Download the report (available only in English): PDF

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Working Group on Stock Assessment of Small Pelagic Species (WGSASP) was held in Rome, Italy, in hybrid modality, on 9–14 December 2024. The main objectives of the meeting were to: i) review the consistency of procedures to provide advice; ii) review the assessment of small pelagic stocks; and iii) run a hands-on data session to improve the stock assessments. Within the Joint Session with the Working Group on Stock Assessment of Demersal Species (WGSAD), the working group discussed the proposed revisions to the different tools available to the WGSAs to collect input data and report assessment outputs and agreed on the new summary sheet, the revised Stock Assessment form and the updated STAR template. The working group also noted and agreed that the advice may have to be adapted to reflect the management implications of the assessments output and the levels of uncertainty. The WGSASP reviewed 22 stock assessments. Validated advice was provided for 21 of these stocks, 14 of which were provided with quantitative advice and seven with qualitative advice. One assessment was considered preliminary. Two additional stocks, sardine and anchovy in GSAs 17-18, which were updated in the WGSASP session in the Adriatic Sea in May were presented. Moreover, two stocks anchovy and sardine in geographical subarea 16 were not assessed but the workplan proposed by Italy was discussed in the working group. Out of the 21 validated assessments, 14 indicated sustainable exploitation, seven stocks were considered overexploitation. Based on the assessments of 14 validated of quantitative advice, 79% of stocks were found sustainably exploited based on F. On a species level, anchovy stocks other than GSA 17–18 were found sustainably exploited, while sardine stocks showed comparable percentages of sustainable and overexploited stocks. The second reference session for round sardinella was held during WGSASP in GSA 24-27 (Lebanon), resulting in a benchmarked stock assessment.