Tunisia blue swimming crab - traps

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Overview

The blue swimming crab Portunus segnis (Forskål, 1775) (Portunidae family) is one of the earliest Lessepsian invaders of the Mediterranean Sea and has been recorded for several decades in various Mediterranean areas. However, its presence on the southeastern Tunisian coasts is relatively recent (2014). The Gulf of Gabès is the most important state for this fishery (83% of the national catches). Catch reports show that the region of Gabès produces about 47%, while Medenine contributes to 42% of the catches and only 11.5% comes from the region of Sfax. Exports were about 7561 T in 2021 with a value of $23 million USD. From January to August 2022, exports reached 4400 T valued at $15 million USD. Overall, the fishery has greatly intensified, resulting in an increase in production from 38 T in 2015 to 7600 T in 2021. Therefore, the critical issue actually facing this fishery is the record of overexploitation signs in heavily fished coastal areas, along with the harvest of undersized crabs and ovigerous females, and the lack of management plans and mitigation actions for the intensive fishing. The sustainability challenges facing this fishery will be addressed through the active involvement of FIP stakeholders and FIP participants. In this context, we will work on the improvement of the BSC fishery which uses traps.

FIP Description 

The blue swimming crab Portunus segnis (Forskål, 1775) (Portunidae family) is one of the earliest Lessepsian invaders of the Mediterranean Sea and has been recorded for several decades in various Mediterranean areas.

FIP Objective(s) 

By December 2028, the current FIP aims to:

  • Improve the status of the stock (transition to sustainability, stock rebuilding).
  • Define stock boundaries and status, and implement management measures. 
  • Propose and draft harvest control rules.
  • Minimize the ecological impact of the BSC fishery.  
  • Change fishing practices (combat destructive and unsustainable practices).
  • Decrease impacts on the fishery ecosystem (less bycatch, less damage to habitat..).
  • Collect and analyze data on discards and ETP species interactions.
  • Control the fishing pressure.
  • Maximize the net incomes and contribute to secure the livelihoods of participating fishers.
FIP Type 
Basic
FIP Stage 
Stage 2: FIP Launch
Start and Projected End Dates
January 2024
December 2028
Next Progress Report Due 
Friday, January 31, 2025
Species 
Common Name 
Blue Swimming Crab
Scientific Name
Portunus segnis (Forskål
Gear Type 
Trap Net
Location
FAO Major Fishing Area
Area 37 (Mediterranean and Black Sea)
Exclusive Economic Zones
Country 
Tunisia
Geographic Scope 
Medenine area (Gulf of Gabès)
Landings
Estimated Total FIP Landings 
7,561 metric tons
Estimated Total Fishery Landings 
22,183 metric tons
Landings Date 
January 2023
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FIP at a Glance

View current status
January 01, 2024
36% 61% 4%
Progress Rating (A) Advanced Progress

Reserved for comprehensive FIPs that have achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within the past 12 months.

(B) Good Progress

A basic FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within 12 months.

(C) Some Recent Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months that has never achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result but has reported a Stage 3 activity within the first 12 months.
(D) Some Past Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months BUT has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old AND a Stage 3 activity has been reported within six months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
(E) Negligible Progress
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old, with no Stage 3 activity reported in the last six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months with no Stage 3 activity reported within 12 months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.

The ratings are currently derived by SFP from publicly available data on FIP websites, including FisheryProgress.org, and are determined using the following methodology: View PDF
Not yet available
Actions Complete

This pie chart represents completed environmental actions. Non-completed environmental actions may contain completed sub-tasks that are not illustrated here. For more information on environmental action progress visit the Actions Progress tab.
  • Complete
  • Incomplete
Next Update Due FisheryProgress requires a FIP to provide update reports every six months, and two missed reports will render the FIP inactive. If a report is overdue, this date will appear red.
Jan 2025
Target End Date
Dec 2028

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
Gulf Union Marine Products
Organization Type 
Industry
Primary Contact 
Dr. Amani Chaffai
Email 
sustainabilitybsctunisia@gmail.com
Phone 
+216 70 295 495/ +216 94 819 969
Website Name 
Gulf Union
FIP Identification Number The FIP Identification Number is automatically generated by FisheryProgress when a FIP profile is created. While the number itself is not meaningful, they are used by NGOs, academia, and industry to refer to FIPs in a consistent way.
23622