3.1

This is a common and locally abundant species with fluctuating fishery landings. Based on a generation length range of 11–20 years, there has been a global SSB decline of between 3 and 14% over the past 11–20 years across the western and eastern stock. No information is available for the Mediterranean. It is listed as Least Concern. It is important to note however, that the greatest declines in SSB for this species occurred in the 1970s, before the time period comprising three generation lengths. Given that fishing mortality for the eastern stock is just above Fpa, careful fisheries management is needed. In addition, monitoring is needed as climate change may be causing shifts in this species distribution. The implications of these shifts and impacts on fishing effort and accessibility to the stock are unknown.