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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The fifth meeting of the Subregional Group on Stock Assessment in the Black Sea (SGSABS) was held in Batumi, Georgia, from 4 to 9 December 2017. The key objectives of the meeting were to: i) review the status of the main fish stocks in the Black Sea; ii) review the existing data and assessment methods for the main stocks in the area; and iii) review input data and attempt analytical assessments for turbot (Scophthalmus maximus), red mullet (Mullus barbatus), whiting (Merlangius merlangus), Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda), European anchovy, Black Sea subspecies (Engraulis encrasicolus ponticus), horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus ponticus), picked dogfish (Squalus acanthias), European sprat (Sprattus sprattus) and rapa whelk (Rapana venosa). Nine assessments were validated by the Group; among these Azov sea anchovy was sustainably exploited, red mullet and European sprat were uncertain, piked dogfish was depleted, the fishery of rapa whelk was estimated to be at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and all other stocks were in over exploitation. The assessment of Atlantic bonito was not validated.