As the characterization of SSF is a common topic to be addressed by the “Friends of SSF” platform (see section 6.4.1), the partner organizations participating in this group have contributed to discussions on refining this characterization matrix and have agreed to carry out a preliminary test of this matrix through their existing case studies of SSF. The socio-economic survey, being carried out in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea within the context of the mid-term strategy, is also collecting data in line with the matrix in order to perform a wide-scale application of the matrix at the regional level. In this report it was noted that, although generally large-scale fisheries were associated with high capital costs and sophisticated technology and SSF were associated with small vessels and labour intensive fishing techniques, in reality, modern fishing operations meant that even certain SSF could use very advanced technologies and have a high level of fishing effort (World Bank, 2012).