This atlas aims to present sound approaches to maturity sampling for a wide range of Mediterranean species – including bony fish, cartilaginous fish, both oviparous and viviparous, crustaceans and cephalopods – based on an accurate determination of the different maturity stages. It includes macroscopic photos of gonads belonging to the main species and, for some, a validation-based histological analysis.

In 2001, a study on the fisheries regulatory framework of the Western Mediterranean coastal States was undertaken under the aegis of the COPEMED Project; as follow-up, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) commissioned a comparative study covering the entire Mediterranean basin that focused on three issues: (i) access regimes to fisheries resources; (ii) management of fishing effort and fishing capacity; and (iii) monitoring, control and surveillance. The purpose of this study is to provide fisheries managers with information on the principal measures adopted in the region to identify areas where harmonization should be sought, particularly in relation to shared stocks. This paper has been conceived as a working document for States to complete and build upon. Also published in Arabic and in French

This publication updates the regular reviews of the state of the world's marine fishery resources, based mainly on official catch statistics throughout 2002 and relevant stock assessment and other complementary information available until 2004. It considers the global situation and major trends of world marine capture fish production, with detailed information for each FAO statistical area about catches and current state of exploitation, major trends and developments and stock assessment work undertaken in support of fisheries management. Other issues covered include: tunas and tuna-like species resources, world squid resources, deepwater fisheries, and long-term climate variability.