Search

The ICES Scallop Assessment Working Group (WGScallop) collates and analyses scallop land-ings data, scallop surveys and methods, scallop ageing procedures and advances in technology in order to further develop and improve appropriate stock assessment methods. Collated data from the 4th annual data call were reviewed and compared to data from the Re-gional Database Estimation System (RDBES). Further intersessional comparison work will be undertaken and if the two datasets match, then RDBES data can be used routinely and WGScal-lop will no longer issue an annual data call. Fisheries independent surveys are critical for many stock assessment methods. The WG held an intersessional meeting on survey design and will continue further discussions during 2024. The first staff exchanges on scallop surveys occurred during 2023 and a list of surveys with available spaces for staff exchange have been compiled for 2024. Scallop larval dispersal models have progressed in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Connectivity work among locations in the Irish Sea found that no significant spatial genetic differentiation among populations at the scale of ~ 400 km. There was however a significant genetic differenti-ation within samples that may be temporally linked to spring and autumn spawning. This hy-pothesis will be investigated using stable isotope analysis of king scallop shells from these two genetically distinct groups. The Workshops on Scallop Aging have now concluded, and an update is provided. WGScallop decided to combine two existing terms of reference,ToR B and ToR C, which are closely related and focus on developing stock assessment methods for scallops. A table was pro-duced to highlight the international range of scallop stocks, current data and methods utilised, and a “road map” of best practice was suggested. An intersessional subgroup will meet to further discuss and consider options for a workshop. New research on modifications to traditional dredge gear,i.e. skid dredges an

The WKSIMULD3 meeting provided a platform for experts from the EU member states to meet and progress the assessment methodology on Criteria 3 of Descriptor 3 upon request by EC (DGENV). WKSIMULD3 is the third of a series of three workshops (WKD3C3SCOPE and WKD3C3THRESHOLDS being the first two) to identify operational indicators for MSFD D3C3. The workshop was organised as a series of presentations with intermittent discussions. The group agreed on a number of stocks to run simulations to explore the relationships between indicators of population traits/dynamics and healthy population structure. The participants found that for demersal stocks in the North Sea, MSE simulations showed decreasing values of D3C3 indicators with increasing fishing mortality. However, the use of age-structure indicators for these stocks is likely to lead to frequent false positives due to the high interannual variability. Age-based simulations were implemented also for pelagic and short-lived stocks, such as macke-rel, sprat, and sandeel. The distribution of the threshold values implemented for the stocks did not show a clear response to the fishing regime. As a result, the use of age-structure indicators for these stocks is likely to lead to frequent false positives/negatives. The simulations aimed to validate the population size structure and calculate indicators under different fishing scenarios. In the Mediterranean Sea, length-based simulations were conducted for two hake stocks and one sole stock. The length indicators obtained were compared to historical data to assess the respon-siveness of the indicators to exploitation. These results show the behaviour of the length based and of the age-based indicators calculated on observed data. Overall, the indicator status can be well below the average value at Fmsy. Additionally, an exploratory run tested a harvest control rule driven by age-based indicator targets. The outputs can provide directions on how to choose a threshold that can en

The Working Group on Surveys on Ichthyoplankton in the North Sea and adjacent Seas (WGSINS) coordinates surveys on fish early life stages undertaken for assessment and manage-ment purposes. The objectives of WGSINS include review and coordination of these surveys, quality assurance on survey methodology, species identification, provided data and indices, preparation of data for archival, as well as identification of additional objectives that can be achieved by the surveys. WGSINS coordinates seven surveys, three in the North Sea (IHLS - International herring larvae surveys in the North Sea, MIK - North Sea Midwater Ring Net survey, DRS - Downs recruitment survey), two in the Irish Sea (NINEL - Northern Irish Northeastern Larvae Survey, NI-MIK - Northern Ireland MIK Survey) and two in the Baltic (RHLS - Rügen herring larvae survey, BIS - Baltic Ichthyoplankton Surveys). Most surveys target herring larvae from various stocks, while the NI-MIK targets pelagic juvenile gadoids and the BIS eggs and larvae of Eastern Baltic cod. At WGSINS 2023, cruise summaries and results from the seven surveys were presented. All rel-evant estimates and indices from the surveys were updated, and data were uploaded into the ICES eggs and larvae database. New methodologies to incorporate the DRS into the MIK recruit-ment index time-series were discussed and evaluated, concluding that these can provide im-provements to the existing MIK index. However, further refinement is needed before these are presented to the Herring Assessment Working Group (HAWG). The chair of WGSMART presented updates on the egg and larvae module in SmartDots. WGSINS agreed to provide expertise and support in reviewing documentation and testing of further software developments. Representatives from the ICES Data Centre presented updates to the ICES eggs and larvae database, and introduced the new Fecundity and Atresia Database. A newly established governance group for these two databases, the Working Group for Egg

The WKD3C3THRESHOLDS meeting provided a platform for experts from the EU member states to meet and progress the assessment methodology on Criteria 3 of Descriptor 3 upon re-quest by EC (DGENV). WKD3C3THRESHOLDS is the second of a series of three workshops (WKD3C3SCOPE, WKD3C3THRESHOLDS and WKD3SIMUL) to identify operational indica-tors for MSFD D3C3. The workshop was organised as a series of presentations of results with intermittent group dis-cussions. The D3C3 indicators agreed at WKD3C3SCOPE were estimated and documented for a selection of stocks representing different life-histories (Tor a). Plots comparing indicators were investi-gated for stocks with all estimated indicators. The age structure indicators ABI, ASA, POS and SSB/R generally followed the temporal development of SSB and react similarly to F. A gap of up to 10 years was observed between changes in F and subsequent changes in age structure indica-tors for long-lived species while SSB responded quickly to changes in F. For medium-lived stocks, the four age structure indicators exhibited similar temporal patterns, with SSB divided by R tending to be more variable. Recruitment and mean weight at age documented shifts in productivity, impacting age structure indicators differently when changes occur. Plots of F, re-cruitment, weight at age and SSB are considered useful for understanding cases where changes in F do not impact SSB as expected (e.g. rebuilding does not occur or stock remains high in spite of high F). Higher proportions of older fish as measured by ABI/ASA/POS or SSB/R did not ap-pear linked to an immediate increase recruitment. A comparison of length-based and age-based indicators for Mediterranean stocks was also conducted. Recruitment detection from survey time series showed uneven patterns over stocks and time series, and in some cases depended on sur-vey timing. Length-based indicators exhibited weak consistency information from stock assess-ments, and confounding effects of biological

WGACEGG coordinates and provides quality control for acoustic and daily egg production (DEPM) surveys of several pelagic stocks in ICES areas 6-9. During the 2023 meeting results from four DEPM surveys and nine acoustic surveys were pre-sented and discussed jointly with members of the Working Group on Southern Horse Mackerel, Anchovy, and Sardine (WGHANSA). The provided abundance estimates were considered relia-ble. However, given the increase in the distance between transects in the JUVENA acoustic sur-vey, its potential impact on the estimates was discussed. Anchovy stocks in areas 7 and 8 showed good conditions and continued evidence of northward migration. Sardine in area 9 was also in good condition due to last year’s recruitment, while horse mackerel and mackerel stocks were in generally poorer condition. Sprat biomass decreased in division 8 and increased in 7. Herring biomass in the western Channel is still under analysis, and boarfish stocks in divisions 6 and 7 are above average and increasing. The group updated gridded maps and conducted space-time modeling of sardine distribution in the Bay of Biscay, showcasing the potential of common grid data. The ICES TIMES report for DEPM surveys is under peer review. Preliminary discussion was held on future update of the ICES TIMES report for acoustics, improving the detail of the uncer-tainty estimates. Workshop sessions were held on both acoustic and DEPM databases. Acoustic and egg-based biomass indices for anchovy and sardine available in area 8 were com-pared to evaluate their respective bias and precision. A workplan for investigating discrepancies between indices was proposed. Methodological developments included a review of uncrewed vehicles for improved sampling, and improvements to surface school monitoring in acoustic surveys, based on lateral echosound-ers and multibeam sonars. Ongoing enhancements involved analyzing the ping interval's effect on acoustic abundance and a weakly supervised model for aut

The main objective of the Working Group on Biological Parameters (WGBIOP) is to review the status, issues, developments, and quality assurance of biological parameters used in stock assessment. The Group aims to plan workshops, exchanges, and validation studies on a range of biological variables with a view to reviewing the quality of information supplied for stock assessment. The group also investigates data availability and develops documentation and methods to improve communication between data collectors and end users and continues to contribute to new and improved functionality for the SmartDots platform. Time was spent in plenary discussion on the Sexual Maturity Staging in Fish (the SMSF maturity scale), and its adoption and implementation. The development of the WGBIOP collection on the ICES library reached a conclusion with the collection being launched and steps being put in place to allow the inclusion of all remaining information going forward. This collection will replace the Data Quality Assurance Repository. A Scientific Session was delivered which focused on developing tools such as AI and Machine Learning and how their applications in the fields of age determination and maturity staging can be supported by the Group. A useful discussion also took place around the creation and utilisation of reference collections. As we move to completion on the majority of tasks under the existing ToRs, a significant part of the meeting was spent in plenary discussion with the aim of shaping the new ToRs for the upcoming three-year term. Agreement was reached on having more emphasis on maturity, new and developing tools and techniques, environment and ecosystems effects and data quality and optimisation. There was also recognition that as the Group moves into new areas of work, it may be necessary to review the membership to ensure that all areas of expertise are covered, but it is expected that this will evolve during the course of the next term. New chairs were no

Population identification plays an important role in the assessment of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus). Several morphological/traditional methods have been applied in the past to split catches (both within survey and commercial samples) and to identify herring populations. However, in recent years advances in genomics have provided a robust and precise method to genetically identify herring populations. WKSIDAC2 reviewed the current status of genetic population identification for herring and outstanding issues affecting identification accuracy/success. The genetic methods using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) as genetic markers to identify herring population are considered appropriate. Depending on the region of interest, different sets of markers are used to identify herring populations. The differences in the set of markers have only minor influence on the population identification and can be negligible. However, it is recommended to choose sets of markers which will allow a direct comparison between institutes undertaking the classification. Furthermore, the review concluded that 26 different herring spawning populations can be currently identified using genetic methods in the northeastern Atlantic. However, future genetic studies may increase the number of identified populations and also provide a greater resolution for the spatial distributions. For example, from the genetic markers presented during WKSIDAC2, we are not able to genetically differentiate between Icelandic summer spawners, Faroese autumn spawners, and Norwegian autumn spawners. These three populations are currently combined as a single genetic unit. Future work incorporating whole genome sequencing data, is recommended to investigate this issue in more detail. In addition, of the 26 identified genetic populations only some can directly and uniquely be assinged to a particular stock (management unit) and for this reason WKSIDAC2 refrained from establishing such correspondence which is left

The Workshop on Assessing the Impact of Fishing on Oceanic Carbon (WKFISHCARBON) was set up to provide ICES and stakeholders with a summary of knowledge on the role of fishing in the process of carbon budgets, sequestration and footprint in the ocean. The workshop addressed the potential impact of fishing on the biological carbon pump (BCP), the possible impacts of bottom trawling on carbon stores in the seabed, as well as considering emissions from fishing vessels. The overall aim was to generate proposals on how to develop an ICES approach to fishing and its role in the ocean carbon budget, and to develop a roadmap for a way forward. The main findings were that knowledge of the BCP in the open ocean was reasonably well developed, but that key gaps existed. In particular, information on the biomass of mesopelagic fish and other biota, and of some of the key processes e.g. fluxes and fish bioenergetics. Knowledge is much weaker for the BCP in shelf seas, where the bulk of fishing occurs. In particular, while biomass of fish was often well quantified, unlike the open ocean, the understanding of the important processes was lacking, particularly for the fate of faecal pellets and deadfall at the seabed. There is extensive scientific knowledge of the impact of fishing on the seabed, but what is un-clear is what it means for seabed carbon storage. There have been numbers of studies, which give a very divided view on this. There has also been open controversy about this in the literature. Physical disturbance to the seabed from fishing can affect sediment transport and has the potential to facilitate remineralization, but precise impacts will depend on habitat, fishing métier, and other environmental factors. From this, it is clear that more research is needed to resolve the controversy, and to quantify the impacts from different fishing gears and on different substrates or habitats in terms of carbon storage. There has been much more research on minimizing fuel use by fi

The Working Group on Multispecies Assessment Methods (WGSAM) aims to advance the oper-ational use of knowledge on predator-prey interactions for advice on fisheries and ecosystem management. Key runs of multispecies and ecosystem models provided by WGSAM are integral to this mission. They serve as a robust component of ecosystem science that seamlessly integrates into the ICES advice. This report presents an update of the multispecies SMS key-run model for the North Sea and its review by the working group based on established review criteria. The updated model extends to input time-series to 2022 and includes a more extensive revision of the time-series of marine birds and grey seal population numbers. Additional improvements of this key-run include (i) one extra year of grey seal diet data (i.e., 1985, 2002, 2010); (ii) plaice is now a prey species, alt-hough predation is at the moment limited to grey seal; (iii) improved compilation of fish diet data including estimation of variance of the estimated prey proportions. WGSAM recommends the use of natural mortality estimates from the North Sea SMS key-run for use in single species stock assessment models of North Sea haddock, herring, Norway pout, sandeel (estimates are disaggregated for the southern and northern North Sea), sprat, and whiting. The SMS key-run continues to assume a single North Sea cod stock in contrast to the recent split into three compo-nents which makes assimilation of the natural mortality estimates into the new cod assessments problematic. More work is needed to harmonise the new fish stomachs with the old ones before they could be integrated in the North Sea key-run.

The role of the ICES Working Group on Recreational Fisheries Surveys (WGRFS) is to compile and validate data from European countries' recreational fisheries and contribute to the ICES advisory process regarding marine recreational fisheries (MRF) issues. In 2023, WGRFS actively engaged in various aspects of MRF, involving the consolidation and evaluation of national survey programs, validating new methodologies, offering guidance on data availability, quality, and usage, facilitating regional data gathering and storage, exploring human dimensions, and assessing workshops organized by the group. The sessions primarily aimed at information exchange, evaluating the quality of national survey programs, intersessional group activities, and scientific publication plans. A wide array of topics was discussed, including the introduction of new national survey programs and their outcomes in countries like Australia, the French Caribbean, Germany, Italy, Latin America, Namibia, South Africa, Spain, the UK, and the USA. Insights on MRF were shared by the European Commission and representatives from the angling community. Updates were provided on the outcomes of the Regional Coordination Group (RCG) intersessional group on Recreational Fisheries. Presentations summarized the findings of stock assessments involving MRF. Using the WGRFS Quality Assurance Tool, assessments were conducted on two national survey schemes: Finland and the UK Catchwise. Issues with the approaches were highlighted, and recommendations were proposed for future enhancements. The primary focus of the meeting centred on reviewing advances, formulating strategies, and setting the course for the intersessional groups (ISGs), which serve as the main delivery mechanism for WGRFS. The ISGs encompass governance, survey methodologies, quality assurance, regional coordination and data storage, catch and release, animal welfare, stock assessment and reconstruction, innovative methodologies, human dimensions, and comm

Report on ICES sponsored symposia held in 2023: - From Echosounders to the Cloud: Transforming Acoustic Data to Information Venue and date: 27–30 March 2023, Portland, Maine, USA - 5th International Symposium on the Effects of Climate Change on the World's Ocean (ECCWO5) Venue and date: 17–21 April 2023, Bergen, Norway - Human Impacts on Marine Functional Connectivity Venue and date: 22–25 May 2023, Sesimbra, Portugal - Baltic Sea Science Congress Venue and date: 21–25 August 2023, Helsinki, Finland - The Second International Symposium on Plastic Pollution in the Arctic and Sub-Arctic Regions Venue and date: 22–23 November 2023, Reykjavik, Iceland

The Working Group on the Effects of Extraction of Marine Sediments on the Marine Ecosystem (WGEXT) develops the understanding to ensure that marine sand and gravel extraction is sus-tainably managed and in order to adopt mitigative measures. WGEXT has been monitoring the rate of marine sediment extraction in the North Atlantic, in-cluding the Baltic and North Sea for almost 40 years. The group is developing a database and associated ‘WGEXT Dredging Dashboard’ to document current extractions by end use, leased areas and, where possible, the footprint of dredged areas, all in the perspective of the long-term trends since 1993. The Dashboard can be found at https://rconnect.cefas.co.uk/content/26. Alt-hough not all member countries provide annual data, the WGEXT inventories are representative of activity in the ICES region. Volumes extracted have shown a spectacular increase from a few hundred thousand m³ per year in the early 1970s to millions m³ in the 1990s and tens of millions m³ in recent years. Over the last three decades, the demand for sand for beach nourishment and shore protection has increased substantially. Sand is now recognized as a critical, strategic re-source. Areas actually dredged in any year are much smaller than the areas licensed. The active areas and even the intensity of dredging can be determined either by Electronic Monitoring System (EMS) or Automatic Identification System (AIS) to define a dredging footprint. While still in the developmental stage, EMS data is suitable for training AIS algorithms to expand regional cover-age. The competition for access to marine resources, including space, continues to grow. Accommo-dation for marine sand not only impacts with fisheries and habitat concerns, but also the space needed to accommodate offshore windfarm and cable routes. Infrastructure of this nature has the potential to ‘sterilise’ areas of the sea floor such that the sediment resources are not available for exploitation.

The Working Group on Governance of the Regional Database & Estimation System (WGRDBES-GOV) provides the governance function for both the existing Regional Database (RDB) and the new Regional Database & Estimation System (RDBES) that is currently in development. It is composed of representatives from ICES member countries and EU Regional Coordination Groups (RCGs). In this report the WGRDBESGOV reviews the RDBES developments performed during 2023 and plans for the work required in 2024 and beyond. The RDBES has already replaced the RDB data system in 2023, and it is planned to replace ICES InterCatch by 2027. It has an important part to play in increasing transparency and improving the quality of stock assessment within ICES. To this end, WGRDBESGOV: -works intersessionally during the year. Three intersessional subgroups (ISSG) areplanned for 2024: The Core Group (continued), ISSG Data Quality (new), and ISSG For-mat on finalizing Regional Catch Estimates Format (RCEF) (new). -plans workshops and working groups which help data submitters and stock coordina-tors with the transition to the new system. The outcomes of the groups held in 2023 werepresented and four WG/WK have been planned for 2024: WKRDBES-INTRO, WKRD-BES-RaiseStock1, WGRDBES-EST (2024-2027) and WGRDBES-StockCoord. -works in coordination with the RCGs, to ensure that their needs are fulfilled. -coordinates with a number of ICES WG who provide technical support in relation todifferent types of data: WGCATCH, WGBIOP, WGBYC and WGRFS. During the WGRDBESGOV 2023, the participants worked in four subgroups about: Revision of the Roadmap, Data Quality, Funding, and Confidentiality. Revision of the Roadmap The subgroup dedicated to the revision of the roadmap gathered the feedback received from developers and from the different working groups, workshops, and users of the RDBES in 2023. From the ICES data centre there was a clear message that the core parts of the RDBES are com-plete and ready to be used by count

The Working Group on Fisheries Benthic Impact and Trade-offs (WGFBIT) develops methods and performs assessments to evaluate benthic impact from fisheries at regional scale, while considering fisheries and seabed impact trade-offs. In this report, new fishery benthic impact assessments (ToR A) are shown for the Spanish Mediterranean. For other regions, updates of the whole assessment or specific steps only are presented. In relation to the updates on the assessment framework (ToR B), an alternative indicator to L1 was tested. It is based on the FBIT methodology but only estimates the relative decline in biomass of the 10% most long-lived biomass fraction of the community (PD-sens). The group examined the responsiveness of this indicator to 6 gradients of trawling pressure and compared it with the PD total biomass indicator and two empirically estimated indicators, SoS and long-lived fraction. The results show that the PD-sens is typically as responsive as SoS and long-lived fraction. Furthermore, the overview on the current methodologies used in the FBIT approach across regions is further updated and, in such way, forms the basis for the methodology section of the manuscript in development. Regarding indicator comparability (ToR C), the work of the Workshop to evaluate proposed assessment methods and how to set thresholds for assessing adverse effects on seabed habitats (WKBENTH 3; ICES, 2022) is transformed into a publication. For certain regions, more indicator comparisons are executed, for example, in the Adriatic Sea. The WGFBIT ToR D works towards an improved understanding of the link between species functional effect traits and parameters for specific ecosystem functions in order to improve our ability to predict the impact of fishing disturbance on benthic ecosystem functioning. A new assessment examining trawling-induced changes in benthic effect trait composition using multiple case-studies from the North Sea, Celtic Sea, Kattegat, Baltic Sea and the eastern

The objective of the Second Scoping workshop on the next generation of mixed fisheries advice (WKMIXFISH2) was to continue a dialogue with advice recipients, stakeholders, and scientists on developing mixed fisheries science and advice to meet management needs. The meeting aimed at establishing the current use and utility of mixed fisheries considerations and identifying priority areas for future development. There was overall support for scenario-based advice on the consequences of mixed fisheries in-teractions given incompatibilities among single stock advice catch limits. Mixed fisheries consid-erations are currently used as supplementary information to single stock advice, providing man-agers with a directional tool when considering catch limits that protect vulnerable stocks. This focus on general trends, rather than specific values in the mixed fisheries scenario forecasts, is due in some cases to a combination of uncertainties associated with mixed fisheries interactions among fleets and metiers, considerations of economic trade-offs, as well as the potential behav-ioural response to changing catch opportunities. A clearer presentation of model assumptions was seen as important for framing the interpretation of mixed fisheries considerations and these factors. For example, mixed fisheries forecasts highlight incompatibilities in single stock advice under the assumption that future fishing will resemble recent historic patterns. In addition to influencing catch limits, it was recognised that the scenario forecasts could be used in conjunc-tion with other data and advice products to aid in the development of adaptive strategies to changing fishing opportunities. Discussions on potential improvements focussed on model and scenario assumptions that can influence technical interactions among fleet and metiers. These included fleet and metier defini-tions, quotas share distributions among fleets, effort shares among metiers in each fleet and the development of alte

The Workshop on Raising Data using the RDBES and TAF (WKRDBES-Raise&TAF) met online (26–30 of September 2022) to evaluate the use of the Regional Database and Estimation System (RDBES) format to reproduce the 2022 InterCatch input and output, identifying a Transparent Assessment Framework (TAF) structure to organize the intermediate steps and to propose stand-ardized output formats. The main outcomes of WKRDBES-Raise&TAF were: • RDBES provides sufficient support for current national estimation protocols. However, some minor issues were reported that hampered an exact reproduction of the estimates. Therefore, adaptations of the data model should not be excluded completely. • All the input to stock assessment that InterCatch currently provides, could be repro-duced. The participants started from the current stock extracts that can be downloaded from InterCatch. • A workflow was proposed with a national TAF repository for each country, a stock esti-mation repository and a stock assessment repository. The intermediate output of those repositories will be stored in an ‘intermediate output database’ and depending on the user role, you will get access to the relevant stages in this workflow. • The following requirements for the standard output formats were defined: they cannot be more restrictive than the InterCatch input and output format; they should present measures of uncertainty and sample sizes (for national estimates) and should have a con-figurable domain definition (for national estimates). Despite those successful outcomes, the current plan for transition to an operational system was concluded to be too optimistic. WKRDBES-Raise&TAF therefore recommends to the Working Group on Governance of the Regional Database and Estimation System (WGRDBESGOV) to re-vise the roadmap and allow RDBES to be in a test phase also for 2023. WKRDBES-Raise&TAF felt the need to test the proposed workflow on a small scale and therefore recommends to the WGRDBESGOV to arrange a workshop

The Workshop on pathways to climate-aware advice (WKCLIMAD) met in the autumn of 2021 to develop a proposal for an advisory framework that accounts for the influences of climate change on aquaculture, fisheries, and ecosystems. The workshop worked through online ses-sions with over 40 participants. Climate-informed advice should be provided through a risk-based framework that considers magnitude and likelihood of impacts, effectiveness and feasibility of measures. A wealth of data, tools and methods exists to on-ramp the advice. However, it is important to consider how these are utilised. To provide robust climate-informed advice, there is a need to identify and rank cli-mate impacts and the associated risks, and match adaptation measures with public policy objec-tives. There must be a balance between actionable advice and reporting of uncertainty. The next steps for ICES should be to evaluate these three recommended additions to the advice framework/principles: • Development of a framework for spatial knowledge and advice, that includes definitions of temporal and spatial scale of management challenges. • Proactive solicitation of experts and stakeholders in relevant fields. Co-production of knowledge with iterative feedback, accounting for the plurality of knowledge and participation mechanisms. • Formulation of a plan for outputs, and communication, from the start of process, including allocation of sufficient resources to deliver advice. Greater emphasis needs to be placed on the communication and co-creation of advice. Climate-informed advice should include an assessment of current conditions in relation to the desired state. This requires not just an evaluation of the current state of the system, but the likely and/or desired future state of the fisheries/aquaculture system. This will also require greater ef-fort on scoping of future scenarios of ecosystem state, and potential management measures for adaptation, and some mitigation. Advice should document the

The Working Group on Multispecies Assessment Methods (WGSAM) aims to advance the operational use of knowledge on predator-prey interactions for advice on fisheries and ecosystem management. This report presents an update of the multispecies SMS keyrun model for the Baltic Sea including its review by the working group, and the review of three modelling frameworks for the Georges Bank marine ecosystem. The Baltic Sea keyrun provides updated estimates of cod predation mortality for the Baltic Sea sprat and central Baltic herring stocks. The model integrates fishery and survey data on the two clupeids and makes extensive use of the cod stomach data (i.e. 64 000 stomachs are used as input to the model). Estimations of predation mortality are consistent with previous estimates and suitable for inclusion in the stock assessment of the two clupeid stocks. Predation remains low on all ages for both herring and sprat as a result of the low cod stock size. The large modelling framework for the Georges Bank comprises a multispecies production model, a multispecies length-based model and a mass-balanced ecosystem model. While none of the three models was at that stage to be evaluated as a keyrun, with further development they could complementarily and in conjunction contribute to the EBFM of the Georges Bank.

A Benchmark Workshop for selected elasmobranch stocks (WKBELASMO) was convened to evaluate the appropriateness of data and methods to assess and provide short-term forecast for three rays stocks in the greater North Sea: thornback ray in the North Sea, Skagerrak, Kat-tegat, and eastern English Channel (rjc.27.3a47d), spotted ray in the North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat, and eastern English Channel (rjm.27.3a47d), and blonde ray in the southern North Sea and eastern English Channel (rjh.27.4c7d). For thornback ray in the North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat, and eastern English Channel, a SPiCT assessment using removals since 1999 and two series of biomass indices (NS-IBTS-Q1 and FR-CGFS-Q4 combined, and NS-IBTS-Q3, BTS-ENG-Q3, BTS-BEL-Q3 combined) since 1989 was accepted. The workshop also agreed on the settings for the short-term forecast, allowing the stock to be assessed as category 2. This stock is estimated to be harvested well below Fmsy with a biomass just above BMSY. The 15th percentile of the removals at Fmsy is slightly below MSY and corresponds to landings higher (~3 times) than the previous landings advice. For spotted ray in the North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat, and eastern English Channel, a SPiCT assessment using removals since 1999 and two series of biomass indices (NS-IBTS-Q1 and FR-CGFS-Q4 combined, and NS-IBTS-Q3, BTS-ENG-Q3, BTS-BEL-Q3 and BTS-NL-Q3 com-bined) since 1989 was accepted. The workshop also agreed on the settings for the short-term forecast, allowing the stock to be assessed as category 2. This stock is estimated to be harvest-ed well below Fmsy with a biomass above BMSY. The 15th percentile of the removals at Fmsy is just above MSY and corresponds to landings higher (~5 times) than the previous landings advice. For blonde ray in the North Sea and eastern English Channel, a synthesis of stock ID infor-mation (tagging, surveys) was presented, indicating that the stock unit for blonde ray should cover Division 4.b. Therefore, WKBELASMO has conside

The Workshop on a Research Roadmap for Offshore and Marine Renewable Energy (WKOMRE) examined the ICES role in providing science, data, and advice in the context of offshore and marine renewable energy development. For 120 years, ICES has led an international marine sci-ence collaboration to support the sustainable use of the ocean. Much of the focus, which is based on historical ocean use, has been on transboundary fisheries science and scientific advice, and more recently on the development of ecosystem approaches to fisheries and marine environmen-tal management. ICES has also made a concerted effort to develop aquaculture science and ad-vice with the goal of informing sustainable ocean-based food production. Climate change and energy security have created an urgent global effort to develop renewable energy in ocean eco-systems. Offshore wind energy and other coastal and marine renewable energy technologies provide countries with the ability to generate renewable electricity within their borders. As a result, rapid and large-scale offshore and marine renewable energy (OMRE) development is now underway. As a science organisation that has worked at the human-ocean interface for many decades, ICES is well-prepared to take a leading role in this topic: providing science, data, and advice to decision-makers to inform on the changes to marine ecosystems resulting from human uses based on principles of ecosystem-based management. The goal for ICES would be to enable society to make scientific-based decisions that balance fisheries, aquaculture, renewable energy, conservation, and other human uses, while at the same time maintaining healthy, productive, and resilient marine ecosystems. ICES proven ability to work at the ecosystem-level and across national boundaries is needed to address the effects of offshore and marine renewable energy on marine resources and ecosystems. To be successful, ICES should act quickly by providing the best scientific information available no

The Working Group on Surveys on Ichthyoplankton in the North Sea and adjacent Seas (WGSINS) coordinates several surveys on fish early life stages in the North Sea, Irish Sea and Baltic undertaken for assessment and management purposes. The objectives of WGSINS include review and coordination of these surveys, quality assurance on survey methodology, species identification and provided data and indices, preparation of data for archival as well as identifi-cation of additional objectives that can be achieved by the surveys. The International herring larvae surveys in the North Sea (IHLS) revealed higher larval abun-dances around the Orkneys, lower abundances in the Buchan and Banks area and large numbers of Downs larvae. The 2022 North Sea Midwater Ring Net survey (MIK) was faced with numerous challenges (weather, Covid-19 and technical issues) resulting in poor coverage, but data tests showed that the herring 0-ringer index was still reliable, although one of the lowest in the time series. The Downs recruitment survey (DRS) in April 2022 showed comparable numbers and spatial distribution of herring larvae as in 2021. As sampling should only be done at night, additional survey participation is required. A WGSINS sub-group is planned for 2023 to discuss the way forward with the DRS survey and index calculations. The Northern Irish Northeastern Larvae survey (NINEL) in November 2021 showed similar spa-tial distributions as in previous years and relatively high larval abundances. The 2022 Northern Ireland MIK survey (NI-MIK), targeting different juvenile gadoids, was af-fected by a change in survey timing and mechanical issues. No juvenile cod were caught and catches of haddock and whiting were low. The N20 recruitment index of the 2021 Rügen herring larvae survey (RHLS) was more than 10 times higher than the record low value in 2020 and the highest value since 2015, but still below the long-term average. The Baltic Ichthyoplankton Surveys (BIS) are a series of several i

The North Sea cod stock was last benchmarked in 2021 including a workshop on Stock Identification of North Sea Cod (WKNSCodID) reviewing the population structure information on the cod in the North Sea and adjacent waters. The workshop concluded that the North Sea includes different stock components of Viking and Dogger cod, and that the Dogger cod population extends to the West of Scotland (6.a.N). However, it was not possible to develop spatial approaches in time for the benchmark in 2021 because of (1) unexplained discrepancies between spatially disaggregated data and the data as used in the current North Sea assessment; and (2) the constraint that the 6.a stock was not included in the benchmark process. Nevertheless, the North Sea cod assessment was improved by revising the survey indices, biological data, and SAM assessment model configuration, thus lessening the data and assessment issues that had triggered the benchmark process. ICES recommended that further work be conducted on a data call to consider the different stock components as well as inclusion of the West of Scotland cod stock in the evaluation. This stock was last benchmarked in 2020 at WKDEM (ICES, 2020). Several pre-data meetings were conducted with the data providers to ensure that the data asked for in the data call met the requirement of the stock assessors, and were realistic to provide for the relevant countries. The data set on landings for the substocks components covering 1995– 2021 were evaluated at the data evaluation meeting and was found appropriate to use for the assessment. Presently the North Sea cod time series starts in 1963 and it would therefore be beneficial if the landings by substock could be extended further back in time. For the landings data covering the time period 1963–1995, ICES has a historic database with information on annual cod landings by area. It was decided to investigate if these data could be converted into landings by substock with some country specific assu

The Workshop on the Development of Quantitative Assessment Methodologies based on Life-history traits, exploitation characteristics, and other relevant parameters for data-limited stocks (WKLIFE XI), chaired by Carl O'Brien (UK), Tobias Mildenberger* (Denmark) and Simon Fischer* (UK) met in Copenhagen, Denmark 16-20 January 2023 (with hybrid meeting access), to further develop methods for stock assessment, stock status, and catch advice for stocks in ICES Categories 2–6, including the clarification of key issues previously raised by the ICES’ Commu-nity when implementing methods developed by WKLIFE for use in the ICES’ advice. Intersessional work had taken place ahead of the WKLIFE XI meeting and was presented during the workshop. The presentations defined the work programme for the workshop and the iden-tification of virtual subgroups; eight of which were identified within three Themes – Theme 1 (assessment methods), Theme 2 (challenges independent of assessment method) and Theme 3 (advice for stocks in ICES’ Categories 4-6, model diagnostics, control rules and management strategy evaluation). This workshop report contains detailed responses to collated comments from the ICES’ commu-nity on the empirical harvest control rules for Category 3 data-limited stocks and surplus pro-duction models for Category 2 stocks; together with further guidance. However, WKLIFE XI decided not to update the ICES technical guidance for harvest control rules and stock assessments for stocks in categories 2 and 3 (published 20 May 2022) at this stage. A draft roadmap was developed during the workshop for future data-limited research, assess-ment and management advice within ICES. The intended focus will be to make use of the best available science to further improve the provision of data-limited advice within ICES and to re-view new developments from both inside and outside of ICES; including FAO, RFMOs and sci-entists outside ICES’ membership. Topics include: data and their preparation

ICES provides advice on two sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) stocks; a ‘northern’ stock in divisions 4.b-c, 7.a, and 7.d-h (central and southern North Sea, Irish Sea, English Channel, Bristol Channel and Celtic Sea), and a southern stock in divisions 8.a-b (Bay of Biscay). This Workshop reviewed evidence and proposed plausible stock structure scenarios for the ICES sea bass benchmark in 2023 (WKSEABASS). In summary, evidence suggests that the current ICES stock units do not reflect the biological boundaries and connectivity of sea bass within these areas. Evidence from genetic (section 2.1), tagging (section 2.3) and larval/juvenile pelagic drift (section 2.4) studies, revealed a high degree of connectivity between the northern and southern sea bass stock units. Furthermore, genetic (section 2.3) and tagging (section 2.3) evidence revealed potential bounda-ries within the northern sea bass stock, particularly between the North Sea and the Celtic/Irish Sea. The group agreed that evidence suggested a single meta-population structure, meaning a group of spatially separated populations interacting at some level (i.e. migrating, reproducing, feeding). Based on evidence provided, three plausible population scenarios were identified: • Hypothesis 1: Three subpopulations, Irish Sea (7.a), North Sea (4b-c), southern Bay of Biscay (8.b); with mixing among the Celtic Sea (7.f-g), Bristol Channel (7.h), English Channel (7.d-e) and Northern Bay of Biscay. Mixing is seasonally dependant with more mixing occurring during summer compared to winter. • Hypothesis 2: Three subpopulations, Irish Sea (7.a), North Sea (4.b-c) and Bay Biscay (8.a-b); with mixing among the Celtic Sea (7.f-g), Bristol Channel (7.h) and English Chan-nel (7.d-e). Mixing is seasonally dependant with more mixing occurring during summer compared to winter. • Hypothesis 3: Three subpopulations, Irish Sea (7.a), North Sea/eastern English Channel (4.b-c, 7.d) and Bay Biscay (8a-b); with mixing among the Celtic Sea (

The ICES Working Group on Recreational Fisheries Surveys (WGRFS) role is to summarize, and quality assure recreational fishery data and feed into the ICES advisory process on marine rec-reational fisheries (MRF) issues. In 2022, WGRFS continued to work on many aspects of MRF including collation and review of national survey programmes; assessment of the validity of new approaches; provision of guidance on availability, quality and use of data; supporting regional data collection and storage; the human dimension; and review of workshops organized by the group. The sessions focused on sharing information, assessing the quality of national survey programmes, intersessional groups, and scientific publication plans. Information was shared on several different topics. New national survey programmes and new survey results were presented for Belgium, France, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, and UK. Perspec-tives on MRF were provided by the European Commission and the European Angling Alliance. An update on the outcomes of the Regional Coordination Group (RCG) intersessional group on Recreational Fisheries was given. Methods for allocation of catches between recreational and commercial fisheries were highlighted alongside potential approaches that could be applied. Summaries of the outcomes from stock assessments that include MRF were presented. Two national survey schemes were reviewed using the WGRFS Quality Assurance Tool: Italy and the UK. Issues were highlighted with existing designs and suggestions made for future im-provements. The focus of the meeting was to review progress, agree approaches, and set direc-tion for the intersessional groups (ISGs) as the WGRFS’ main mode of delivery. The ISGs cover governance; survey methods; quality assurance; regional coordination and data storage; catch and release and animal welfare; stock assessment and reconstruction; novel methods; human dimensions; and communication and engagement. The discussions and outcomes are too diverse to be s

The Working Group on Multispecies Assessment Methods (WGSAM) aims to advance the operational use of knowledge on predator-prey interactions for advice on fisheries and ecosystem management. This report presents an update of the multispecies SMS keyrun model for the Baltic Sea including its review by the working group, and the review of three modelling frameworks for the Georges Bank marine ecosystem. The Baltic Sea keyrun provides updated estimates of cod predation mortality for the Baltic Sea sprat and central Baltic herring stocks. The model integrates fishery and survey data on the two clupeids and makes extensive use of the cod stomach data (i.e. 64 000 stomachs are used as input to the model). Estimations of predation mortality are consistent with previous estimates and suitable for inclusion in the stock assessment of the two clupeid stocks. Predation remains low on all ages for both herring and sprat as a result of the low cod stock size. The large modelling framework for the Georges Bank comprises a multispecies production model, a multispecies length-based model and a mass-balanced ecosystem model. While none of the three models was at that stage to be evaluated as a keyrun, with further development they could complementarily and in conjunction contribute to the EBFM of the Georges Bank.

The benchmark workshop on anglerfish (Lophius budegassa, Lophius piscatorius) and hake (Mer-luccius merluccius) (WKANGHAKE) was the first ICES benchmark entirely dedicated to assess-ment models run with the integrated model Stock Synthesis (SS) software. Besides the data work-shop, which was held in November 2021, several online sessions were held on a continuous basis with all participants, including the reviewers and chairs between November 2021 and February 2022. Those sessions were focused on model development through constant online feedback be-tween stock assessor teams, reviewers, and chairs. The continuous feedback resulted in several key issues being resolved before the actual benchmark meeting took place in February 2022 and was of great benefit to both the assessment teams and the reviewers. Four stocks, pertaining to the ICES assessment working group WGBIE (Working Group for the Bay of Biscay and the Ibe-rian Waters Ecoregion) were assessed during the benchmark. These were: Hake (Merluccius mer-luccius) in divisions 8.c and 9.a, Southern stock (Cantabrian Sea and Atlantic Iberian waters; hke.27.8c9a); Hake (Merluccius merluccius) in subareas 4, 6, and 7, and divisions 3.a, 8.a–b, and 8.d, Northern stock (Greater North Sea, Celtic Seas, and the northern Bay of Biscay; hke.27.3a46-8abd); White anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius) in Subarea 7 and divisions 8.a–b and 8.d (Celtic Seas, Bay of Biscay; mon.27.78abd); and Black-bellied anglerfish (Lophius budegassa) in Subarea 7 and divisions 8.a–b and 8.d (Celtic Seas, Bay of Biscay; ank.27.78abd). For all stocks a final model was developed and agreed to be appropriate to determine stock status and provide short-term catch forecast. The extensive exploration of input data and model configurations carried out during the benchmark also resulted in several recommendations regarding on how to improve the esti-mation of biological parameters to be used in the models, and the possibility of developing area-based models

WGCEPH worked on six Terms of Reference. These involved reporting on the status of stocks; reviewing advances in stock identification, assessment for fisheries management and for the Ma-rine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), including some exploratory stock assessments; re-viewing impacts of human activities on cephalopods; developing identification guides and rec-ommendations for fishery data collection; describing the value chain and evaluating market driv-ers; and reviewing advances in research on environmental tolerance of cephalopods. ToR A is supported by an annual data call for fishery and survey data. During 2019–2021, com-pared to 1990–2020, cuttlefish remained the most important cephalopod group in terms of weight landed along the European North Atlantic coast, while loliginid squid overtook octopus as the second most important group. Short-finned squid remained the least important group in land-ings although their relative importance was almost double in 2019–2022 compared to 1992–2020. Total cephalopod landings have been fairly stable since 1992. Cuttlefish landings are towards the low end of the recent range, part of a general downward trend since 2004. Loliginid squid landings in 2019 were close to the maximum seen during the last 20 years but totals for 2020 and 2021 were lower. Annual ommastrephid squid landings are more variable than those of the other two groups and close to the maximum seen during 1992–2021. Octopod landings have generally declined since 2002 but the amount landed in 2021 was higher than in the previous four years. Under ToR B we illustrate that the combination of genetic analysis and statolith shape analysis is a promising method to provide some stock structure information for L. forbsii. With the sum-mary of cephalopod assessments, we could illustrate that many cephalopod species could al-ready be included into the MSFD. We further provide material from two reviews in preparation, covering stock assessment methods and challen

The Working Group on Biological Parameters (WGBIOP) approved the realization of a new workshop on age reading of European anchovy to discuss the results of the exchange conducted in 2018 and the development of validation studies in this species. Particularly, the workshop previously scheduled for 2020 has been proposed for 2021 (ICES, 2020). The third Workshop on Age Reading of European Anchovy (WKARA3), chaired by Gualtiero Basilone (Italy) and held from 23 to 25 November 2021, was an online meeting due to the persistence of the pandemic situation. Six countries took part in this workshop (Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Portugal and France), with a total of 26 participants from 12 laboratories [(IEO (Santander, Palma de Mallorca, Cádiz and Malaga), AZTI, CNR-IAS, CNR-IRBIM, CIBM, COISPA, UNIPARTENOPE, UNICA, IOF, HCMR, IPMA, and Ifremer]. Fourteen of the participants in this workshop are readers for the assessment of anchovy. In total 16 areas/stocks were considered for evaluation, particularly 4 from the Atlantic Ocean and 12 from the Mediterranean Sea. The workshop was focused on the review of information on anchovy age estimations, otolith exchanges, workshops and validation studies done the information on age determination; on analysis and discussion of the results of the previous exchange (2018); on the review of the validation methods existing for the target species (Engraulis encrasicolus); and update the age reading protocol. This workshop was preceded by an otolith exchange (2018), as well as a Workshop on Age estimation of Small Pelagic (WKGESP 2019) in Italy supported by the Italian national fishery data collection plan (Basilone et al., 2019). The main conclusions achieved by both meetings have been presented during the WKARA3. The otolith exchange programme was focused on two areas (Bay of Biscay and Strait of Sicily) and produced comparable results in both study places. Particularly, the overall agreement between readers and areas is lower than in th

The Working Group on Fisheries Benthic Impact and Trade-offs (WGFBIT) develops methods and performs assessments to evaluate benthic impact from fisheries at regional scale, while con-sidering fisheries and seabed impact trade-offs. In this report, new fishery benthic impact assessments (ToR A) are shown out for several sub-regions in (French Mediterranean, Celtic Seas). For other regions, updates of the whole assess-ment or specific steps only were presented. To further standardise the different components of the WGFBIT approach across all (sub-)re-gional assessments, a more detail overview of those components was compiled. These compo-nents were slightly different among those regions, related to variation in data availability, envi-ronmental characteristics and implementation possibilities among the (sub-)regions. In WGFBIT, assessments are sometimes based on trawl or grab data, which are sampling differ-ent components of the seafloor ecosystem and can have consequences on the created sensitivity layer. Therefore, there is looked in more detail how the sensitivity outcome (and layers) can dif-fer due to the use of benthic data gathered with different gears (grab/core, trawl or video). The preliminary comparability analyses are performed on different levels: (1) based on co-located sampling; (2) comparing sensitivity maps of the (sub-) area, based on different gears. There were differences observed in longevity distribution at locations sampled with different gears and dif-ferences in data and models lead also to differences in the sensitivity layers. The WGFBIT seafloor assessment framework is not the only way to assess benthic impacts from physical disturbance. A discussion session was held on how the future workflow on advice that ICES WGFBIT assessment contribute to, will be organized. Marine sediments harbour significant levels of biodiversity that play a key role in ecosystem functions and services such as biogeochemical cycling, carbon storage and the regulat

The ICES Scallop Assessment Working Group (WGScallop) discusses scallop surveys, stock as-sessment methodologies, advances in technology, scallop aging procedures, and recent studies on scallop species to develop and improve stock assessment methods. The group welcomed four new members this year and spent time discussing diversity and in-clusion to ensure that we are doing everything possible to make this working group accessible and welcoming. This WG will continue to work with ICES to ensure that progress continues, and we are very pleased that we have several PhD students who participated in the meeting. Several group members contributed to the review paper, “A global review of catch efficiencies of towed fishing gears targeting scallops” being published in “Reviews in Fisheries Science and Aquaculture”. This paper provides an in-depth review and discussion of the factors which influ-ence catch efficiency, relating the considerable variation in the catch efficiency estimates (0.1 to 0.7) to scallop size and substrate type as the two most important factors. Work on progressing a stock assessment for the Irish Sea included five intersessional subgroup meetings which involved members of the Working Group on Operational Oceanographic prod-ucts for Fisheries and Environment (WGOOFE). Members of WGScallop have been using avail-able Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) data and logbooks to consider various models (Vector Autoregressive Spatial-Temporal Model (VAST) and SPict) and standardized survey indices. A stock annex has been drafted for king scallops in the Irish Sea. Surveys continue to be integral for many of the institutes and the WG discussed the possibility of staff exchanges between surveys and have also agreed to hold an intersessional meeting to discuss survey design and related common issues. This was the third year of submitting a data call and there continues to be issues with the data quality. ICES Secretariat presented an overview of the Regional Database

The objective of WKFISHDISH2 was to develop a standardized and open-source way of routinely using trawl survey data to produce distribution maps which can be easily updated. To do so, workshop participants (i) reviewed models that can produce distribution maps from survey data in DATRAS and MEDITS formats, (ii) considered best practice guidance for data, and models, (iii) implemented best practice to produce distribution maps in a transparent manner, and (iv) populated an ICES repository with distribution maps and associated scripts. Nine models were reviewed, seven of which were considered appropriate to produce distribution maps using survey data. The two models excluded failed to estimate gear standardization factors. Best practice for data should consider the following: correct/remove erroneous observations, account for changes in haul duration/timing affecting catchability, use species-specific modelled areas, remove gears/surveys with no observations to reduce model converging time, and include appropriate explanatory variables. A step-by-step list to preprocess survey data was provided. Best practice for models should consider the following: account for skewed distribution of survey data by exploring different statistical error distributions, use open-source models able to reproduce distributions from simulated data, consider the complexity of the model required vs. the run-time (e.g. number of knots), avoid extrapolating the model to areas/depths where the species is not observed, and perform relevant model diagnostics/model selection. To compare distribution estimated by different models, the SPAtial EFficiency metric (SPAEF) was used together with centres of gravity, biomass hot spots (90th percentile), and effective occupied areas. All seven models were able to produce satisfactory distribution maps for at least one species within the workshop time constraints, both with DATRAS data in the Atlantic and the MEDITS data in the Mediterranean. Comparisons bet

The advisory committee of ICES met during the 2022 Annual science conference in Dublin. It was a hybrid meeting. It considered conservation status advice, new VME advice, reference points and rebuilding frameworks (in principle approving 3 further workshops) and next steps for alternative perceptions of advice from stakeholders (with approval to hold a workshop with a subgroup of MIACO on the issue). The work of the benchmark oversight group was discussed and there was a frank exploration of the decision process in ACOM and ramifications of ACOM members disagreeing in other parts of the process. In a joint session with SCICOM, the issues of integrated monitoring and gender awareness, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion were addressed. The impact of deviations from management plans in ICES were discussed (with approval to hold a workshop with a subgroup of MIRIA on the issue). The need for training and equitable repre-sentation was explored with no agreement by the committee and progress to mitigate the sus-pension of experts from the Russian Federation on advice was reviewed, given the ACOM lead-ership a further mandate to explore solutions. The committee remembered Dr Sarah Kraak, who passed away in 2022.

The Workshop to evaluate the utility of industry-derived data (WKEVUT) aimed to assess the quality and potential of industry-derived data to enhance scientific knowledge and to provide data for stock assessments. WKEVUT provided an overview of fishing industry data provision initiatives and carried out comparisons of such initiatives with data from National Sampling Programs to assess the added value in terms of quality, ecological understanding and utility for stock assessments. Industry self-sampling and co-sampling approaches have been increasing in recent years. Espe-cially the Covid years have led to more catch sampling and survey programs utilizing a form of self-sampling or co-sampling. Self-sampling is here defined as a sampling strategy whereby the fishers are collecting and measuring the data on board, whereas co-sampling refers to the strat-egy whereby the fishers are collecting samples that will be processed on-shore, by research insti-tutes. Several industry-science joint initiatives have been presented during WKEVUT: 1) opportunistic acoustic data collection and estimation of stock abundance, 2) genetic sampling and stock iden-tity, 3) gonad sampling on board of commercial vessels to contribute to egg surveys and the improved understanding of spawning cycles, 4) Remote Electronic Monitoring techniques for verification of self-reported catch compositions and 5) integrated fisheries management tools aimed at skippers and science. Benefits and drawbacks for industry participation in data collection have been highlighted for the different types of data (Section 4). The documentation of self-sampling catch sampling can be improved by following the draft documentation template developed by the Working Group on the Governance of Quality Management of Data and Advice (WGQUALITY). An outline for a potential scientific publication following WKEVUT outcomes has been prepared (Section 6). Participants highlighted the need for ICES to be able to understand the valu

Based on the previous work from WKARHOM3 (ICES, 2018), the Working Group on Biological Parameters (ICES, 2020) identified the need for a new otolith exchange followed by an age read-ing Workshop. The Workshop on Age reading of Horse Mackerel, Mediterranean Horse Macke-rel and Blue Jack Mackerel (Trachurus trachurus, T. mediterraneus and T. picturatus) (WKAR-HOM4) had several main objectives; to review the current protocols of ageing Trachurus species, to update the advances in the validation of the ageing criteria (i.e. the annual deposition of one annulus, coherency of the interpretation), to evaluate the new precision of ageing data of Tra-churus species and to update guidelines, common ageing criteria and reference collections of otoliths. An online otolith exchange was performed using SmartDots during 2021 and 2022, and results including the three Trachurus species were published in advance of the meeting, showing a low Percentage of Agreement (PA) both when considering all the readers (44-55%) and the advanced readers only (52-54%) (Massaro and Jurado-Ruzafa, 2022). For T. trachurus the Coef-ficient of Variation (CV) was lower for the sliced samples (22-18%) than for whole otoliths sam-ples (44-38%). Readers participating in the exchange, following discussion during the WKAR-HOM4 meeting, agreed that the main cause of age determination error for T. trachurus was due to the different otolith preparation techniques (whole/sliced). These differences reflect the stunted growth and compactness of the annuli in older specimens (from the 4th-5th annuli on-wards). Anyway, for the three Trachurus species, there are several difficulties in age determina-tion: identification of the first growth annulus, presence of many false rings (mainly in the first and second annuli) and the interpretation and identification of the edge characteristics (opaque/translucent). The second reading exercise was performed during the workshop orga-nized in four different events (i.e. Trachuru

The Working Group on the Governance of Quality Management of Data and Advice (WGQuality) supports the ICES aim of creating an end-to-end quality assurance framework for advice production - from data management, data integration, data analysis, and data use, to the process of translating that data into ICES advice. In this report, WGQuality analyse existing ICES quality management processes within advice production in the context of an international quality standard (ISO 9001:2015). A draft of a quality manual that follows this standard is presented. Where it was found that a requirement of the standard could not be currently fulfilled, it is identified as a gap, and proposed procedures to fill these gaps are presented. Data quality tools proposed by the ICES Planning Group on Data Needs for Assessment and Advice (PGDATA) are also evaluated and, where possible, progressed towards an operational state. The next steps required to implement a quality management system are proposed., Le groupe de travail sur la gouvernance de la gestion de la qualité des données et des avis (WGQuality) soutient l'objectif du CIEM de créer un cadre d'assurance qualité de bout en bout pour la production d'avis - de la gestion des données, l'intégration des données, l'analyse des données et l'utilisation des données, au processus de traduction de ces données en avis du CIEM. Dans ce rapport, le WGQuality analyse les processus existants de gestion de la qualité du CIEM pour la production d'avis dans le contexte d'une norme de qualité internationale (ISO 9001:2015). Un projet de manuel de qualité conforme à cette norme est présenté. Lorsqu'il a été constaté qu'une exigence de la norme ne pouvait pas être actuellement remplie, elle est identifiée comme une lacune, et des procédures proposées pour combler ces lacunes sont présentées. Les outils de qualité des données proposés par le groupe de planification du CIEM sur les besoins en données pour l'évaluation et l'avis (PGDATA) sont également évalués et, dans la mesure du possible, progressent vers un état opérationnel. Les prochaines étapes nécessaires à la mise en œuvre d'un système de gestion de la qualité sont proposées.

The main aim of the ICES WKMEGRIM benchmark was to standardize, increase transparency, and review the input data of the assessment for three megrim stocks; namely two Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis stocks in divisions 7.b–k, 8.a–b, and 8.d (meg.27.7b-k8abd) and divisions 8.c and 9.a (meg.27.8c9a), as well as L. boscii in divisions 8.c and 9.a (ldb.27.8c9a). For all three stocks, the data collection methods were reviewed, the biological data (maturity and length-weight relationships) were updated based on newly available data, a variety of tuning indices were considered, and new assessment frameworks were employed and configured. Scrutiny applied to historic data lead to re-assessing how discard data and catches of recruits were treated in the assessment, where catches of recruits reported from old monitoring programmes were removed and set to be estimated in the assessment model. New maturity ogives based on best-practice histological methods were adopted and the use of female-only ogives were selected. Fisheries independent surveys were available, sufficient, and often better (without inexplicable deviations) for all stocks. Therefore, only fisheries independent surveys were utilized as tuning fleets in all assessments. Recent improvements to standardizing the commercial tuning fleets for the southern stocks means these may remain valuable as an independent data source for consideration during assessment working groups. Bespoke and outdated mechanistic assessment model frameworks were abandoned and statistical catch-at-age models were adopted, using the a4a framework for all stocks. This results in more reproducible, transparent and easier to run assessments. Future research should focus on differentiating between the sexes in both megrim and four-spot megrim stocks (e.g. growth, maturity, fishery selectivity, habitat and spatial distribution). Preliminary evidence from a new Irish anglerfish and megrim survey points towards substantial differences between the sexes th

The ICES Working Group on Southern horse mackerel, anchovy and sardine (WGHANSA) assessed the status of anchovy in Atlantic Iberian waters (ane.27.9a; western and southern components) and horse mackerel in Atlantic Iberian waters (hom.27.9a) in the May meeting. The status of anchovy in Bay of Biscay (ane.27.8), sardine in southern Celtic Seas and the English Channel (pil.27.7), sardine in Bay of Biscay (pil.27.8abd) and sardine in Cantabrian Sea and Atlantic Iberian waters (pil.27.8c9a) will be assessed in the November meeting. The status of jack mackerel in Subdivision 10.a.2 (Azores grounds) (jaa.10.a2) won’t be assessed this year, since the advice is provided biannually. The stock of anchovy in Atlantic Iberian waters (ane.27.9a) is composed by the western component (distributed in areas 9.a North, Central–North, and Central–South) and the southern component (distributed in area 9.a South). The advice is provided for the two components separately for the management calendar from July to June the following year. Based on the MSE work developed for each component, the advice is based for the first time on constant harvest rate rules. For the western component, the combined PELACUS and PELAGO acoustic biomass estimate is used as an indicator of stock development and the advice is based on the stock indicator for 2023, multiplied by a constant harvest rate of 0.25, with no biomass safeguard. For the southern component, the relative SSB from an analytical assessment conducted with GADGET is used as the index of stock size development and the advice is based on the stock indicator for 2023, multiplied by a constant harvest rate of 0.5 with a biomass safeguard. The SSB of horse mackerel in Atlantic Iberian waters (hom.27.9a) fluctuated from 1992 (the beginning of the assessment) to 2013 and afterwards has increased continuously to historical maximum values in 2023. In 2023 SSB is estimated at 1 214 200 tonnes, well above MSY Btrigger, Bpa, and Blim. Fishing mortality ha