Report of the Study Group on Data Requirements and Assessment Needs for Baltic Sea Trout (SGBALANST)

The Study Group on Data Requirements and Assessment Needs for Baltic Sea Trout [SGBALANST] met by correspondence from November 2008 to February 2009, and at ICES Headquarters from 3–5 February, 2009. The group was chaired by Stig Pedersen, Denmark and had 16 members from 9 na-tions representing all countries and regions round the Baltic Sea, except the Åland Islands and the Kaliningrad area. Information from these areas was supplied by Fin-nish and St-Petersburg representatives. The study group was continued from 2008, when the availability of data for an as-sessment was investigated. The objective of the group was to consider if the status of the trout populations in the Baltic, justifies international assessment. If appropriate, the group should further-more propose methods for assessment, give advice on which populations to assess and suggest levels of precision in the assessment. Furthermore, if appropriate, give advice on areas and representative rivers for establishing stock-recruit relationships.