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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Working Group on Stock Assessment of Small Pelagic Species (WGSASP) session on small pelagics in the Adriatic Sea (geographical subareas 17–18), including a sardine benchmark was carried out online from 6 to 8 May 2024. The main objectives of this meeting were to update the assessments of European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) and sardine (Sardina pilchardus) based on year n-1 data (reference year 2023) as requested by 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). Based on data provided by relevant contracting parties for 2023 (year n-1), the assessments were updated with an extra year of data and quantitative advice was provided for both species. Anchovy in geographical subareas 17 and 18 show that the stock continues the increasing trend in biomass that started in 2016 while fishing mortality has been reduced to almost reach the fishing mortality reference point, with B/Bpa = 1.34, B/Blim = 1.77 and F/Fmsy = 1.03. Final results of the sardine benchmark update show that the stock continues to decline in terms of biomass with B/Bmsy = 0.52 and fishing mortality of F/Fmsy = 1.45.