The gadoid stocks evaluated in this benchmark process are:
- Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) in Division 6.b (Rockall); had.27.6b; WGCSE
- Saithe (Pollachius virens) in subareas 1 and 2 (Northeast Arctic); pok.27.1-2; AFWG
- Saithe (Pollachius virens) in subareas 4, 6, and Division 3.a (North Sea, Rockall and West of Scotland, Skagerrak and Kattegat); pok.27.3a46; WGNSSK
- Saithe (Pollachius virens) in subareas 7–10 (Southern Celtic Sea and the English Channel, Bay of Biscay, Atlantic Iberian waters and the Azores grounds); pok.27.7-10; WGCSE
ICES benchmark processes are organized to evaluate (and propose improvements to) the current data and assessment methodology for selected stocks and non-fishery topics for which ICES provides recurrent advice outside the annual assessment cycle.
The goal of a benchmark is to achieve consensus agreement on an assessment methodology that can be regarded as the ‘best available’ method to be used in future update assessments.
Benchmark processes are open to experts and stakeholders and are reviewed by external experts throughout. For more information, please see the ICES Guidelines for Benchmarks.
