Download the report (available only in English): PDF

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The data preparation meetings for a benchmark on sardine in the Adriatic Sea were held as part of the benchmark assessment for the sardine in the Adriatic Sea. The first session was held online from 29 November to 2 December 2022 and it was concluded that an additional meeting was needed. The second session was also held online, from 13 to 17 February 2023. During the meetings, the group revised the otolith readings for the period from 2013 onwards used to build age matrix. The group also made an analysis of the age-length keys by country, including exploration of spatio-temporal length composition at age from MEDIAS surveys and commercial catches, estimates of growth parameters and model fitting by year (from 2013 when available) and country (European Union-Italy and European Union-Croatia). During the second session, the group explored the usage of surplus models where preliminary runs showed promising results. The group agreed on the roadmap toward the finalisation of the benchmark with further consideration and testing of a4a, JABBA and SPiCT models in advance of the meeting of the Working Group on Stock Assessment of Small Pelagics in May.