Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Flatfish Species and Anglerfish (WKFLAT)

WKFLAT 2012 met from 1st to 8th March 2010 at AZTI Derio (Bilbao) Spain. The meeting was chaired by Joanne Morgan (Canada) and ICES co-ordinator was Rob Scott (UK). Rick Methot (USA) and Paul Nitschke (USA) participated in the meeting as invited external experts. A total of 25 participants from nine countries were in attendance. Stakeholder representatives were in attendance for part of the meeting.
The main goals and objectives of the meeting were to compile and evaluate data sources for stock assessment, investigate assessment models suitable to provide information on stocks status and to update the relevant stock annexes of seven stocks as necessary.  These included a number of anglerfish stocks (Anglerfish (Lophius piscato-rius) (Divisions VIIb–k and VIIIabd), Anglerfish (Lophius budegassa) (Divisions VIIb–k and VIIIabd), Anglerfish (Divisions IIa and IIIa, Subarea IV and Subarea VI), Angler-fish (L. piscatorius) (Divisions VIIIc and IXa), Anglerfish (L. budegassa) (Divisions VIIIc and IXa)), Sole in Division VIIe and Megrim in Divisions VIIb–k and VIIIabd.  For each stock the preferred stock assessment method was determined and the stock annexes updated with the agreed procedures for generating and collating the input data to the stock assessment and the methods for estimating and forecasting stock status. In addition issues related to ageing and stock structure of anglerfish were discussed.
Part of the problem with producing acceptable assessment models for anglerfish was data quality and a lack of knowledge of some of the basic biological processes for these species.  There is a lot of uncertainty about maturity, sex ratio, growth, and length frequencies of the catch and there needs to be an improvement in these data.