In overexploitation.
[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]

The red mullet is an important demersal species for commercial fisheries in GSAs 12-14. It is exploited by the trawl and small-scale fleet. Small gear (trammel nets and gillnets) account for 5 percent of the total landings of red mullet (average for the 2010-2019 period). Trawl fleet accounts for 2 707 tonnes (average for the 2010-2019 period). Trawl fishery exploits a highly diversified species assemblage, the main commercial species being the caramote prawn (Penaeus kerathurus), striped red mullet, European hake, sparid fish, common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus), annular sea bream (Diplodus annularis), gilthead sea bream (Sparus auratus). Catch lengths of red mullet range between 8 cm and 26 cm total length, with an average size of 14 cm total length.