Meagre

The farming of red mullet takes place in Spain, Turkey, Greece, Croatia, France, Tunisia and Italy. Juvenile fish are sourced from hatcheries, and the energy requirements of sea cages are low. The fish are fed commercial pellets. Due to the carnivorous nature of the species, feed requirements are relatively high, and the traceability of the ingredients is largely ensured.

Waste from the cages is released directly into the environment and can affect the seabed and the ecosystem. Escapes have been reported regularly, and there is a risk of disease transmission to wild populations. There is also little information on the use and effects of chemicals. Fatal interactions with predators have been reported, but there is no evidence that predators are deliberately killed. The application of animal welfare standards and humane slaughter methods is not guaranteed.

Management is partially effective. Some farms are certified under ASC, GlobalGAP or organic standards, but the proportion of total production that is certified is unknown. There are no active AIPs.

The stock of meagre in the Bay of Biscay, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea is insufficiently studied. Where evidence is available, the stock is considered fully exploited or potentially overfished, and the species is vulnerable to fishing pressure due to its life history characteristics and spawning behaviour.

The fishery uses handlines and hand-held lines, anchored gillnets and demersal longlines. Fishing with handlines and hand-held lines is relatively selective and is likely to cause little bycatch of vulnerable species. Anchored gillnets can catch protected species, while demersal longlines may cause substantial bycatch and discards. The impact on habitats is relatively low for anchored gillnets, but the effects on the ecosystem are not well understood.

Management is ineffective or only partially effective across the different areas, and there is no harmonised management framework covering the species’ entire distribution range. Advisory bodies and general measures are in place, but their effectiveness cannot be adequately assessed due to a lack of data. No FIP is available.