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Please note: The present advice extends the advice given in June 2022 (for catches in 2022/2023) to include advice for 2023/2024. ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in each of the fishing years 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023 and 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 should be no more than 259 tonnes.

Report on ICES sponsored symposia held in 2019: NASCO Symposium: Managing the Atlantic Salmon in a Rapidly Changing Environment – Management Challenges and Possible Responses, held 3–4 June 2019, in Tromsø, Norway. Challenging the Scientific Legacy of Johan Hjort: Time for a new paradigm in marine research? Held 12–14 June 2019, in Bergen, Norway. Second International Science and Policy Conference on Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach to Management in the Arctic, held 25–27 June 2019, in Bergen, Norway. Shellfish – Resources and Invaders of the North, held 5–7 November 2019, in Tromsø, Norway. International Symposium on Fisheries Sustainability: Strengthening the Science-Policy Nexus, held 18–21 November 2019, in Rome, Italy.

In the OSPAR area, the degree of interactions may be moderate between finfish mariculture and wild fish populations at the scale of a river local to a salmon farm, but are lower at a broader scale. The supply of food for mariculture creates a demand for small pelagic fish. ICES has advised that the fishing mortality on some small pelagic stocks should be reduced. A risk assessment is presented that identifies the research needed to more fully understand the nature and impact of these interactions and pressures.

Based on the most recent estimates of SSB (in 2009) and, fishing mortality (in 2008), ICES classifies the stock as having full reproductive capacity and being harvested sustainably (F=0.29). Year classes 2005-2008 are among the lowest observed. Due to recent low recruitment, SSB has declined from its historical peak in 2003-2004 of more than 7 million tonnes to 3.6 million tonnes at the beginning of 2009, and the decline is expected to continue in the short-term.

This article describes the variability in the Barents Sea environment (from time series of air and water temperature, salinity, ice coverage, oxygen and phosphate content) and its biota (abundance and biomass of plankton, capelin, and cod). With an emphasis on the 1990s, comparisons are made with earlier years and decades. Strong relationships are found between most of the environmental indices, indicating a common source of variability. Few links are found between the environmental and biological variables, the exception being between oxygen levels in the near bottom layers and cod recruitment as measured at age 3.Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

ICES advises on the basis of the Joint Russian–Norwegian Fisheries Commission management plan that TAC in 2015 should be set at 894000 t. All catches are assumed to be landed. Bycatches of coastal cod and Sebastes norvegicus should be kept as low as possible.

The objective of this benchmark process was to propose and evaluate assessment methods and the data upon which they depend for the four stocks: 1) Greenland halibut in subareas 1 and 2; 2) Greenland halibut in subareas 5, 6, 12, and 14; 3) golden redfish in subareas 5, 6, 12, and 14; and 4) beaked redfish in Subarea 14 and Division 5.a. Greenland halibut in subareas 1 and 2 was previously assessed by the AFWG-Arctic Fisheries Working Group (Greenland halibut in subareas 1 and 2) using a Gadget model, while the others were assessed by the NWWG-Northwest Working Group using either a surplus production model (Greenland halibut in subareas 5, 6, 12, and 14), a Gadget model (golden redfish), or an ICES category 3 assessment method (beaked redfish). For both Greenland halibut stocks, age data were sparse and diverse data sources were compiled to fit Gadget length- and age-based models, which was also sex dependent for Greenland halibut in subareas 1 and 2 due to sex-dependent life history variation. Both Gadget models were improvements from previous assessment methods, although the lack of age data creates high uncertainty. A SAM model was proposed for golden redfish, which was tuned using survey data from Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands. The SAM model showed better diagnostic results and resulted in higher current biomass levels than the previous model, but also confirms the previous view that recruitment has been consistently poor in recent years. Beaked redfish has sparse age data and was also assessed using the Gadget framework, tuned to surveys in Icelandic Waters, and indicates that the stock is below Blim and shows consistently low recruitment in recent years. It is recommended that migration and stock mixing be evaluated in future and that efforts be made to increase age data availability. Reference points were calculated according to the ICES category 1 methods. Harvest control rules proposed and evaluated were based on the ICES MSY advice rule. The current harvest control rule used for golden redfish was considered precautionary.

Hydrographic data from three standard sections (Svinøy, Gimsøy, and Sørkapp) in the Norwegian Sea are used along with a simple analytical model to investigate the heat loss of the Norwegian Atlantic Current toward the Arctic. The sections include data from 1978 to 2000. Only in the northern part of the Norwegian Sea is there a significant negative trend in salinity. The area occupied by Atlantic Water in the Svinøy Section decreased over a similar period, but showed a similarly rising tempera­ture trend. Summer heat contents in the Svinøy and Gimsøy sections, however, show no prominent trend from 1979 to 2000. Results from the analytical model show that the lateral mixing process and the ocean-atmosphere heat flux in the Norwegian Atlantic Current are of the same order. The model also indicates a propagation speed of 3.2 cm s-1 from the Svinøy to the Gimsøy Section. Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

ICES advises on the basis of the Norwegian management plan that catches in 2015 should be no more than 122 000 t. All catches are assumed to be landed. Bycatches of coastal cod and Sebastes norvegicus1 in fisheries targeting saithe in Subareas I and II should be kept as low as possible.

The overflow of cold water from the Arctic Mediterranean (Arctic Ocean and Nordic Seas) across the Greenland-Scotland Ridge into the Atlantic is a key process in the form ation of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW ) and a driving mechanism for the Atlantic inflow to the Nordic Seas. About half the overflow flux passes east of Iceland, carried by three separate branches. Previous investigations have shown that the branch that flows through the Faroe Bank Channel decreased in flux from 1950 to 2000. We argue that the same conclusion can be drawn for the cold com ponent of the overflow across the southern part of the Iceland-Faroe Ridge and for the cold com ponent of the overflow across the Wyville-Thomson Ridge. If not compensated by unobserved increases in other sources, the results imply a reduced production of NADW and reduced inflow of Atlantic Water to the Nordic Seas. We briefly discuss the potential biological consequences of the changing transport of organisms by overflow currents, changing bottom temperature regimes in areas affected by overflow water, and changing Atlantic inflow. Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

Based on the most recent estimates of SSB (in 2009) ICES classifies the stock as having full reproductive capacity. Based on the most recent estimate of fishing mortality (in 2008) ICES classifies the stock as being harvested sustainably. SSB in 2009 is well above Bpa and is estimated as one of the highest in the time-series. The stock contains a number of good year classes. In the last 10 years, four large year classes have been produced (1998, 1999, 2002 and 2004). However, the available information indicates that year classes after 2004 have been of low abundance.

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, catches should be no more than 14 746 tonnes in each of the years 2016 and 2017. Discarding is considered to be negligible.

ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches should be no more than 13 317 tonnes in each of the years 2024 and 2025. If discard rates do not change from the average of the last three years (2020–2022), this implies landings of no more than 12 785 tonnes.

The Joint Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Commission requested ICES to review the stock status for the Northeast Arctic cod before the autumn ACFM meeting. ICES responded to the Commission that the Arctic Fisheries Working Group would hold an extraordinary meeting from May 9-12, 2000 at the Institute of Marine Research in Bergen, Norway to reassess the status of, and re-consider catch options for, the year 2000 for the cod in Sub-areas I and II.

The benchmark workshop on capelin (WKCAPELIN) was set up to develop benchmark assessments for the Barents Sea capelin and the Iceland-East Greenland-Jan Mayen capelin stocks. These stocks are distributed in ICES subareas 1, 2, 5, and 14. For Barents Sea capelin, a modification of the existing model approach, which includes multispecies elements (predation by cod), was generally endorsed. Changes to the model approach that were endorsed in the meeting included using a type III rather than type II consumption model; a time averaged (most recent 5 years) CV at age for the autumn survey; 14 cm was to be used as the maturation length cut-off; M and F were now assumed to be constant from January to March; and the year used for the Blim calculation was changed to avoid the early period of the time-series with a low herring stock. Despite these changes, the model results are relatively consistent with the previous assessment. For Iceland-East Greenland-Jan Mayen (IGJM) capelin, a modified version of the existing model approach, which includes multispecies elements (predation by cod), was generally endorsed. The Autumn survey now has a maximum weight of 1/3rd in the final assessment. The revised model has lower biomass levels and Blim than the previous assessment, but the relation between Blim and average SSB is largely unchanged. Both stocks are managed as escapement strategy fisheries, with Bescapement based on Blim. The only defined reference point is therefore Blim, and there are no F reference points. Bpa is not needed for either stock, as the HCRs are explicitly based on having a 95% chance to avoid going below Blim. The workshop evaluated that the approach taken by Barents Sea and IGJM represents best available science following ICES procedures. The two existing HCRs are considered as precautionary as is typical for any ICES escapement strategy. Furthermore, the HCRs have functioned successfully for a number of years (since 1991 for Barents Sea, and since 2015 for IGJM). Provided no significant change is made to the HCR or to the performance of the underlying models, the rule should continue to be as precautionary as previously. It should be noted that the Blim for the Barents Sea previously included a safety factor, raising Bescapement to 200kt. Following current ICES procedures, the safety factor is no longer included in the Blim value. However, the evaluation here that the existing HCR remain precautionary is based on a HCR in which Bescapement retains the safety factor (i.e. remaining at 200kt). Any alternate HCR would require a separate evaluation.

Report on ICES sponsored symposia held in 2013: Symposium on “Pollutant Responses in Marine Organisms” (PRIMO 17); held 5–8 May 2013, in Algarve, Portugal. Symposium on "Acidification of the Arctic Ocean and Northern Seas: Trends and Consequences"; held 6–8 May 2013, in Bergen, Norway. World Conference on Stock Assessment Methods for Sustainable Fisheries; held 17–19 July 2013, in Boston, USA. Symposium on "Gadoid Fisheries: the Ecology and Management of Rebuilding"; held 14–18 October 2013, in St. Andrews, Canada.

Report on ICES sponsored symposia held in 2017: ICES/PICES Symposium on Drivers of Dynamics of Small Pelagic Fish Resources; held 6–11 March 2017, in Victoria, Canada. Oceans Past VI; held 16–18 May 2017, in Sesimbra, Portugal. 3rd ICES/PICES Early Career Scientist Conference; held 30 May – 2 June 2017, in Busan, Korea. ESSAS International Open Science Meeting; held 11–15 June 2017, in Tromsø, Norway. BONUS symposium: Science delivery for sustainable use of the Baltic Sea living resources; held 17–19 October 2017, in Tallinn, Estonia. International Flatfish Symposium, held 11–16 November 2017, in Saint-Malo, France.

A Study Group on Biological Reference Points for Northeast Arctic Cod [SGBRP] (Chair: Y. Kovalev, Russia) will be established and will meet in Svanhovd, Norway from January 13 to 17 2003 to: a) determine the most appropriate time period for estimating biomass and fishing mortality reference points for this stock; b) review the framework for calculating reference points established by SGPA in December 2002 and specify the technical basis for the reference point calculations; c) propose reference points based on a) and b). In the event that agreement is not reached on a) and b) different alternatives will be formulated and compared. SGBRP will report by 24 January 2003 for the attention of ACFM. It will report directly to SGPRP.

The advice given in 2012 for this stock is valid for 2013-2015 : “ICES advises on the basis of the precautionary approach that no fishing for porbeagle should be permitted. Landings of porbeagle should not be allowed. A rebuilding plan should be developed for this stock.”The advice is summarized in the table below. NB: new Advice will be provided in 2015

The 2010 data (landings and survey) do not change the perception of the stock and give no reason to change the advice from that given last year: “ICES advises that a management plan be developed and implemented which takes into account the uncertainties in science and the properties of the fisheries. ICES suggests that catches are set no higher than 10 000 t as a starting point for the adaptive part of the management plan.”

ICES advises that when the Norwegian management plan is applied, catches in 2023 should be no more than 29 347 tonnes (recreational and commercial catches combined).

Part 2 of REPORT OF THE ARCTIC FISHERIES WORKING GROUP 1996

Report on ICES sponsored symposia held in 2022: The Symposium on Decadal Variability of the North Atlantic and its Marine Ecosystems: 2010–2019, held 20–22 June 2022, in Bergen, Norway. Oceans Past IX: Historical Perspectives on Marine Ecosystems, Fisheries, and Futures, held 22–25 June 2022, in Seattle, Washington, United States. Fourth ICES PICES Early Career Scientist Conference, held 18–21 July 2022, in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. Symposium on Capelin—The canary in predicting effects of climate on the Arctic marine environment, held 10–13 October 2022, in Bergen, Norway. International Symposium on Small Pelagic Fish: New Frontiers in Science for Sustainable Management, held 7–11 November 2022, in Lisbon, Portugal.

Report on ICES sponsored symposia held in 2014: The Second Fishery Dependent Information (FDI) Symposium; held 3–6 March 2014, in Rome, Italy. ICES/PICES Symposium on "Ecological basis of risk analysis for marine ecosystems"; held 2–4 June 2014, in Porvoo, Finland. Symposium on “Effects of fishing on benthic fauna and habitat: Change in ecosystem composition and functioning in response to fishing intensity, gear type and discard”; held 17–19 June 2014, in Tromsø, Norway. International Eel Symposium 2014: Are the eels climbing back up the slippery slope?; held 17–21 August 2014, in Quebec City, Canada. Johan Hjort Symposium on Recruitment Dynamics and Stock Variability; held 7–9 October 2014, in Bergen, Norway. The Fifth International Otolith Symposium 2014; held 20–24 October 2014, in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. PICES Meeting 2014 BIO/MEQ Topic Session (S3) "Tipping points: defining reference points for ecological indicators of multiple stressors in coastal and marine ecosystems"; held 21 October 2014, in Yeosu, Korea. PICES Meeting 2014 BIO/MEQ Topic Session (S8) "Marine debris in the Ocean: Sources, transport, fate and effects of marine Litter"; held 23 October 2014, in Yeosu, Korea. PICES Meeting 2014 FIS Topic Session (S5) "Ecosystem considerations in fishery management of cod and other im-portant demersal species"; held 22–23 October 2014, in Yeosu, Korea. PICES Meeting 2014 POC/MONITOR Topic Session (S9) "Variability in advection and its biological consequences for Subarctic and Arctic ecosystems"; held 23 October 2014, Yeosu, Korea.

Based on the most recent estimates of SSB and fishing mortality, ICES classifies the stock as having full reproductive capacity and being harvested sustainably. The SSB has been above Bpa since 2002. Fishing mortality was reduced from well above Flim in 1999 to below Fpa in 2007. As predicted last year, surveys indicate that cod recruitment is anticipated to be below the long-term mean both in 2009 and 2010, and also additionally in 2011.

The 2009 data (landings, survey and cpue) available for this stock do not change the perception of the stock and give no reason to change the advice from that given in 2009. The advice for the fishery in 2011 is the same as the advice given in 2009 for the 2010 fishery: “The stock has remained at a relatively low size in the last 25 years at catch levels of 15 000–25 000 t. In order to increase the SSB, catches should be kept well below that range. Catches should be below 13 000 t as advised since 2003; this is the level below which SSB has increased in the past”. Additionally, ICES notes that the evaluation of this stock is uncertain due to age-reading problems and lack of contrast in the data. The age-reading issue is being addressed and should be resolved in the not too distant future. Corrections to the whole time-series are required. The 38th Session of the Joint Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Commission in 2009 decided to cancel the ban against targeted Greenland halibut fishery and established a TAC at 15 000 t for next three years (2010-2012). The TAC was allocated between Norway, Russia and other countries with shares of 51, 45 and 4% respectively.

From 30 March 2022 onwards, all Russian Federation participation in ICES was suspended. Although the announcement of the suspension stressed the role of ICES as a “multilateral science organization” this suspension applied not only to research activities but also to the ICES work of providing fisheries advice for the sustainable management of fish stocks and ecosystems. As a result of the suspension, it is not possible to run ICES stock assessments or provide ICES advice for the Barents Sea stocks of NEA cod, NEA haddock, capelin, beaked redfish (Sebastes mentella) or Greenland Halibut, as management and data collection for these stocks are shared between Norway and Russia. There are therefore no AFWG stock assessments for these stocks this year. Assessment and advice for these stocks are being conducted outside ICES through the bilateral Russian-Norwegian group, the Joint Russian-Norwegian Arctic Fisheries Working Group (JRN-AFWG). The most recent assessment reports are available via the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) website: Report of the Joint Russian-Norwegian Working Group on Arctic Fisheries (JRN-AFWG) 2023 Barents Sea Capelin–Report of the Joint Russian-Norwegian Working Group on Arctic Fisheries (JRN-AFWG) [2022] The assessments in 2022 and 2023 occurred outside ICES but were based on the stock annexes previously agreed within ICES, used the same data and models as previously, and were conducted by the same Russian and Norwegian scientists that were involved in the previous ICES assessments. The managing body in the Barents Sea (the Joint Norwegian Russian Fisheries Commission; JNRFC) has endorsed this approach and has used the advice from the JRN-AFWG as the basis of management following the same procedures previously used for ICES advice. There is therefore currently no possibility to produce, and no current management need for, ICES assessments for these stocks. This year AFWG is providing ICES advice for saithe, coastal cod north and coastal cod south, with golden redfish (S. norvegicus) advice next due in 2024. In addition, an assessment has been run for anglerfish, although there is no formal request for advice for this stock. Assessments for Greenland halibut, NEA cod, NEA haddock, beaked redfish (S. mentella), and capelin were run at the JRN-AFWG in 2022 and 2023, and there are links to the resulting advice below. Stock-by-stock summaries (ICES) The stock trends for the assessed stocks are as follows: Cod (Gadus morhua) in subareas 1 and 2 north of 67°N (Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea), northern Norwegian coastal cod; cod.27.1-2.coastN The coastal cod north assessment gives an SSB estimate of 71 599 tonnes for 2022 (down from 72 888 tonnes in 2021), and the catch advice is 26 612 tonnes (slightly up from 29 347 t last year). The stock has had a declining trend since 2016, partly due to the weak 2018-year class that is now part of the fishable biomass. There is no Blim for this stock and the status relative to this reference point can therefore not be determined, but SSB is above the biomass limit for which the HCR is valid (SSBlowerbound). The fishing mortality is 0.31, well above target F in the management plan (0.176). However, because of better recruitment in 2020–2021, a small increase in the stock is expected in 2023–2025 even under status quo fishing. It should be noted that this stock cannot be directly managed via a quota (as the fish are not visually distinguishable from NEA cod in the same area), and therefore management is based on gear and area regulation. Cod (Gadus morhua) in Subarea 2 between 62°N and 67°N (Norwegian Sea), southern Norwegian coastal cod; cod.27.2.coastS The new ICES advice guidelines for data-poor stocks indicate that advice should be given on a two-year basis. Accordingly, the advice given in 2022 for 2023 is extended to 2023 and 2024, and no new advice is given. Saithe in subareas 1 and 2 (Northeast Arctic) The NEA saithe stock is currently in good status, with the SSB well above Bpa at 727 666 tonnes, very slightly up from 715 674 t in last year’s assessment. Following the HCR the catch advice is 223 123 tonnes (almost unchanged from 226 794 t last year). This stock, together with the associated North Sea saithe stock, is aiming for a benchmark, likely in 2024. Anglerfish (Lophius budegassa, Lophius piscatorius) in subareas 1 and 2 (Northeast Arctic) Data-limited model results based on length data from the fishery suggest that the biomass seems to be doing well and that the exploitation pattern is appropriate, while the rate might be near/slightly above the level that would lead to maximum yield. Management is based on technical measures rather than a quota. AFWG does not currently give advice on this stock but considers the current assessment of sufficient quality to base catch advice on if requested by the managers. Stock-by-stock summaries (non-ICES) Information for the for the stocks not currently assessed by AFWG (latest 2023 Greenland halibut, NEA cod, and NEA haddock; latest 2022 beaked redfish and capelin) via the IMR website: Barents Sea capelin The JRN-AFWG advice from 2022 is available here: https://www.hi.no/en/hi/nettrapporter/imr-pinro-en-2022-7 NEA cod The JRN-AFWG advice from 2023 is available here: https://www.hi.no/hi/nettrapporter/imr-pinro-en-2023-5 NEA haddock The JRN-AFWG advice from 2023 is available here: https://www.hi.no/hi/nettrapporter/imr-pinro-en-2023-4 Greenland halibut The JRN-AFWG advice from 2023 is available here: https://www.hi.no/hi/nettrapporter/imr-pinro-en-2023-6 Beaked redfish (Sebastes mentella) The JRN-AFWG advice from 2022 is available here: https://www.hi.no/en/hi/nettrapporter/imr-pinro-en-2022-5

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, there should be zero catches in each of the years 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027. Closed areas to protect spawning should be maintained.

Stock-specific documentation of standard assessment procedures used by ICES. Stock Cod (Gadus morhua) in subareas 1 and 2, north of 67°N (Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea), northern Norwegian coastal cod; cod.27.1-2.coastN. Working group Arctic Fisheries Working Group (AFWG) Created 18 March 2021 Last updated 28 April 2021

ICES advises on the basis of the approach to data-limited stocks,but cannot quantify the resulting catches. This implies annual landings of no more than 2628 tonnes.

ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in the fishing year 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 should be no more than 12 080 tonnes.

The advice given in 2010 for these species is biennial and valid for 2011 and 2012. This year ICES adopts the transition to the MSY approach as the basis for advice, which corresponds to zero catches.

Stock Annex: Ling (Molva molva) in subareas 6-9, 12, and 14, and in in divisions 3.a and 4.a (Northeast Atlantic and Arctic Ocean)

The 2012 advice for this stock was biennial and valid for 2013–2014. New data available do not change the perception of this stock. Therefore the advice for this fishery in 2015 is the same as theadvice for 2013: ICES advises on the basis of the approach for data-limited stocks that catches should not be increased unless there is evidence that this is sustainable. Measures should be taken to limit occasional high levels of bycatch.

According to ToRs four main issues regarding data on NEA Greenland halibut were addressed; commercial cpue series, survey data, new age readings and work on analytical models, with main emphasis on cpue and survey data. Updated data from Russia and Norway were exchanged, and it was agreed to develop joint data exchange formats for Greenland halibut. Cpue series that were used as tuning series for a surplus production model presented at WKBUT 2013 were examined. Cpue series from the time when fisheries were unreg-ulated (before 1991) are considered to have potential to reflect stock dynamics for that period, and are most likely useful as model tuning series. Exploratory cpue series from the period after regulations were implemented on the fisheries fluctuate and may not reflect stock dynamics, and thus should be carefully scrutinised before considered useful as tuning series. Further work is ongoing to standardise Russian cpue series. It was concluded that fisheries-independent data stand out as the most promising to illuminate stock dynamics, especially in the time period after 1992. Four surveys in the Barents Sea were studied. These surveys cover different parts of the slope and shelf areas, and consequently different components of NEA stock. In recent trend based as-sessment at ICES only data from the Norwegian Autumn Slope Survey and the Russian Autumn Survey have been used, being the surveys that include deep adult areas at the slope (>400 m), but the indices have shown considerable discrepancy in later years. At the workshop results from the area at the slope that these surveys have in common were studied, and interesting findings need further examination. Especially drop in the numbers of females in 2011 and 2013 in the Norwegian survey, and inverse fluctuations of mature female biomass at slope and shelf areas in the Russian survey. These and other issues need to be addressed in relation to the distribution of stock components, reflected in length distributions, including information from the Joint Ecosystem survey and Joint Winter Survey. Based on these studies the goal is to decide on indices that are the most representative to use as tuning series. Update on routine age readings with new age-reading method in Norway was pre-sented. More age readings on the smallest individuals are needed to construct better growth curves. Models were not the main issue at this point, but current stage in model work was presented. Based on scrutiny of the cpue series it was recommended to examine runs with the surplus production model for the period 1964–1991 and 1964–2005, in addi-tion to runs for the whole 1964–2013 period. It is possible to run the GADGET model with different growth parameters, with direct age–length data, or with only length data. This latter option would remove the need for age estimation and estimate growth directly from the length data. Experiments have suggested this is feasible, but comes at the expense of creating unrealistic recruitment patterns, as the model does not know (from the length information alone) which year to put recruitment in. This could po-tentially be remedied with a recruitment index, or by including age–length data on the younger individuals (where all age-reading methods are in agreement) as an indication of which year the fish had entered the population. The GADGET model is in a state where it is ready to be run once the suite of possible tuning series is available, but may be best utilized in conjunction with the production model. In this case Gadget could give the annual stock estimate, while the production model would help define the ref-erence points.

The new data (landings and survey) available for this stock do not change the perception of the stock in the Barents Sea and Svalbard area. Therefore, the advice for this fishery in 2010 is the same as the advice given in 2007 for the 2008 fishery and re-iterated in 2008 for the 2009 fishery: There should be no directed trawl fishery on Sebastes mentella in Subareas I and II in 2010. Area closures should be maintained and by-catch limits should be as low as possible until a significant increase in the spawning-stock biomass (and a subsequent increase in the number of juveniles) has been verified . In addition, ICES offers the following consideration: Results from the pelagic survey conducted in 2008 indicate a significant, but unquantifiable, spawning biomass in the Norwegian Sea. There are indications, however, that recruitment in the next 12-15 years will be low. A limited fishery is prosecuted at present.

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, there should be no targeted fisheries on this stock in 2017 and 2018. Based on medium-term projections, annual catches at the recent assumed level (2468 tonnes) would allow the stock to increase at a rate close to that estimated with zero catches. Any possible provision for the landing of bycatch should be part of a management plan, including close monitoring of the stock and fisheries.

The new data (landings, survey and CPUE) available for this stock do not change the perception of the stock and give no reason to change the advice from that given last year in 2008. Therefore, the advice for the fishery in 2010 is the same as the advice given in 2008 for the 2009 fishery: The stock has remained at a relatively low size in the last 25 years at catch levels of 15 000 25 000 t. In order to increase the SSB, catches should be kept well below that range. Catches should be below 13 000 t as advised since 2003; this is the level below which SSB has increased in the past . Additionally, ICES notes that the evaluation of this stock is uncertain due to age-reading problems and lack of contrast in the data. The age-reading issue is being addressed and should be resolved in the not too distant future. Corrections to the whole time-series are required.

Fishery should not be allowed to expand, and a reduction in catches should be considered until such time there is sufficient scientific information to prove the fishery is sustainable.

WGHARP met 30 August - 3 September 2005 in St Johns, Newfoundland, Canada.

The 2012 advice for this stock was biennial and valid for 2013–2014. New data available do not change the perception of this stock. Therefore the advice for 2015 is the same as the advice for 2013: Based on the ICES approach for data-limited stocks, ICES advises that there should be a 20% reduction in effort.ICES advises that effort in 2015 should be maintained at the same level implied by the 20% reduction advised for 2013. This leads tocatches of no more than 8825 tonnes in 2015.

ICES advises on the basis of the management plan of EU, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Russia that catches in 2015 should be no more than 283 013 t. Minor discards are known to take place, but cannot be quantified accurately; the proportion of discards in the total catches are considered negligible.

Sympagic (under-ice) fauna is important to the food web of the northern ice-covered oceans, and it functions as a link in the energy transfer from primary production (ice algae, phytoplankton) to seabirds and marine mammals. The most conspicuous sympagic organisms are one- to two-year-old polar cod (Boreogadus saida) and amphipods belonging to the species Gammarus wilkitzkii, Apherusa glacialis, Onisimus nanseni, and Onisimus glacialis, but other crustaceans (copepods, mysids, isopods, amphipods), foraminifers, rotatorians, nematodes, polychaetes, chaetognaths, pteropods, and appendicularians have also been found. Biomass values up to 20—40 g (wet weight) rrT2 of ice undersurface have been recorded, but values of 0 .1 -1 0 g m- - are more common, and the mean value in Arctic multi-year ice is probably of this order. Both grazers and predators are present in the sympagic fauna. Autochthonous sympagic animals of both sexes and in all developmental stages (juveniles, immature individuals, mature individuals) occur in the ice habitat. They are not normally benthic or pelagic, and may be adapted physiologically (e.g.. with high tolerance to brine) and morphologically (e.g., with spiny appendages enabling the animals to cling to the ice). Examples of autochthonous animals are G. wilkitzkii and the mysid Mysis polaris. Allochthonous sympagic animals are found temporarily in the ice, and may occur as nekton, plankton, or benthos. They may actively seek out the ice habitat for shelter or food, or may be passively transported by hydrodynamic action. Examples of allochthonous animals are A. glacialis, Parathemisto libellula, calanoid copepods, and B. saida. The composition and abundance of the sympagic fauna are especially dependent upon the age, structure, and history of the ice habitat; water depth; and origin of surrounding water masses. Generally, old, stable drift ice from the Polar Basin contains more autochthonous sympagic animals than does newly frozen ice on the margins of the Arctic. Ice above shallow water usually contains more animals than does ice above deep water.

Moored current measurements in four different areas of the Arctic Ocean suggest that the principal large-scale advection occurs in narrow boundary currents along the margins of the major basins. These boundary flows are in a cyclonic sense in each basin and are therefore counter to much of the upper ocean drift suggested by the ice motion. In the interior of the Arctic Ocean (or at least in its Canadian Basin) the kinetic energy appears concentrated in the mesoscale eddy field, and there is evidence that this field is primarily generated along the Arctic Ocean margins. In addition, the Arctic Ocean has recently been found to sustain a large-scale thermohaline circulation driven by freezing along its periphery; this circulation appears to be at least comparable in magnitude to that of the Greenland Sea. If one also considers the major peripheral exchanges through the Fram Strait, the Barents Sea, the Canadian Archipelago, and the Bering Strait, then the image which emerges is of an Arctic Ocean which overwhelmingly is forced at its lateral boundaries, and in which much of the organized transport is trapped along these boundaries.

The advice given in 2012 for this stock is biennial and valid for 2013 and 2014 (see ICES, 2012a): “ICES advises on the basis of the precautionary approach that there should be no catches of basking shark, and that it should remain a species prohibited from being fished.” The advice is summarized in the table below.

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, catches should be no more than 11 300 tonnes in each of the years 2016 and 2017. All catches are assumed to be landed.

ICES considered the updated time-series of relevant stock status indices and repeats the advice from last year: “The status of eel remains critical and urgent action is needed. ICES reiterates its previous advice that all anthropogenic mortality (e.g. recreational and commercial fishing, hydropower, pollution) affecting production and escapement of eels should be reduced to as close to zero as possible until there is clear evidence that both recruitment and the adult stock are increasing.” ICES has no new information regarding stocking and this issue has therefore not been revisited in 2012.

ICES considered the updated time-series of relevant stock status indices and repeats the advice from last year: “The status of eel remains critical and urgent action is needed. ICES reiterates its previous advice that all anthropogenic mortality (e.g. recreational and commercial fishing, hydropower, pollution) affecting production and escapement of eels should be reduced to as close to zero as possible until there is clear evidence that both recruitment and the adult stock are increasing.” ICES has no new information regarding stocking and this issue has therefore not been revisited in 2012.

ICES advises on basis of the precautionary approach that there should be no fishing on this stock

The advice given in 2012 for this stock is biennial and valid for 2013 and 2014 (see ICES, 2012a): “ICES advises on the basis of the precautionary approach that there should be no catches of angel shark, and that it should remain a species prohibited from being fished. Measures should be taken to minimize bycatch.”