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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Working Group on Stock Assessment of Demersal Species (WGSAD) was held in GFCM and FAO headquarters, in Rome, Italy, 7–12 November 2016. The key objectives of this meeting were to: i) review the status of the priority fish stocks in the Mediterranean Sea; ii) run a benchmark session to review the use of the natural mortality vector (M) model for the assessment of red mullet and shrimp species; and iii) discuss the use of the growth parameters in European hake (Merluccius merluccius) stock assessment. In addition, the meeting discussed about the importance of blackspot seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo) in the western Mediterranean and proposed an ad hoc meeting to assess this species in Morocco by early 2017. The WGSAD reviewed 29 stock assessments, 27 of which were validated while two were presented as “preliminary” and no scientific advice was therefore provided. In addition to this, one assessment-related work was presented. Out of the 27 stock assessments validated by the group, five were found in a state of “sustainable exploitation” and 22 were assessed as “in overexploitation”.