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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Working Group on Stock Assessment of Demersal Species (WGSAD) was held in Rome, Italy, in hybrid modality, from 12 to 17 December 2022. The main objectives of the meeting were to: i) review the consistency of procedures to provide advice; ii) review the assessment of demersal stocks; and iii) run a hands-on data session to deal with methodological issues. Out of the 62 assessments presented, 60 were validated. Some of the assessments were accomplished within the framework of the relevant working groups of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) of the European Commission. Only eight out of the 60 validated assessments adopted during the WGSAD indicated sustainable stock exploitation. Four of them referred to red mullet (Mullus barbatus) stocks, while three concerned stocks of crustacean species: blue and red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus), Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) and spottail mantis shrimp (Squilla mantis). In addition, a thornback ray (Raja clavata) stock was considered likely to be under sustainable exploitation whereas four stocks were found to be overexploited but with low fishing mortality levels.