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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The data preparation meeting for small pelagic species in the western Mediterranean (geographical subareas 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6) of the Working Group on Stock Assessment of Small Pelagic Species (WGSASP) was held on 7–11 October 2024 in Malaga, Spain. The meeting was attended by 19 participants from Algeria, Morocco and Spain, as well as from the Secretariat of the GFCM. The main objective of this meeting was to provide a platform to review, discuss and analyse input data for sardine (Sardina pilchardus) in GSAs 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) in GSAs 1, 5 and 6 in preparation for the WGSASP sessions to be held in December 2024. Information on the following stocks was presented and discussed: sardine in GSAs 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6; European anchovy in GSAs 1, 5 and 6; and round sardinella in GSA 4. The data preparation meeting also functioned as a platform to discuss and reflect on the Stock Assessment Form (SAF) input data template, the proposal updated for the STAR file, and the summary sheet to test during the next WGSASP, and it gathered expert suggestions to modify the SAF. A specific discussion on the MEDIAS indices in GSA 1 was held, with contributions from the Spanish MEDIAS and fishery teams to address the issues and provide potential solutions to the problems encountered. Additionally, significant progress has been made in standardizing catch per unit effort (CPUE) in relevant GSAs, which will contribute to more consistent and accurate stock assessments.