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

The Working Group on the Assessment of NEA Mackerel, Horse Mackerel, Sardine and

Anchovy (WGMHSA) met in ICES Headquarters 4 -13 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 it only relates to Subdivision VIIIc and Division IX considered the central areas of

distribution of the stock. This year a benchmark analytical assessment is available for NEA

mackerel and update analytical assessments are available for Sardine and Anchovy in Biscay.

Due to its depleted state an assessment and management advice for Anchovy in Biscay were

provided by STECF in June. 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.