Download the report (available only in English): PDF

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The data preparation meeting for small pelagic species in the Alboran Sea (geographical subareas [GSAs] 1, 3 and 4) and GSA 6 of the Working Group on Stock Assessment of Small Pelagic Species was held on 9–12 October 2023 in Malaga (Spain), at the FAO-GFCM Technical Unit for Western Mediterranean premises. The meeting was attended by 14 participants from Algeria, Morocco and Spain, as well as from the Secretariat of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean. The main objective of this meeting was to provide a platform to review, discuss and analyze input data for sardine (Sardina pilchardus) in GSAs 1, 3, 4 and 6 and European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) in GSAs 1 and 6 in preparation for the WGSASP sessions to be held in December 2023. Information on the following stocks was presented and discussed: sardine in GSAs 1, 3, 4 and 6; European anchovy in GSAs 1 and 6. The data preparation meeting also functioned as a platform to discuss and reflect on the Stock Assessment Form input data template and the roadmap for the determination of minimum conservation reference size for priority species under management plans endorsed by the twenty-fourth session of the Scientific Advisory Committee.