The French initial assessment of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) highlighted the lack of reliable data concerning offshore areas. During the planning of the monitoring programmes, the scientists therefore proposed to partially cover this gap by using existing fisheries research vessel surveys deployed for the purposes of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Testing phases from October 2013 to August 2015
explored ways of improving the effectiveness of these surveys and making them better suited to delivering the information needed for MSFD. The process became operational at the beginning of the year 2016 and six fisheries research surveys henceforth collect new data, with or without additional sampling techniques. This report provides an overview of the MSFD monitoring actions on the different fisheries surveys in 2018.