It establishes management measures and harvest control rules for fisheries targeting sardine (Sardina pilchardus) and European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) in the northern Adriatic Sea (GSA 17), and transitional conservation measures for small pelagic fisheries in the southern Adriatic Sea (GSA 18), further precautionary and emergency measures were established for 20152 and 20163. Since then, additional recommendations have been adopted establishing supplementary precautionary and emergency measures for this fishery in both GSAs 17 and 18 for 2017-20184 and for 2019-2021.5 The general objective is to ensure that the exploitation levels of small pelagics in the Adriatic Sea are at MSY by 2020. It started from a qualitative appraisal of alternative management measures that was later developed into a full quantitative framework.