WKPELA
2013, which took place from 4–8 February 2013 at ICES Headquarters in
Copenhagen, dealt with the following pelagic stocks: Herring in Division IIIa and
Subdivisions 22–24 (Western Baltic Spring spawners), Anchovy in VIIIabd (Bay of
Biscay), and Sardine in Subarea VII and Divisions VIIIa, b, d. ICES
will use the results to provide advice for 2014.
The meeting was chaired by Barbara
Schoute, and participants included experts and stakeholders from outside the
ICES community to broaden the perspective and data pool in order to improve
assessment quality.
The
goal of a benchmark is consensus agreement on an assessment methodology that is
to be used in future update assessments. This assessment methodology can be
either analytical or non-analytical, depending on, for instance, trends in an
assessment or in a selected set of (survey) indicators, with or without
forecasts. The result will be the ‘best available’ method that ICES advice will
be based on which will be documented in a “stock annex”. Typically, a stock
will be benchmarked every 3–5 years to keep pace with changing situations.
A benchmark meeting is open to
experts and stakeholders, and it is reviewed by external experts throughout the
process. A benchmark process takes about five to seven months of preparation
and includes a data compilation workshop and a final benchmark meeting.
If you are interested in finding out
about WKPELA 2013, please contact Advice
