In overexploitation, with relatively intermediate biomass.
[The GFCM methodology to provide stock status and management advice is described in the Appendix F of the Sixteenth Session of the Scientific Advisory Committee Report. See the Bibliography section.]

Stock assessment in the GFCM area of application is often conducted by management units, based on GSAs. This method does not ensure that the whole stock is assessed, since stocks may cover several different management units. In some cases, when there is scientific evidence of a stock spreading through different GSAs, as well as information on species from different GSAs, existing information is combined across GSAs. This is then defined as a “joint stock assessment of a shared stock”. The GFCM recommends that when scientific evidence of shared stocks exists, joint stock assessments should be attempted. A number of activities aimed at achieving a better definition of stock boundaries are currently being conducted at the GFCM level. [The State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries, 2016]

In the Balearic Islands, commercial bottom trawlers develop up to four different fishing tactics, which are associated with the shallow shelf, deep shelf, upper slope and middle slope, mainly targeting: i) picarel (Spicara smaris), striped red mullet, common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) and a mixed fish category on the shallow shelf (50-80 m); ii) European hake, Mullus spp., John dory (Zeus faber) and a mixed fish category on the deep shelf (80-250 m); iii) Norway lobster, but with an important bycatch of big European hake, Lepidorhombus spp., Lophius spp. and blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) on the upper slope (350-600 m); and iv) blue and red shrimp on the middle slope (600-750 m). European hake is a target species for this fishery, mainly exploited on the deep shelf and upper slope, with annual landings oscillating between 50 tonnes and 190 tonnes during recent decades. All European hake catches from this area come exclusively from bottom trawlers.