Recommendation GFCM/44/2021/16 on additional mitigation measures for the conservation of elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean Sea. Country/Territory Document type Regulation Date 2021 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Fisheries Keyword Bycatch Cartilaginous fishes Data collection/reporting Fishery management and conservation Fishing area Fishing gear/fishing method Monitoring Precautionary principle Protection of species Abstract This Recommendation encourages the contracting parties and cooperating non-contracting parties to take further actions to improve the conservation status of elasmobranchs and measures to mitigate or eliminate, where possible, the risk of incidental catch in fishing operations and/or the associated mortality in the GFCM area of application. This Recommendation applies to all elasmobranch species of the Mediterranean Sea listed in Annex II and III of the SPA/BD Protocol and includes the adoption of species-specific actions as listed in the annex to this recommendation. Mitigation measures shall be accompanied by an appropriate monitoring to establish the efficacy of the actions and may include, inter alia: fishing gear modifications and alternative fishing gear types, implementation of maximum potential bycatch thresholds, and time‐area fishing restrictions and closures. The contracting parties and cooperating non-contracting parties shall further enhance the collection and monitoring of data and the reporting of information on the incidental catch rates of elasmobranchs, in line with the FAO technical manual on Monitoring incidental catch of vulnerable species in the Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries: methodology for data collection and the Data Collection Reference Framework. Full text English Website www.fao.org