Report of the Inter-Benchmark Workshop on Sole in Division IIIa and Subdivisions 22–24 (Skagerrak and Kattegat, Western Baltic Sea), 1 July–31 October 2015, by correspondence.

The  assessment  of  sole  in  Division  IIIa  and  Subdivisions  22–24  has  for  several  years  been considered uncertain. Poor sampling coverage, a short fishery-independent tuning series, retrospective pattern of estimated fishing mortality (F), and the knowledge of spatial changes in selectivity due to management measures implemented, are some of the main contributors to the uncertainty.

The  present  inter-benchmark  was  conducted  July  1–October  31  by  correspondence. The inter-benchmark was chaired by Johan Lövgren, Sweden and the external reviewer was Owen Hamel, USA. A number of web conferences were conducted to continually discuss and agree on the progress. The issues examined were in accordance with the ToR for the benchmark.