It is clear from the proceeding paragraphs that there is the need for continued investigations before more definite answers on the size of the sardine stocks and on the level of fishing can be made. This includes continuation of the catch/effort analysis with updated and improved data, continuation of cohort analysis with updated data and continuation of acoustic surveys during which sufficient test fishing should be undertaken for species identification. Specifically, the working group made the following recommendations.
1. In order to improve assessments of sardines in Zone B, the working group recommended that the Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Tenerife, Canary Islands, obtain more information on the sizes of fishing vessels in the past years. This is necessary because the increasing trend of catches and catches per day fishing of the Spanish fleet based in Canary Islands might not reflect increase in stock size but rather increase in the size and efficiency of the fleet. As has been stated earlier in the report, a better estimate of the stock size would probably be catch per day fishing per ton of fishing vessel. Information of sizes of fishing vessels may enable the necessary corrections to be made.2. Growth data presented to the meeting showed a wide range of values (Table 2). These differences were partly attributed to differences in age readings and determination of length at age. In order to determine real growth differences in the various zones, the working group recommended standardization of age readings. It was, therefore, recommended that Morocco, Poland and Spain take immediate steps to standardize methodology and interpretation. A standardization meeting was proposed to be attended by Moroccan, Polish and Spanish scientists and the CECAF Project. Mr. J. Bravo de Laguna of the Tenerife Laboratory of the Instituto Español de Oceanografía was appointed the convener.
3. Considering that tagging, as already mentioned in the report, is an important tool for stock separation, as well as providing further information on fishing and natural mortality rates, the group strongly recommended that steps be taken by the CECAF Project to organize feasibility studies into tagging and tag recovery of S. pilchardus.
4. Efforts should be made by Moroccan, Polish and Spanish scientists as well as other interested countries, to have more information on spawning. The working group recommended further that meristic and electrophoresis studies be undertaken on spawning fish taken from various spawning grounds to aid in the study of stock separation.
5. Another meeting should be organized by the CECAF Project during the second half of 1979.
