EU request to ICES on additional catch options for the western Baltic cod (Gadus morhua) stock (subdivisions 22–24)

ICES is requested to explore, by means of short-term projections, the likely consequences in 2017 and 2018 according to staged reductions in fishing mortality, i.e. a reduction of X% from 2016 to 2017 and a further X% from 2017 to 2018 (for X = 20%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 80%, 90%) and of zero cod catches in 2017 and 2018 for (a) the commercial catches, and (b) the total out-take. The extent of dependence on assumed values of recruitment in 2017 should be explained.