Report of the Working Group on the Assessment of Mackerel, Horse Mackerel, Sardine and Anchovy (WGMHSA)

The Working Group on the Assessment of Mackerel, Horse Mackerel, Sardine and Anchovy (WGMHSA) met in Galway from 4-15 September, to assess and provide catch options for these four widely distributed pelagic species in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean. The WG reports on the status of 7 stocks (see Fig. 0.1 for stock definitions), and in case of Sardine also on the status of the species distributed outside current stock definition. This year a benchmark analytical assessment is available for Sardine and update analytical assessments are available for Northeast-Atlantic Mackerel and Anchovy in Biscay. Due to its depleted state Anchovy in Biscay is now on the observation list. Exploratory analysis continued on western and southern Horse mackerel stocks and Gulf of Cadiz anchovy. All these assessments are still in a developmental stage, whilst no assessment was possible for North Sea horse mackerel due to lack of coherent data.