Joint ICES-PICES Working Group on Small Pelagic Fish (WGSPF- outputs from 2023 meeting)

The Working Group on Small Pelagic Fish (WGSPF) was established to review progress on understanding how environmental and anthropogenic factors influence Small Pelagic Fish (SPF) population dynamics across different ecosystems. The group’s main aim is to foster international and multidisciplinary collaboration to establish comparative analyses and predictive capacities for SPF dynamics under varying ecosystem states.

This report addresses critical questions regarding the impact of various drivers on SPF populations, the establishment of networking environments for collaborative research, and the identification and prioritization of research needed to advance knowledge and predictive capabilities concerning SPF population dynamics.

The group achieved significant progress in reviewing the influence of environmental and anthropogenic drivers on SPF dynamics. Collaborative efforts led to the development of comparative analyses across different ecosystems. The findings underscore the complexity of SPF population dynamics and the critical role of environmental variability and human activities in shaping these dynamics. The work supports the need for ecosystem-based management strategies for SPF, integrating biophysical and socio-economic models to ensure sustainable fisheries management.

This report highlights the ongoing challenges in predicting SPF population dynamics due to the multifaceted nature of environmental and anthropogenic influences, emphasizing the need for continued research and data collection.

The 2022 SFP organized symposium stands out as a pivotal output, assembling international experts to share findings, methodologies, and future research directions on small pelagic fish. This event fostered significant advancements in understanding food web dynamics, the impact of environmental drivers on variability, and the development of models for forecasts and projections. The working group's efforts have been documented in numerous peer-reviewed publications and contributions to international symposia, showcasing the global collaborative nature of this research initiative.

WGSPF emphasizes the importance of continuing to refine predictive models for SPF populations, integrating new monitoring and modelling technologies, and addressing gaps in knowledge regarding SPF responses to environmental and anthropogenic changes. Future priorities include continuing the compilation of world-wide databases for comparative analyses, extending the focus of studies to forage species, including mesopelagic fishes, squid, euphausiids, and other species; and prioritizing also effects on, and from, forage fish predators and community-and ecosystem-level impacts.

Correction (12 August 2024): A new version has been uploaded with a correction of the authors name.

Correction (26 September 2024): Clarifications on page 3 were added to aid understanding to which term of the group the report belongs to.