Abstract

South Adriatic and north western Ionian seas are interconnected by water masses, the deeper one is warmer and saltier and is flowing from the Ionian to Adriatic, in the opposite direction, on the upper layer, the colder one is flowing. This circulation dynamic together with geomorphology configuration, sediments and nutrients influence the distribution of the fishery resources, some of which are considered shared among the two basins (e.g. Parapenaeus longirostris, Aristaeomorpha foliacea) whilst other ones, as European hake, are considered shared between north-central and south Adriatic sea. This makes assessment more complex, for the need to account for different and partly interacting fleets, which might share fishery resources and fishing grounds. In addition, this situation is more demanding for the design of specific management measures. Indeed in the two basins several fleets and metiers are fishing on the same stocks, with European hake being one of the more complex case. Though a decrease of fishing mortality is occurring for most of the assessed stocks, possibly as concurring effect of management measures in place under past management plans (e.g. scraping and seasonal fishing ban) and favourable environmental conditions, which enhance recruitment and thus the strength of the first year-class, additional management measures are urgent. Most of the main target stocks are indeed in an overfishing status and all the possible options, to be effective, should be placed into and integrated multiannual and multitasking management plan, given the need to rebuild stocks and reduce discard.