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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Working Group (WG) to establish a fair and equitable allocation key for Adriatic small pelagics was held on 12 July 2022 in an online modality. The WG stemmed from a request of the Commission and Recommendation GFCM/44/2021/20 on a multiannual management plan for the sustainable exploitation of small pelagic stocks in the Adriatic Sea (geographical subareas 17 and 18), which foresees that, in 2022, within 30 calendar days following the twenty-third session of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Fisheries, the GFCM shall create a working group in order to establish a fair and equitable allocation key for small pelagics in the Adriatic Sea, taking into consideration the efforts made by GFCM contracting parties and cooperating non-contracting parties (CPCs) to manage small pelagic fisheries, as well as historical catch figures, and to apply, in some cases, stricter rules than those defined in this recommendation, based on socioeconomic considerations as well. The WG thus discussed how best to provide advice on the establishment of a fair and equitable allocation scheme of the total allowable catch (TAC) of Adriatic Sea small pelagics and agreed that the best way forward was to provide advice on potential criteria for allocating TACs among CPCs and to discuss their implications, with the understanding that this would inform further discussions towards the establishment of a long-term management plan and that decisions would ultimately rest with the Commission in 2023 (or 2024).