| Summary: | A joint ICES / STECF meeting met 28 February to 4 March in Copenhagen, for preparation of Impact Assessments for Bay of Biscay sole and Baltic Cod, and historic Evaluations of existing plans for Kattegat, North Sea, West of Scotland and Irish Sea cod. The meeting involves STECF, ICES scientists dealing with Economy and Biology and Observers (Commission staff, Managers, Stakeholders). The workshop has fully addressed its Terms of Reference, and progress has been made in all areas. The Impact Assessment of Bay of Biscay was fully completed, the biological aspects were relatively straightforward, with a clearly defined single species MSY target for exploitation of this stock. It is anticipated that exploitation at MSY will give biomass that is significantly above any precautionary reference points and thus maximising exploitation forms the main criteria. The economic evaluations were if a very high standard, probably the best done so far under STECF. The work required for the impact assessment of Baltic cod was identified and is documented in the report. In most cases the work is clear, although some minor details in parameterisation remain to be finalised. There was considerable discussion of single species / multi-species targets for Baltic cod. The issues raised are multi-species in the context of population interactions affecting yields, not multi-species in a mixed fisheries context of reconciling different catch rate targets in a mixed fishery. For Bal-tic cod plans this aspect has not been resolved, as currently no work detailing as-sumptions and results has been presented within the group. Currently STECF and ICES develop MSY targets based in single species evaluations. It is clear that multi-species aspects can be parameterised more easily in the Baltic (and Barents Sea) than in other areas where the species complexity is greater. Cur-rently it is unclear how STECF or ICES should base advice. While we hope to resolve some of these issues others may not be resolvable within the scope of this study. For the ...
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