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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Working Group on Stock Assessment of Small Pelagic Species (WGSASP) session on small pelagics in the Adriatic Sea (geographical subareas 17–18), was carried out online from 5 to 9 May 2025. The main objectives of this meeting were to update the assessments of European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) and sardine (Sardina pilchardus) based on year n-1 data (reference year 2024) as requested by 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). Based on data provided by relevant contracting parties for 2024 (year n-1), the assessments were updated with an extra year of data and quantitative advice was provided for both species. Anchovy in geographical subareas 17 and 18 show biomass above reference point and being in overexploitation with B/Bpa = 1.23, B/Blim = 1.62 and F/Fmsy = 1.04. Final results of the sardine benchmark update show that the stock continues to decline in terms of biomass with B/Bmsy = 0.32, and B/Blim=1.05, while fishing mortality was at F/Fmsy = 1.82.