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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Working Group to establish a fair and equitable allocation key for Adriatic small pelagics was held on 13 May 2024 in FAO headquarters, Rome, Italy. The Working Group stemmed from a request of the GFCM and 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) and recalled the conclusions of the first meeting held in 2022. It reviewed available information on the five main criteria for allocating total allowable catches among contracting parties and cooperating non-contracting parties (CPCs), including different scenarios of the historical time series, and agreed that before any further discussion, all CPCs should validate information on fleet capacity over the period and confirm compliance in terms of capacity limitations. The group also agreed that the discussion on the allocation key should be continued with the historical catches as a starting point for a discussion, noting that the selected time series should reflect the continuity and stability of the fisheries, but also take into account the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the fleets.