1. North Sea (mainly) ICES Benchmark Workshops 2009 Presented by Henrik Sparholt short version

2. New system Up date assessment working groups – each year Benchmark workshops – every five year for a given stock

3. The term benchmark refers to a stock assessment that is the result of an intense process to decide on the most appropriate scientifically defensible methodology taking account of biological knowledge, available data, and management needs. A Benchmark Workshop is an intense process for evaluating the current data and methodology and proposed improvements. It should include experts from outside of the ICES community to broaden the idea pool available as the basis of for a benchmark assessment and to enhance credibility. The goal should be consensus agreement.

4. Update assessments are usually updated annually using the same methodology as the benchmark assessment with the additional years of data that have become available since the benchmark. Update assessments should not be conducted indefinitely as situations change. Typically, Benchmark Workshops should be conducted every few (e.g. 3–5) years to keep pace with changing situations

5. Data compilation workshops held immediately prior to benchmark assessment workshops. In effect, a combined “Benchmark Workshop.” A process to identify datasets to be considered, and to compile data, prior to the actual data compilation workshop. RACs might organize data groups (scientists and stakeholders) to identify and compile potentially useful datasets. The data compilation process start as soon as possible. In general, three months should be allowed for this preparatory process.

6. Stakeholders should encouraged to actively participate as their contributions are potentially valuable. Scientists that work for stakeholders may participate in the same manner as other stakeholders, or they may be nominated by a member country RACs are stakeholders, and they should be encouraged to participate

7. External experts should be participants in the workshops, and ultimately share ownership of the product. External experts should chair workshops.

8. Benchmark Workshops as an opportunity for enhancing integration and the ecosystem approach. This might be achieved by identifying new scientific knowledge, datasets and/or modelling methods that could be integrated in to the benchmark framework for preparing advice

9. The length of Workshops should depend on the number stocks and complexity of methods to be benchmarked. It will be common for eight days to be required with the following suggested time table: Friday (day 1)Review of current methods and data Saturday (day 2)Consideration of proposals of new input data Sunday (day 3)open day Monday (day 4)Review of proposals for new methods Tuesday–Wednesday (days 5-6)Analysis of candidate methods Thursday–Friday (days 7–8)Report preparation and adoption.

10. Benchmark Workshop on Flatfish ICES HQ, Copenhagen, Denmark, 6–14 February 2009 to: 1.North Sea plaice (Subarea IV) 2.Plaice in VIId (Eastern Channel) 3.Plaice in VIIe (Western Channel) 4.Sole in VIId (Eastern Channel) 5.Sole in VIIe (Western Channel)

11. Benchmark Workshop on Roundfish in ICES HQ, Copenhagen, Denmark, 16–24 January 2009 to: 1.North Sea whiting 2.North Sea cod 3.Kattegat cod 4.Western Baltic cod 5.Eastern Baltic cod 6.Celtic Sea cod

12. Benchmark Workshop on Nephrops, with UWTV surveys in Aberdeen or Galway, for 5 days in the period 2–13 March 2009) to: Nephrops Stock: 1.FU 6 Farns Deeps 2.FU 7 Fladen Grounds 3.FU 8 Firth of Forth 4.FU 9 Moray Firth 5.FU 15 Irish Sea West

13. Benchmark Workshop on Short-lived species for 5 days in late March or early April 2009 in Bergen, Norway to 1.Barents Sea Capelin 2.Bay of Biscay Anchovy 3.Icelandic Capelin

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