Report of the Workshop to compile and refine catch and landings of elasmobranchs (WKSHARK3)

ICES WKSHARK3 made an overview of the available discards information and the common procedures to calculate population level estimates of discards removals for different countries were described. The potential issues related to sampling procedures for elasmobranchs were collated for the different sampling programs in the different countries. The available discards information was used to determine discards retention, i.e. the lengths and species composition of discards compared to the total catches.

The suitability of national programmes to inform on the by-catch of rare species was reviewed considering three demersal species that are rare throughout the ICES area (angel shark, white skate and guitarfish), three pelagic species that are uncommon in observer programmes (Basking shark, Porbeagle and Common thresher shark) and two demersal species that are locally rare (undulate ray in 7.b.j and starry smoothhound and 9.a). These species were also given particular attention in terms of potential issues related to sampling plans and procedures. 

Finally, the available knowledge on the mortality caused by discarding of elasmobranchs depends on the survival of individuals in the catching process and the subsequent handling of the fish was reviewed.