Report of the Study Group on the Estimation of Spawning Stock Biomass of Sardine and Anchovy (SGSBSA)

During the ICES Annual Conference in Tallin, Estonia (90th Statutory meeting in September 2003) was decided that the third meeting of the Study Group on the Estimation of Spawning Stock Biomass of Sardine and Anchovy (SGSBSA) would take place in San Sebastian (Spain) between 11–13 November 2004 with the objective to:a.) plan 2005 DEPM surveys for anchovy and sardine;b.) compare traditional with GAM-based estimates of SSB to decide whether GAMs can be recommended as the standard methodology for routine DEPM estimation of sardine and anchovy spawning stock biomass;c.) map anchovy and sardine egg production, female weight and spawning fraction to describe inter-annual changes in spatial distribution, explore their relation to envi-ronmental conditions and describe the dynamics along the northern border of the sardine stock;d.) create an objective list of POF stages for anchovy and sardine and describe the biological properties of mature/immature and active/inactive fish within the sar-dine spawning season;e.) refine models of vertical egg distribution and resolve selectivity problems with CUFES to assess its performance as a quantitative sampler.