Adult reproductive parameters estimation is fundamental for conversion of egg production into spawning stock biomass of western and southern mackerel and horse mackerel stock components. Both (batch) fecundity and atresia estimation as well as spawning fraction estimation are carried out using histological and image analysis methods, and the analysis and interpretation of these materials requires standardization across participating institutes. The standardization in this aspect is carried out in workshops since 2001 which have been extremely helpful for agreed practices among institutes and is recommended that experiences gathered during these workshops be extended during the consecutive workshop in 2021. It is expected that the workshop will refine the developed methodologies and clarify established calculations for these adult parameters estimation to obtain unbiased biomass output from the egg surveys.
The workshop will update the survey manual with regards to any new findings in the fecundity, atresia, and spawning fraction estimation from sampling as well as the evaluation procedures and final calculations, for appropriate quality assurance purposes.
