects of purse seine operations to the environment

The known data indicate that the use of a purse seine does not have any impact to the environment.

The operation of the purse seine fishing gear has minimal impact to the demersal species and the

benthos of the location of fishing as shown from the by-catches described above.

3.3.1. Impact to the demersal stocks

Regarding the demersal stocks, the impact of the purse seine is minimal. According to the data

summarized in Table 4, only 3% of the total landings of the purse seine fleet segment of the Greek

fisheries sector comprises of demersal species. The landings of demersal species from the purse

seine segment also represent only the 2.5% of the total demersal species landings of the Greek

fisheries sector. Also the discards of the demersal species is minimal. According to the existing data

the percentage of discards are below 0.5% with annual average 0.2%.

3.3.2. Impact to the sea bottom and benthos

Regarding the impact of purse seine gear to the sea bottom and benthos, 3 comments need to be

made. All 2 justify the fact that the purse seine gear with the technical characteristics and mode of

use in Greece does not create any impact to the sea bottom and the benthos (details can be found

in Annex IV):

(a) Based on the technical characteristics and method of use of the purse seine in Greece, it is

impossible that it can be used as a trawled gear (like a trawler). When the purse seine net is

deployed from the fishing vessel, its hauling is conducted with the fishing vessel stationary and only

with the use of the hydraulic winches. During the hauling, the operation of the engine is only to

provide hydraulic power to the winches and not to move the vessel. Moreover, if the vessel moves

during the hauling, this will only result to the entanglement of the net. Therefore, the opinion that

the purse seine gear can be used as a mobile gear (trawling) is totally unreal and false. The

hauling of the net can be carried out wither mechanically using automatic winches or by hand in the

case of small fishing vessels. The material from which the net is made as well as the way the

various parts of the net are sawn together does not allow it to be dragged like a trawler along the sea

bottom because it will be significantly damaged. Even in the case that a fisherman would like to use

it as a trawler (illegally) the damages that would be incurred to the net would be difficult to cover

financially (a purse seine net costs around 40,000 € the small version – Central Greece - and around

60,000 € the large version – North Greece).

(b) When a purse seine net has an official height of 120 m (measured according to the official

method set by the EU i.e. stretched and wet) then the operational height of the net (the height of

the net during deployment from a vessel) cannot be more than 60 m and when it closes by the use of

a purse line, its depth cannot be more than 20 m. This justifies the fact that the net cannot have any

impact to the sea bottom at operational depths down to 30 m as it was the limit of the legislation

until today. Obviously the effects of the gear are much less when it operates at depths down to 50 m

as provided by the latest regulation on the Mediterranean fisheries.

(c) The operation of the purse seine net is based on the encirclement of a school of small pelagic

species. The net can have a circumference of 500 m (for example in North Ionian Sea-Corfu) to 800

m (North Aegean Sea-Thermaikos Gulf). The height of the net can be 65 m (for example in North

Ionian Sea-Corfu) to 120 m (North Aegean Sea-Thermaikos Gulf). The detection of the school of

fish is carried out using electronic fish finders and the gathering of the fish is carried out using a

light source. These light sources have special characteristics by means of intensity set by the

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Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food. This are special technical measures set by

the Greek administration within the framework of stock conservation and such measures are

not existent in other EU member states. The high selectivity of the purse seine net is owed to the

fact that these low intensity light sources attract only the small pelagic fish (which are targeted by

the gear) and not any other species (like demersal etc.). The deployment of the net is carried out

either using a small boat (tender) or the main fishing vessel. The deployment needs to be completed

quickly (normally not more than 10 minutes) so that to avoid losing the fish. Another special

characteristic of the use of the gear is that it cannot be used when the weather is bad and winds

more than 4-5 Bf because the wind-driven waves will cause the entanglement of the net and the loss

of the fish.

There is misunderstanding regarding the use and operation of the purse seine net in Greece. Non

detailed description of the fishing gear from international organizations like F.A.O. indicate that the

purse seine is allowed to be fully deployed in depth and then it is hauled on board using the purse

seine line. In the following picture the use of the purse seine net is illustrated in accordance to

F.A.O. (fishing gear fact-sheets, www.fao.org). Eventhough this image is good to provide a

description of the parts of the net, it does not show the operation of the net and the relationship

between the circumference and height of the net. The height of the net is 6-7 times less than the

circumference (Fig. 8).

Figure 8. Operation of purse seine net according to F.A.O.

Under normal operation conditions the fish are trapped at the side part of the net and NOT the

bottom as it is implied from the above image (Fig. 8; see arrow). In Figure 9, the correct

deployment of the net is illustrated.

During deployment the net is not allowed to be fully extended vertically. When the deployment is

finished, the net is immediately hauled on board the vessel and therefore, the only part of the net

that is extended is the initial part which was first deployed off the vessel. During deployment the net

is fully opened from below and from below the vessel. The small time between the initiation of the

deployment and the hauling is very small so that the encircled fish school does not have time to

escape either from below the net or from below the vessel (see also Annex IV).

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Figure 9. Position and deployment of the purse seine gear when the hauling is started (by means of a purse line)

The mostly deployed part of the net is shown to the right. The movement of the vessel during the encirclement of the

fish is shown (arrow)

3.4. Financial impact from the application of the Reg. (EC)1967/2006 on the purse seine

fishery in Greece.

The number of people directly employed in the purse seine segment is 4000 while the dependent

population (number of family members) is estimated to be 16000 in Greece. Moreover it should be

noted that the processing industry in Greece is mostly based to the anchovies and sardines landed by

the purse seiners. Also the purse seine segment offers jobs and income to other economic sectors as

well such as transportation, tourism, construction etc.

The main impacts of the Reg. (EC) 1967/2006 on the purse seine segment and the Greek fishery

sector are:

3.4.1. Significant reduction of the available small pelagic fish available for fishing

For the correct and beneficial application of the regulation there are several issues regarding the

distribution of the anchovy and sardine stocks in the Greek seas need to be considered. The

distribution of the stocks depends on the geomorphology of the coastline. According to the existing

research data on the distribution of the stocks and biomass of small pelagic species it is evident that

most of the known fishing grounds will not be available for fishing using the purse seine in the

future. The small pelagic fish like sardines and anchovies are usually gathered at upwelling areas

and areas close to eutrophic coastal waters.

Contrary to what happens in other areas, in Greece the areas with high productivity are located

close to the coastline and are usually connected to areas of river outflow. In addition, the Greek

coastline is exhibits numerous closed gulfs which are interconnected with narrow passages. In

Annex III, the description of such areas is provided for further consideration and which show

extended areas in which fishing with purse seine is prohibited by the new EU regulation.

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These characteristics of the Greek coastline result to the concentration of the stocks of small pelagic

close to the coastline and not the open sea as in other areas (open sea and oceans). In Table 14, the

percentage of sardine and anchovies distributed by depths is summarized (DCR reports; 2003-

2004).

Table 14. The percent of sardine and anchovy biomass distributed among the depth zones (in m) according to eco-

sounding research data (summer data; 2003-2006)

(a) Distribution of sardines and anchovies in depth zones <15 m, 15-30 m και 30-50 m. (*) estimation (older

legislation)

Year <15 m (*) 15-30 m 30-50 m

Anchovy Sardine Anchovy Sardine Anchovy Sardine

2003 44% 22% 14% 33% 42% 45%

2004 31% 23% 14% 36% 55% 41%

2005 44% 19% 24% 32% 32% 49%

2006 34% 14% 33% 44% 33% 42%

(b) Distribution of biomass in depth zones <50 m, και >50 m (latest legislation)

Year <50 m >50 m

Anchovy Sardine Anchovy Sardine

2003 56% 78% 44% 22%

2004 69% 77% 31% 23%

2005 56% 81% 44% 19%

2006 66% 85% 34% 15%

Moreover the sardine and anchovy populations are concentrated closer to the coastlines

during the winter period (Giannoulaki et al 2003, 2005, 2006).

The percentages presented in Table 14, provide a conservative view of the issue since areas with a

depth less than 15 m have not been studied thoroughly. However, in any case the application of

the new regulation at depths equal and below 50 m as provided by the latest regulation for the

Mediterranean will allow the exploitation only of the 40% of the available stock of the

anchovy and only the 20% of the available stock of the sardine.

The existing legislation and policies on the purse seine fishing in Greece have taken into

consideration the above special characteristics allowing for the protection of more than the 20% of

the existing stock of anchovies and more than 35% of the sardine stock. The application of the

technical measures provided by the Reg. (EC)1967/2006 will eventually have dramatic economic

effects on purse seine fishing sector as well as the processing sector considering that less than 40%

of the available fish biomass will be available for exploitation.

For the above reasons and given the satisfactory state of the sardine and anchovy stocks it is evident

that the technical measures that should be applied for the purse seine fishery in Greece is to be

allowed to operate at depths between 30 and 50 m without any other restriction based on the net

height. In the present management plan, reference points and an annual monitoring plan are

described for the sardine and anchovies. Based on these reference points, the special fishing permits

will be revoked if the monitoring survey shows that the current reference point's values are worse

than the set reference points.

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3.4.2. Increase of the fishing trip duration

The application of the new regulation will result to the increase of the fishing trip duration since the

new fishing grounds (at depths allowed by the new regulation) are located further away from the

home ports and which in turn results to the increase off the coast of fishing. According to the data

from the National Program for Collection of Fisheries Data in accordance to EC/1534 and EC/1639)

for 2006, the fishing cost structure for the purse seine segment is:

Staff (salaries and social security) 35,73%

Fuel 18,68%

Maintenance (vessel and gears) 10,15%

Other miscellaneous 35,44%

100,00%

Due to the delicate nature of the fish landed by the purse seine, the purse seine vessels cannot

perform long fishing trips away from the main harbours and fish monger markets. This indicates

that any change in the fishing trip and especially its duration will have a negative impact to the

quality of the landed fish – except the cost of fishing – and thus, the economic returns in the sector.

The range of the fishing trips of the purse seine vessels is not longer than 20-30 nm around the

home port. This is estimated considering the maximum speed of a standard vessel (around 10 knots)

and considering that the trip between the fishing ground and the landing port is not more than 2

hours. The range of a fishing trip can reach even 150 nm from the home port when the vessel will

move to adjacent fishing grounds from those close to the hope port. However, in that case the

prerequisite is that the vessel must operate close to a official landing port. In general, the purse

seine vessels operate in fishing grounds which are (a) close to official landing ports in which the

prices are satisfactory and (b) the duration of the trip between the fishing ground and the landing

port is not longer than 2-3 hours due to the sensitive nature of the small pelagic fish (are easily

spoiled).

The change of the fishing isobath which is applied through the new regulation causes the increase of

the fishing trip duration. Based on the known geographic data and the known official home and

landing ports, the distance of the allowed fishing grounds from the main Greek home ports is

changes as follows:

Thessaloniki: from 25 nm to 40; increase by 60% (15 nm)

Nea Michaniona/Moudania, North Greece: from 9 nm to 23 nm; increase by 156% (14 nm)

Chalkida (South Evoikos Gulf): from 15 nm to 41 nm; increase by 173% (26 nm)

Stylida/Oreoi channel: from 11 nm to 27 nm; increase by 145% (16 nm)

Volos: from 3.5 nm to 5 nm; increase by 43% (1.5 nm)

Patra: from 0.8 nm to 4.2 nm; increase by 525% (3.4 nm)

Corfu: from 1 nm to 25 nm; increase by 2500% (25 nm)

The above estimations show that the application of the new regulation will result to the

coincidence of the new purse seine fishing grounds with the trawler fishing grounds.

It should be noted that the increase of the distance between the home ports and the fishing grounds

will result to the prohibition of fishing in the main purse seine fishing grounds ie. the Thermaikos

gulf and Strimonikos Gulf/Gulf of Kavala. The main reasons that the new regulation will affect the

fisheries production and national economy are:

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the sardine and anchovy stocks are coastal and on a seasonal basis they may gather very

close to the coast

the use of the purse seine gear is traditional and has not been modernized in the recent years.

The purse seiners use light sources of very small intensity up to 10000 candles (regulated by

law) when adjacent countries use light sources with intensities up to 100000 candles. The

Greek Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food has regulated by law the maximum

allowed light intensity for purse seine fishing contrary to other EU member states.

3.4.3. Reduction of the available traditional fishing grounds (by area).

According to the known research data, the traditional purse seine fishing grounds are:

Gulf of Corfu (range 60 nm)

Pagassitikos gulf, Oreoi channel, North Evoikos Gulf to Chalkida

Kavala Gulf, Ierissos, Thasos islands (range 70 nm)

Argolida gulf, outer Saronikos gulf (range 120 nm)

Crete, Kithira sea, central Kyklades Island's area (range 120 nm)

Saronikos gulf, South Evoikos Gulf (range 12 nm)

the coast from south Corfu island to Patraikos gulf (range 30 nm)

Thermaikos gulf to Athos (East) and Pilion mountain (South) (range 150 nm)

The changes in the existing traditional fishing grounds due to the application of the new regulation

are considered significant since the Greek coastline is characterized by shallow depths. These

changes are summarized below:

Strymonikos gulf (Thassos island to Athos): from 2743 km² to 1773 km²; reduction κατά

35,3% (970 km²)

Thermaikos gulf (from Sithonia pen. to Zagora, Pilion) from 4173 km² to 2880 km²;

reduction by 30.9% (1293 km²)

Pagassitikos Gulf: from 480 km² to 240 km²; reduction by 50.0% (240 km²)

Oreoi channel (outer Maliakos gulf to Aegean sea exit channel): from 293 km² to 115 km²;

reduction by 60.8% (178 km²)

North Evoikos Gulf: from 690 km² to 384 km²; reduction by 44.3% (306 km²)

South Evoikos Gulf: (outer limit of 100 m isobath) from 734 km² to 130 km²; reduction by

83.3% (604 km²)

Argolikos Gulf: from 744 km² to 645 km²; reduction by 13,3% (99 km²)

Patraikos Gulf (from Rion-Antirrion bridge to Ionia Sea: from 263 km² to 91.5; reduction by

62,5% (171,5 km²)

Corfu gulf (from north border with Albania to south Corfu island): from 516 km² to 0 km²;

total loss of the fishing ground (516 km²)

The total loss of fishing grounds is estimated to be 4377.5 km² out of a total of 10636 km² i.e.

41,2%.

It should also be noted that due to the morphology of the Greek coastline, the application of

the prohibitions provided in the new regulation will transfer the fishing activities of the purse

seine outside the 6 mile territorial waters limits since Greece is the only EU member state with

such a small limit of territorial waters (other countries have limits of 200 nm and more).

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3.5. Reference points for the application of the management plan

Within the framework of the present management plan regarding the state of stocks of sardines and

anchovies in the Aegean Sea, the reference points were set based on the National Program for

Collection of Fisheries Data in accordance to EC/1534 and EC/1639 data derived from eco-

sounding research and fish plankton studies. In addition, the present management plan includes also

the description of a monitoring plan of the target species (see Chapter 4).

3.5.1. Anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus)

The anchovy belongs to the family of Engraulidae. Their maximum length reaches 20 cm and the

average age in the landed amounts is up to 3 years. It feeds on plankton and its spawning period is

between April and November. Reproduction peak is observed between June and July (Somarakis et

al. 2002, 2004, 2006, Stergiou et al 2002). The length at first spawning is 10.5 cm (Somarakis 2004,

2006, Stergiou et al 2002). The minimum landing size is 9 cm. The anchovy stock in the Greek

territorial waters is composed of 2 genetically distinct groups: the Aegean Sea group and the Ionian

Sea group.

3.5.1.1. Total biomass

The total biomass of the anchovy was estimated with acoustic surveys during the period June and

July for the years 2003 to 2006 within the National Program for Collection of Fisheries Data in

accordance to EC/1534 and EC/1639. These surveys cover the North and Central Aegean Sea in

which the 90% of the anchovy biomass is located and from which the 80% of the landed amounts is

derived. The methodology of estimation is provided in detail in Annex I. The results are

summarized in Table 7.

Table 7. Total biomass for the anchovy stock in the Aegean Sea based on eco-

sounding surveys

Year Biomass (t) CV

2003 47838 0.230

2004 46508 0.149

2005 31852 0.109

2006 62685 0.162

3.5.1.2. Spawning biomass

The spawning biomass was estimated using the Daily Egg Production Method – DEPM from

plankton research surveys during the period June-July of the years 2003-2006 within the National

Program for Collection of Fisheries Data in accordance to EC/1534 and EC/1639; see details in

Annex II). The results are summarized in Table 8.

Table 8. Spawning biomass of anchovy stock in Aegean Sea (DEPM method)

Year Spawning Biomass (t) CV

2003 40042 0.202

2004 22799 0.242

2005 20533 0.170

2006 48700 0.180

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0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

2003 2004 2005 2006

Έτος

Βιο

μά

ζα (

t)

Γαύρος: Αναπαραγ. Βιομάζα Γαύρος: Ολική Βιομάζα

Figure 10. Anchovy biomass estimates based on eco-sounding and plankton research data

3.5.1.3. Fishing mortality

The estimation of the fishing mortality and the exploitation ratio was based on the Integrated Catch

Analysis-ICA method (Patterson 1998). For the application of the method, the following data are

required (National Program for Collection of Fisheries Data in accordance to EC/1534 and

EC/1639) (Table 9):

a) total biomass

b) number at age in the stock

c) spawning biomass

d) number at age in the spawning stock

e) landings

f) landings per age

Table 9. Annual fishing mortalities per age of anchovy

Age 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

1 0.0082 0.2021 0.1516 0.2115 0.1206 0.1475 0.0729

2 1.3372 0.0245 1.2571 2.0008 1.1404 1.3951 0.6895

3 1.097 0.7824 0.0062 1.796 1.0236 1.2523 0.6189

4 0.4177 0.4899 0.4089 0.8673 0.5221 0.4383 0.3741

Average (Ages 1-3+) 0.8752 0.3547 0.4588 1.228 0.7962 0.6684 0.5705

3.5.1.4. Exploitation rate

The data on exploitation rate are summarized in Table 10.

Biomass, t

-■- Total Biomass, -♦- Spawning Biomass

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Table 10. Exploitation rate of anchovy

Age 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

0 0.0028 0.0016 0.0015 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000

1 0.0068 0.1441 0.1122 0.1490 0.0913 0.1094 0.0573

2 0.5270 0.0200 0.5116 0.6251 0.4872 0.5375 0.3649

3 0.4777 0.3947 0.0051 0.5995 0.4603 0.5106 0.3402

Average (ages 1-3+) 0.4042 0.2189 0.2821 0.5268 0.3882 0.3570 0.2772

3.4.1.5. Reference points for the management of anchovy

Based on the above the initial reference points for the management of the anchovy will be:

Minimum total biomass (June): 35.000 tonnes

Minimum spawning biomass (June): 26.000 tonnes

Maximum fishing mortality: 1.2

Maximum exploitation rate: 0.4

The reference point regarding the total biomass and spawning biomass were based on estimated

minimum amounts from eco-sounding surveys in the Aegean Sea since 2003 increased by 10% to

cover the areas and landings not yet covered by research.

The maximum fishing mortality and exploitation rate values are slightly lower from the values

derived from the application of the ICA methodology. Its must be noted that the proposed

exploitation rate is in accordance to the standard exploitation rate for small pelagic species proposed

by Petterson (2002).

The reference points will be reviewed on an annual basis based on the results of the monitoring

survey for the target stocks. The monitoring survey will cover the whole geographic area in which

the target species are fished and the data of these surveys will lead to more accurate estimated of the

reference points.

3.5.2. Sardine (Sardina pilchardus)

The sardine belongs to the family of Clupeidae. The maximum length reaches 25 cm and the age in

the landed amounts is up to 4 years. It is a pelagic species with a high commercial value. The

spawning period in the eastern Mediterranean extends between October and April with a peak

during December-February. The length at first spawning is 11.5 cm (Stergiou et al 2002, Somarakis

et al 2006). The minimum landing size is 11 cm. It is sold as fresh or processed (canned etc.)

3.5.2.1. Total Biomass

The total biomass of the sardine was estimated through acoustic surveys during the period June and

July for the years 2003 έφς 2006 within the National Program for Collection of Fisheries Data in

accordance to EC/1534 and EC/1639. These surveys cover the North and Central Aegean Sea in

which the 85% of the sardine biomass is located and from which the 75% of the landed amounts is

derived. The methodology of estimation is provided in detail in Annex I. The results are

summarized in Table 11.

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Table 11 Total biomass for the sardine stock in the Aegean Sea based on eco-

sounding surveys

Year Biomass (t) CV

2003 19281 0.183

2004 13848 0.354

2005 20464 0.368

2006 42856 0.47

Σαρδέλα: Ολική Βιομάζα

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

45000

2003 2004 2005 2006

Έτος

Βιο

μά

ζα (

t)

Σαρδέλα: Ολική Βιομάζα

Figure 11. The state of biomass of sardines in Aegean Sea (eco-sounding surveys)

3.5.2.2. Fishing Mortality

The estimation of the fishing mortality and the exploitation ratio was based on the Integrated Catch

Analysis-ICA method (Patterson 1998). For the application of the method, the following data are

required (National Program for Collection of Fisheries Data in accordance to EC/1534 and

EC/1639) (Table 9):

a) total biomass

b) number at age in the stock

c) number at age in the spawning stock

d) landings

e) landings per age

Table 12. Fishing mortality per age for sardine stock.

Age 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

1 0.071 0.2773 0.263 0.1632 0.0807 0.0929 0.0819

2 1.6998 0.8088 1.7011 1.8923 0.9357 1.0776 0.9498

3 1.7854 1.9079 0.1197 1.1217 0.5547 0.6388 0.563

4 0.738 0.9657 0.6604 0.7569 0.3743 0.431 0.3799

Average ( Ages 1-3+) 1.1854 0.998 0.6946 1.009 0.5237 0.6031 0.5316

3.5.2.3. Exploitation Rate

-▲- Sardine: Total Biomass (t)

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The data on exploitation rate are summarized in Table 13.

Table 13. Exploitation rate of sardine

Ages 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

0 0.0002 0.0005 0.0014 0.0005 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002

1 0.0815 0.2574 0.2474 0.1694 0.0916 0.1040 0.0929

2 0.6800 0.5027 0.6801 0.7029 0.5391 0.5739 0.5428

3 0.6906 0.7046 0.1302 0.5837 0.4095 0.4440 0.4131

Average (Ages 1-3+) 0.5970 0.5550 0.46474 0.5696 0.3956 0.4198 0.3992

3.5.2.4. Reference points for the management of sardine

Based on the above the initial reference points for the management of the sardine will be:

Minimum Total biomass: 15.000 tonnes

Maximum fishing mortality: 1.1

Maximum exploitation rate: 0.4

The reference point regarding the total biomass were based on estimated minimum amounts from

eco-sounding surveys in the Aegean Sea since 2003 increased by 10% to cover the areas and

landings not yet covered by research.

The maximum fishing mortality and exploitation rate values are slightly lower from the values

derived from the application of the ICA methodology. Its must be noted that the proposed

exploitation rate is in accordance to the standard exploitation rate for small pelagic species proposed

by Petterson (2002).

The reference points will be reviewed on an annual basis based on the results of the monitoring

survey for the target stocks. The monitoring survey will cover the whole geographic area in which

the target species are fished and the data of these surveys will lead to more accurate estimated of the

reference points.

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4. MONITORING PLAN FOR THE TARGET-STOCKS AND THE

REFERENCE POINTS

According to the present plan, the monitoring of the state of the stocks in relation to the reference

points will be conducted on an annual basis. In the case that the current values of the reference

points exceeds from above or below the maximum or minimum values set above, the special fishing

permits will be revoked. The monitoring plan includes eco-sounding surveys for anchovy and

sardine and monthly monitoring of the landings and the biological characteristics of the landed

individuals.

The proposed monitoring plan covers both the 2 genetically different stocks of anchovy (Magoulas

et al 2006) existing in the Greek waters (Aegean Sea stock and Ionian Sea stock) as well as the

whole stock of sardines

4.1. Eco-sounding and hydroacoustic survey

The stocks of both target species will be estimated through annual hydroacoustic surveys during the

2nd

and 3rd

quarter of every year in 2 phases: the Aegean Sea survey and the Ionian Sea survey (fig.

12 and 13)

338o

39o

40o

41o

22o 23o 24o 25o 26o

3338o

39o

40o

41o

22o 23o 24o 25o 26o

Figure 12. Illustration of hydroacoustic survey transects in Aegean Sea

20 21 22 23

38

39

40

20 21 22 23

38

39

40

Figure 13. Illustration of hydroacoustic survey transects in Ionian Sea

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26

The survey transects will be perpendicular to the coastline and the inter-transect distance will be10

miles. The hydroacoustic surveys will provide the following data:

a) Total biomass of anchovies and sardines

b) Age structure of the populations

c) Average length at age keys

d) Weight and length relationships

In addition spawning biomass of anchovy will be estimated in Aegean Sea, through ichthyoplankton

survey based on the DEPM, and since the survey period coincides with the peak of the reproduction

period of the species. The detailed methodology is provided in Annex I. The methodology and

survey protocol will be the same used in the National Fisheries Data Collection program.

4.2. Landing sampling

Within the framework of the monitoring plan the systematic sampling of landings is planned. The

sampling will be conducted on a monthly basis at the 4 main geographic regions where the purse

seine fishery is focused:

1. Thracean Sea – Strymonikos Gulf (Kavala region)

2. Thermaikos Gulf (Michaniona region)

3. Evoikos Gulfs – Saronikos Gulf (Chalkida region)

4. Ionion Sea (Paatra region)

The sampling will be conducted on a monthly basis and will cover 1 sample of 50 fish per 200 kg of

landed amount in accordance to the protocol followed for the DCR regulation. In every sample a

length frequency analysis and age determination will be preformed. Every month 5 samples will be

taken from the landings derived from 5 different vessels. The profile of the annual landings will be

determined after integration of the data from every station and year quarter in accordance to the

protocol proposed by ICES (2005).

The above data will aid the determination of the state of sardines and anchovies. The hydroacoustic

surveys will result to the collection of the following data:

1. Total biomass

2. Length distribution of stocks

3. Number at Age of stocks

From the landing samples, the following data will be derived:

1. Length distribution of landings

2. Number at Age of landings

With the integration of the data from both samplings and the application of the ICA method and/or

other integration methods, the evaluation of the state of the stocks and the reference point values

will be estimated. In particular, the estimation of the spawning biomass of the anchovy will be

conducted in the Aegean Sea using the Daily Egg Production Method during the peak of the stock

spawning (See Annex II).

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4.3. Purse seine segment landings

In order to fulfill the objectives of the present monitoring plan other data will be required. These data

will be derived from the National Program for Collection of Fisheries Data in accordance to

EC/1534 and EC/1639) which covers 30 landing ports (Fig. 14).

Moudania

IerisosMihaniona

Porto Lagos

Igoumenitsa

Mesologi

Perveza

Kerkira

Volos Alonisos

Katerini

Mytilini

Fanari

Alexandroupolis

Kavala

HiosChalkida

Kalamata

Piraias

Lamia

Patra

Korinthos

Iraklion

Naxos

Kythnos

Samos

Chania

Sitia

Rhodos

Lefkada

Nafplion

Figure 14. Sampling stations (ports)

The exploitation of the existing network of data collection will aid the collection of the following

information:

1. estimation of monthly fishing effort (days at sea, days at sea x kW, days at sea x gt)

2. daily landings

3. annual landings in Aegean and Ionian Sea

4. social and economic parameters

The above are required to estimate the mortality levels and the exploitation rates.

4.4. Study of possible additional measure for the reduction of discards

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The target small pelagic species exhibit significant population fluctuations which depend on the

environmental conditions which affect the recruitment of the species. The fact that the small

pelagics depend on their recruitment is owed to their small life span (almost all landed fish are 1 or

2 years of age with older fish very rare). The fish landed by purse seiners are usually only 2 years

old – uniform production)

One of the aims of the present monitoring plan is to study the possibility to propose additional

technical measures to reduce catches of undersized fish which usually are discarded.

4.5. Time schedule of the monitoring plan for each year

According to the management plan, one survey will be carried out every year between June and

September. Additionally, the monitoring of the amount and composition of the landings will be

carried out from March to December 15 i.e. during the period which the fishing with purse seine is

allowed by law.

The results on the state of stocks of anchovy and sardine in relation to the reference points will be

submitted to the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food until February 15 of every year.

In the case that the state of stocks is out of the limits set by the reference points, the special fishing

permits will be revoked before the start of the purse seine fishing period (March 1st).

The annual time schedule of the monitoring plan and administrations procedures is illustrated in the

following figure:

4.6. Administration procedures regarding the special fishing permits

Within the present management plan, the issuing of special fishing permits is planned for fishing

vessels that carry professional license for purse seine fishing and at the same time, satisfy the

provisions of Reg. (EC)1967/2006 i.e. they have a proven record in fishing with this particular year

of more than 5 years.

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Immediately after the approval of the management plan, the following administration procedure

will be followed on behalf of the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food:

1. Issuing of a Minsterial Decree, following an approval by the Fisheries Council, for the

adoption of the derogation within the framework of the following clauses:

a. paragraph 2, of the article 9 of the Law 2732/1999 regarding the professional unions

and jurisdiction issues of the Ministry of Agriculture (O.J. 154 A)

b. article 90 of the Legislation Codex for the Government and the Government

Agencies as ratified with article 1 of P.D. 63/2005 regarding the codification of

legislation for the Government and the Government Agencies

The Misterial Decree will also provide for the issuing od special fishing permits for the

derogations

2. Issuing of a special fishing permit for the fishing vessels willing to apply the derogation and

which will allow fishing with a purse seine gear from the 30 m isobath and further or from a

distance of 300 m and further regardless the height of the net. These permits will be valied

for 1 fishing period (1 year)

3. At the same time, the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food will select a suitable

research Institute or agency which will undertake the scientific monitoring of the stocks in

order to fulfill the requirements of the Regulation for the submission of reports every 3 years

with the first report's deadline not after July 31, 2009.

The monitoring plan will have an annual duration and will provide all the required scientific

information for the assessment of the state of the target-species stocks for the issuing or revocation

of the special fishing permits which will be applied in the next fishing period.

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5. RESUME

With the present management plan the need for the issuing of special fishing permits for the Greek

purse seine is justified, considering that due to the provisions of article 13 par. 3, of the Reg.

(EC)1967/2006, as well as the special characteristics of the Greek coastline (ch. 3), most of the

traditional purse seine fishing grounds are excluded from fishing. In addition, the fact that purse

seine fishery is targeting sardines and anchovies and, based on the current Greek legislation, the

fishing of small pelagic with trawls is strictly prohibited, this will lead to the dramatic reduction of

the production of sardines and anchovies increasing at the same time the needs for imports.

The present management plan is in accordance to the Reg. (EC)2371/2002 and refers to the purse

seine fishing vessels only. Within the present management plan and in accordance to the provisions

of article 6, Reg. EC)2371/2002:

1. the defined target species are the anchovy and the sardine. These species are the almost 80%

of the species landed by purse seiners and 95% of the amounts landed by the purse seiners

2. the state of the stocks is evaluated

3. reference points are set for every species. If the estimated values exceed the reference points

then the special fishing permits will be revoked. The reference points are based on 4

different biological criteria: the total biomass (anchovy and sardine), the spawning stock

biomass (anchovy), the fishing mortality (anchovy and sardine) and the exploitation rate

(anchovy and sardine) in accordance to Reg. (EC)2371/2002, article 5.2

4. the impact of the purse seine gear to the environment is analysed. In accordance to the

known data the Greek purse seine does not have any impact to the demersal species, exhibits

low discards and it does not affect the sea bottom

5. the economic impacts from the application of the regulation is described

In addition and in accordance to the regulation, an annual monitoring plan of the state of the stocks

and the levels of the reference points is described.

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TABLE OF CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE

REGULATION'S REQUIREMENTS AND CLAUSES AND THE

PRESENT MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING PLAN

Provision/clause in

Regulations Reference in present management plan

Information proving that a

derogation from Reg.

(EC)1967/2006 is justified

1. The stocks of anchovy and sardine does not show a reduction which would justify

the application of more strict technical measures and prohibitions (chapter 2)

2. The reduction n of the traditional fishing grounds and the increase of fishing trips

creates increased fishing costs (chapter 3.4.)

3. The geographical distribution of the stocks does not coincide with the new fishing

grounds leaving almost 80% of their biomass unexploited (Annex ΙΙΙ)

Description of the state of

the purse seine segment

and the impacts of the new

measures to the sector

Chapters 2, 3.3., 3.4. and ΑNNEX ΙΙΙ

Technical information on

the use and operation of

the purse seine gear

ANNEX IV

Target species

Chapter 3.1.

The species are the anchovy and sardine with the same ranking order of priority

Reference pints for the

sustainable management of

the target stocks

Chapter 3.5.

ANCHOVY

Minimum total biomass (June): 35.000 tonnes

Minimum spawning biomass (June): 26.000 tonnes

Maximum fishing mortality: 1.2

Maximum exploitation rate: 0.4

SARDINE

Minimum total biomass (June): 15.000 tonnes

Maximum fishing mortality: 1.1

Maximum exploitation rate: 0.4

Fleet and distribution Chapter 2

Application of the

precautionary approach Chapter 4

Technical description and

characteristics of the gear

Annex ΙΙΙ

Biological characteristics

of target species Chapter 3.1.

Characteristics of the

fishery Chapter 2

Characteristics of the fleet Chapter 2

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32

Economic impact from the

application of the

regulations

Chapter 3.4.

Reduction of discards Chapters 2.7, 3.2.

Control of fishing effort The present management and monitoring plan aims to the control of fishing

effort by means of special fishing permits

Definition of fishing areas

and seasons Annex III

Minimum landing size Covered by the Reg. (EC)1967/2006. No changes are included in the present

management plan

Environmental protection

Chapter 3.3.

1. It is proved that the use of the current gear does not affect the demersal stocks

2. The use of the gear at the designated depth limits – with its current technical

specifications – does not have an impact to the sea bottom and the benthos

Monitoring plan Chapter 4

Time period until the

successful completion of

the monitoring plan and

time schedule

Chapter 4.5

Annual

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33

6. REFERENCES

Draper N.R. and H. Smith, 1966. Applied regression analysis. Ed. John Wiley and Sons, N.Y., 407

p.

Giannoulaki M, Machias A, Somarakis S, Tsimenides N. 2005. The spatial distribution of anchovy

and sardine in the northern Aegean Sea in relation to hydrographic regimes. Belgian Journal of

Zoology 135 (2): 151-156

Giannoulaki M., A. Machias, C. Koutsikopoulos, J. Haralabous, S. Somarakis, N. Tsimenides.

2003. The effect of coastal topography on the spatial structure of the populations of small

pelagic fish. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 265: 243-253.

Giannoulaki M., Machias A., Koutsikopoulos C. and Somarakis S. 2006. The effect of coastal

topography on the spatial structure of anchovy and sardine. ICES Journal of Marine Science,

ICES Journal of Marine Science, 63(4): 650-662.

Hunter J.R. and B. Macewitz, 1985. Measurement of spawning frequency in multiple spawning

fishes. In: Lasker R. (Ed.). An Egg Production Method for Estimating Spawning Biomass of

Pelagic Fish: Application to the Northern Anchovy, Engraulis mordax. NOAA Technical Rep.

NMFS 36: 79-93.

Hunter J.R., 1985. Preservation of Northern Anchovy in Formaldehyde Solution. In: Lasker R.

(Ed.). An Egg Production Method for Estimating Spawning Biomass of Pelagic Fish:

Application to the Northern Anchovy, Engraulis mordax. NOAA Technical Rep. NMFS 36:

63-65.

ICES, 2005. Workshop on Sampling Design for Fisheries Data (WKSDFD), ICES CM 2005/ACFM

11

MacLennan D. and Simmonds E.J. 1992. Fisheries acoustics. Chapman & Hall, London, 325p.

Magoulas, A., Castilho, R., Caetano, S., Marcato, S. and Patarnello, T., 2006. Mitochondrial DNA

reveals a mosaic pattern of phylogeographical structure in Atlantic and Mediterranean

populations of anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus). Mol. Phylogenet Evol 39 (3): 734-746.

Patterson K., 1992. Fisheries for small pelagic species: an empirical approach to management

targets. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 2, 321-338.

Patterson K.R. 1998. Integrated catch-at-age analysis, v.1.4. Aberdeen, Marine Laboratory.

Somarakis S., Palomera I., Garcia A., Quintanilla L., Koutsikopoulos C., Uriarte A., Motos L.,

2004. Daily egg production of anchovy in European waters. ICES Journal of Marine Science

61: 944-958

Somarakis, S, C. Koutsikopoulos, A. Machias and N. Tsimenides- 2002. Applying the Daily Egg

Production Method to small stocks in highly heterogeneous seas. Fish. Res., 55: 193-204.

Somarakis, S., Ganias, K., Siapatis, A. Koutsikopoulos, C., Machias, A., and Papaconstantinou, C.

2006. Spawning habitat and daily egg production of sardine in the eastern Mediterranean.

Fisheries Oceanography 15 (4): 281-292

Spanakis, E., Tsimenides, N. and Zouros, E., 1989. Genetic differences between populations of

sardine, Sardina pilchardus, and anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus, in the Aegean and Ionian

seas. J. Fish. Biol., 35: 417-437.

Stergiou KI, Somarakis S and Machias A. 2002. Anchovy and Sardine in Greek waters: a review of

biological, ecological and fisheries aspects related to environmental variability. Environmental

variability and small pelagic fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea. Copemed: 66-68.

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34

ANNEX Ι

Stock assessment of the anchovy and sardine stocks using hydroacoustic methods

Acoustic echoes will be registered continuously along 70 pre-defined transects in the study area

with a Biosonics Split Beam 38 kHz DT-X. The partitioning of integrated deflection will be done

by comparing the echogram at corresponding times. Echograms will be examined in order to

identify school marks that characterize anchovy and sardine (MacLennan and Simmonds, 1992).

Acoustic survey will cover a total area of 31000 Km2 of echo-integration acquisition.

338o

39o

40o

41o

22o 23o 24o 25o 26o

3338o

39o

40o

41o

22o 23o 24o 25o 26o

338o

39o

40o

41o

22o 23o 24o 25o 26o

3338o

39o

40o

41o

22o 23o 24o 25o 26o

Figure Ι.1. The preselected profiles in the Aegean Sea.

In order to estimate anchovy and sardine’s biomass, the weight-length relationship is

required as well as species length frequency distribution per area. Therefore, a number of pelagic

trawls (at least 30) will be held along transects in the positions of high fish concentrations.

The density of targets (F) from the observed echo integrals will be estimated according to

the equation F= (K/<σ>)E, were K is the calibration factor, <σ> is the mean cross-section and E is

the Echo integral after partitioning (MacLennan and Simmonds 1992). The <σ> will be calculated

for the mean total fish length of each area according to the equations <σ>= 104π TS/10

ιif , where fI

is the corresponding length frequency as deduced from the fishing samples.

The abundance Q will be estimated separately for the eastern and the western part of the

study area. The abundance Q in each elementary statistical sampling area will be calculated from

the average density within each sub-area according to the equation:

NFA ki

ik/Q ,

where FI is the I sample; Ak is the area of each elementary statistical sampling area and Nk is

transects in Ak. The variance V will be estimated as

V=

i

(AFI-Q)2/[Nr(Nr-1-1)]

The data will be log transformed and the means and variances of F will be estimated

according to the following equations:

F=exp(m)GN[0.5 S/(n-1); V=F2-exp(2m) GN[S(n-2)/(n-1)

2];

where m = average (lnF); S= variance (lnF) and n = independent observations of F

The total abundance Qt and its variance will be obtained by summing the results for each region

Qt=Q1+Q2+… , and Vt=V1+V2+…. Standard error of Qt is the square root of V (MacLennan and

Simmonds 1992).

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ANNEX ΙΙ

Eggs and larvae sampling and the application of the Daily Egg Production Method for the

estimation of anchovy spawning stock biomass

Ichthyoplankton samples will be obtained over a grid of 205 sampling stations with a WP2 sampler

(mouth opening: 0.255 m2, mesh-size: 0.200-mm). Tows will be made from within 5 m of the

bottom to surface or from 200 m depth to surface at deep stations. All samples will be preserved,

immediately after collection, in 10 % borax-buffered formalin. Anchovy eggs and yolk sac larvae,

at each developmental stage (Somarakis et al. 2002) will be counted and their abundance

standardised to number per square meter.

Adult samples will be collected onboard of the research vessel "PHILIA" by means of a pelagic

trawl. Additional samples will be obtained onboard the commercial purse seine fleet. Fish will be

fixed immediately after collection with 10% buffered formalin (Hunter, 1985) for laboratory

analysis.

Spawning frequency (S), i.e. the fraction of mature females spawning per night will be estimated

using the postovulatory follicles (POFs) method (Hunter and Macewicz 1985) Parameter estimation

generally will follow procedures described in Picquelle & Stauffer (1985) and Somarakis et al.

(2002). Age of eggs will be calculated based on a temperature dependent model of European

anchovy developmental rate, the station surface temperature (5m), peak spawning time (midnight),

and time of tow (Somarakis et al. 2002). The survey area will be post-stratified into positive and

negative area. The estimate of daily production of eggs in the positive area will be derived by

regressing the counts of embryos (eggs and yolk sac larvae) on their age using the exponential

mortality model:

Ρt = Pe-Ζt

where Ρt = number of embryos (eggs or yolk-sac larvae) at age t produced per day per m

2

t = age in days.

P = daily egg production per m2

Ζ = daily rate of instantaneous embryonic mortality

We will use two yolk-sac larvae stages (YSI and YSII) and will calculate their duration and their

age from fertilization from laboratory derived temperature dependent curves, assuming station

surface temperatures (5m) as the yolk-sac larvae incubation temperatures. Stage durations will be

used to calculate the daily production of YSI and YSII larvae (Somarakis et al. 2002).

The technique to estimate P and Z will be weighted non-linear least squares regression. Station

weighting factors will be proportional to the station representative area. The sum of weighting

factors will equal the total number of stations in the corresponding stratum.

We will use the ratio estimator (Picquelle & Stauffer, 1985) for adult parameters W, R, F, and S:

y

m y

m

i ii

n

ii

n

1

1

(1)

with sample variance

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36

Var y

m y y

m

nn n

i ii

n

i

i

n ( )

( )2 2

1

1

2

1

where y = estimate of the population mean,

n = number of stations,

yy

mi

ij

ij

mi

1

= mean of the ith station, and

mi = number of fish sampled from the ith catch.

ijy = value for the jth female in the ith sample

Data on the number of eggs per batch ( Fij ) and the ovary free weight (Wij

*) recorded for the

hydrated females will be used to fit a linear model: *

ijij bWaF (2)

The variance estimator of the batch fecundity will be:

Var F

mF F

n

s

nW W Var b

m

nn

i

i

ni h

h

i h

i

i

n( )

( )( ) ( )

* *2

1

2 2

1

2

1 (Draper & Smith, 1966)

where F : the estimate of batch fecundity for the whole population of mature females,

F i : average batch fecundity of the ith sample,

F i : F mijj

m

i

i

1

/ where F ij is the estimated batch fecundity for the jth female in the ith

sample,

sh

2 : variance about the regression (Equation (2),

nh : number of hydrated females used to fit the regression (Equation (2),

W i

* : average ovary-free weight of the ith sample,

W h

* : average ovary-free weight of the nh

hydrated females, and

Var b( ) : variance of the slope of the regression (Equation (2).

The results of the DEPM as well as information on plankton and adult samples will be estimated

separately for the eastern and the western part of the surveyed area. The total stratified biomass

estimate (eastern + western part), will be the sum of the regional biomass estimates.

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ANNEX III

Geographic areas excluded from fishing with purse seine

1. Gulf of Corfu

According to bathymetry, all area between Corfu and mainland Greece is not available for purse

seine fishing

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2. Patraikos Gulf

According to bathymetry, only a small part is available for purse seine fishing

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3. Thermaikos Gulf

This is the most important and traditional fishing ground for small pelagic fish.

The internal Thermaikos gulf is not available for fishing and the average fishing trip for the isobath

of 84 m has tripled

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4. Saronikos Gulf

Saronikos Gulf has a special geomorphology. Eventhough the depths are enough for the legal use of

purse seines, fishing is prohibited in various regions of the gulf due to special measures (shipping

lines, Naval weapons testing sites etc.).

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5. Pagassitikos Gulf, Maliakos Gulf and Oreoi channel

A large part of Pagassitikos gulf and almost all Of the Oreoi channel is not available for purse seine

fishing. Also the available regions are not areas in which anchovies and sardines can be found.

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6. Strymonikos Gulf, Gulf of Ierissos and gulf of Kavala

The shelf at this area is steep close to the coastline but after that the sea bottom is almost level.

Therefore, the isobath of 50 m is very close to the coastline while again the distance until the

isobath of 84-85 m is long and the reduction of the available fishing ground significant.

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ANNEX IV

Technical and geometrical description of the use and operation of the purse seine gear

IV.1. General

On November 25, 2007 an experimental use of the purse seine net was carried out in the area of

Pagassitikos gulf and at the GPS fix location Ν39°18.346 Ε23°04.311. The duration of the haul was

33 minutes in total. During the haul the net deployment was recorded as well as several geometric

and mechanical observations regarding the operational use of the gear were made.

IV.2. Net deployment procedure – use of purse seine net

The fish school is located by the use of electronic echosounder and fish finder instruments which

are among the standard electronic equipment of a purse seine vessel. The identification species, the

size of the individuals and the size of the school are all based on the vessel captain experience.

If the size of the school is big enough to attempt the initiation of the fishing procedure, the vessel

crew immediately deploys a floating light source (robot, see Figure IV.1) which will aid the

gathering of the school close to the sea surface as well as mark the spot where the fish schools is

located . This is the only way that a purse seine vessel can catch fish – by attracting them close to

the sea surface and around the light source. In addition, only the small pelagic fish are attracted to

the light while all the other species are repelled by the light and move away.

At the same time the crew deploys a small tender boat with one crew member. The small boat

remains always close to the floating light source so that he can check whether the fish school still

remains in the area using his own fish finder device. In addition, by using VHF communications he

is in constant contact with the purse seine vessel captain in order to provide him with information

regarding the state of the fish school and the surface water currents. Thisway the purse seine captain

can position his vessel correctly in relation to the fish school and the net when the hauling begins.

If the fish are still in the area of the light source, then the deployment of the net is initiated with the

purse seine vessel performing a cyclical move around the light source (Fig. IV.2.). The hauling of

the net using a purse line starts immediately when the purse seine vessels completes its cyclical

movement around the fish school. This results to the fact that (a) at the end of this maneuver the

purse seine net is not deployed vertically in full and (b) the fishing vessel remains adrift. For these

reasons, the net needs to be hauled immediately after the cyclical maneuver because the opening of

the net below is so great that the fish may escape very easily. This proves that because of

operational restrictions the net cannot be deployed vertically in full and reach 120 m depth.

The hauling of the net on board is carried out by simultaneous hauling of the purse line using the

mid-section hydraulic winch and the surface line by means of the front and aft hydraulic winches.

The hauling is conducted carefully so that the fish are trapped at the upper right or left part of the

net (Fig. IV.8).

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Fish attraction device using light source (robot)

Figure IV1. Fish attraction device

1: switchbox

2: fuse and batteries, 200V rectifier

3: floats

4: common household light bulbs 220 V (4 lamps, ~ 1000-1500 candles)

5: buoy for lifting the robot out of the water

6: ‘sampani, a piece of rope which is attached to the robot. Its free end shows the fishermen the

direction and strength of the surface currrents

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Figure IV.2. The deployment of the purse seine net at the point of the initiation of the hauling (arrows: direction of

surface currents)

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IV.3. Geometry and technical characteristics of the purse seine nets

Technical specifications for the construction of the net

A typical purse seine net exhibits a length 500-800 m and a height 100-120 m. These dimensions

are measured in accordance to the EU regulations as stretched and wet. In order the net to reach

these dimensions it needs to be composed of 14-19 net sheets with a length of 500-800 m each and

a height of 400 m each and a rhomboidal mesh of 16 mm.

Operational dimensions (during the operation; Fig. IV.3)

The length of the purse seine net depends on the length of the float line (a thick rope without any

elongation tolerance). The net sheets - which are used for trapping the fish (16 mm mesh) – are

sawn on the float line so that the length of the sheet is 1.15 times longer from the float line. Thisway

the mesh of the fishing net is always open and there is no possibility to be stretched and close.

The height of the net also depends on the side net sheets ('fani'). These sheets are made of thick line

and exhibit a mesh of 44 mm. Every net has 2 side sheets from both sides if its height is around 100

m and 3 sheets if the height is 120 m. The total height of the 2 side sheets is 400 mesh x 44 mm per

mesh x 2 sheets = 35.20 m or in the case of 3 side sheets, it is 52.80 m. The meshes of the fishing

net part (central; Fig. IV.3.) are sawn on the side sheet meshes with a ration of 1:8 (8 fishing net

meshes on 1 side sheet mesh; Fig. IV. 5). Therefore, even if the net has a height of 100 or 120 m, its

actual height during its use cannot be more than 35.20 m or 52.80 m. From the operational point of

view this way of constructing the net is required so that the fishing net mesh (central part) is always

open.

Moreover, due to the surface currents and the positioning of the purse seine vessel the net is

'inflated' outwards creating an upward movement of the net (Fig. IV.4). When the hauling of the net

with the purse line is started then the shape of the net takes the profile shown in Figure IV.4.

FOR ALL THE ABOVE REASONS IT IS PROVED THAT THE PURSE SEINE NET CANNOT

BE DEPLOYED VERTICALLY IN FULL AND DURING ITS OPERATION IT MAY REACH A

DEPTH (IF ALLOWED THE TIME TO DEPLOY) WHICH IS ALMOST HALF THE ACTUAL

HEIGHT OF THE NET.

Figure IV.3. Overall purse seine net layout

side net ('fani')

44 mm

400 mesh in height

2 sheets fishing net - part of the net that traps the fish

float line

lead line – rope with weights

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Figure IV.4. Profilee of the net during hauling

ΓΙΦΤΥ

FISHING NET – CENTRAL PART

ΦΑΝΙ

SIDE NET

Figure IV.5. Detail of the sawing of the fishing net and the side net

Another way to prove that the purse seine net CANNOT reach in size during the operation of the

height of 100-120 m is the following: the fishing net is sawn on the float line with a ration of 1:1.15

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so that the mesh is always open. Since the mesh of the fishing net (wet and stretched is 16 mm, then

its actual horizontal dimension is 16 mm/1.15 = 13.9 mm when the net is used (Fig. IV.6). Then by

simply using the Pythagorean theorem, the vertical half dimension is (8²-6,95²) = 3,96 mm or the

mesh is 7,92 mm vertically. (Fig. IV.6).

13.9 mm

3.9

6 m

m6.95 mm

8.00 mm

7.9

2 m

m

Figure IV.6. True mesh dimensions of the purse seine net

It is obvious that the vertical dimension of the mesh is 7.92 mm and NOT 16 mm (wet and

stretched) i.e. on the vertical scale it is always the 7.92/16=49.53% of the official net height.

Therefore, a net with 100 m height (wet and stretched) has a height of 49.53 m during operation or

59.44 m when the net exhibit a height of 120 m.

During the hauling, the angles of the purse line are 100-110° as seen from above and 18-20° on the

vertical scale. The hauling speed of the purse line is 0.3-0.4 m./sec (Fig. IV. 7).

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Eικόνα IV.7. Όυη από το κατάστρφμα και πλάγια όυη θέσης σσρματόστοινοσ στίγγας κατά την ανάσσρση τοσ διττσού

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Figure IV.8.

Purse seine net parts

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IV.4. Timing of the net hauling

The timing of the purse seine hauling procedure is summarized in the following table.

Time

Diameter of

float line

around the

fish school

(Df)

Diameter of the

purse line around

the fish school

(Dps)

Comments

0 min 180 m 170 m Start of purse line hauling

5 min 120 m 80 m

10 min 55 m 0 m The first lead weights appear by the

vessel

28 min 30 m 0 m All lead weights are on board

33 min 0 m 0 m

Most of the net is on the deck while

the part of the net which traps the

fish is by the boat – the fishermen are

ready to start fishing the fish using

hand nets

50-60 min 0 m 0 m

All gears and nets are on board and

ready for the next hauling. The vessel

moves to the next fishing location.

90-120 min 0 m 0 m

The selection of the fish, their

grading and the packing of the fish in

iceboxes is finished.

Legend

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PHOTO GALLERY

1. Lead weight line's rings. The purse line passes through those rings. Blue net: parts of the lead

weight line

2. Side net ('fani')

3. Aft winch

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4. Side winch for the purse line

5. Fishing line (center) and float line (up and right)

The capacity of the fishing net to stretch horizontally is shown

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6. Connection (stitch) between the side nets ('fani') and the fishing net

The stitching ratio of 1:8 is visible