Workshop on the evaluation of assessments and management plans for ling, tusk, plaice and Atlantic wolffish in Icelandic waters (WKICEMP)

The Workshop on evaluation of the adopted harvest control rules for ling, tusk, plaice and Atlantic wolffish in Icelandic waters (WKICEMP) was tasked with providing the technical basis needed by ICES to respond to the request from Iceland on evaluation of a set of proposed harvest control rules for ling, tusk, plaice and Atlantic wolffish. The workshop addressed all its terms of reference, with the following main outcomes:

For the four stocks a review of the stock structure and identity was carried out. Based on genetic studies, tagging data and other evidence it was concluded that the interchange of the four stocks with other stocks of the same species was low enough to be treated as isolated populations. Life-history data, fishery-dependent and fishery-independent data was analysed to identify the best available data to feed into the stock assessment model. Ecosystem drivers and multi-species and mixed fisheries interactions were also considered but were not included directly in the assessment framework.

For the four stocks the data and settings to fit a SAM assessment model were agreed. For ling and tusk the general trends obtained with the new model were similar to the trends obtained with the previously used model but the model performance was better. Plaice and Atlantic wolffish were not previously assessed by ICES. 

Precautionary Approach and MSY reference points were calculated. The harvest control rules proposed were based on ICES MSY advice rule. For the four stocks the proposed fishing mortality corresponded to a yield at or very close to the maximum sustainable yield, while resulting in less than 5% probability of SSB being below Blim. The rule with the proposed reference points can, therefore, be considered to be precautionary and in conformity with the MSY approach.