Working Group on Mixed Fisheries Advice Methodology (WGMIXFISH-METHODS)

The ICES Working Group on Mixed Fisheries Methodology (WGMIXFISH-METHODS) met to progress work on the improvement and development of the mixed fisheries considerations.

The work addressed in 2024 included improving workflows for the advice process, presenting methodological advances, developing new ecoregions and responding to issues encountered during WGMIXFISH-ADVICE 2023. The group reviewed the annual data call and processing procedures and continued the development of the WGMIXFISH Methodological Framework document to better define best practices to be used across case studies.

In 2024, WGMIXFISH members contributed to several workshops and projects relating to methodological developments, which included the Third scoping workshop on next generation of mixed fisheries advice (WKMIXFISH3), the Workshop on mixed fisheries fleets (WKMIXFLEET), and a Special Request (EU/UK joint request regarding mixed fisheries science). The outcomes of these meetings were summarised and further discussed in terms of potential methodological changes that may be adopted over various time frames. Furthermore, the group discussed strategies for improving communication of mixed fishery advice (e.g. via online interactive app, increased integration in Fisheries Overviews) and integration with other working groups (WGECON) through common criteria for fleet definitions as facilitated by new data sources (e.g. RDBES).

Several mixed fishery applications were presented from other work and projects, with potential applications for WGMIXFISH discussed. These included work on bioeconomic modelling, use of continuous-time catch production, sensitivity of mixed fishery forecasts to residual fleet definitions and settings, and potential strategies for reducing fleet choking behaviour by “weak”, or less significant, stock interactions. A summary of a recent workshop on methods to incorporate environmental factors in management strategy evaluations (WKECOMSE) provided guidance for longer-term forecast scenarios.

Finally, each case study addressed outcomes and issues encountered during the previous year in preparation for WGMIXFISH-ADVICE 2024.