Report of the FAO Working Group on the Assessment of Small Pelagic Fish off Northwest Africa, Banjul, the Gambia, 19-24 May 2014 / Rapport du Groupe de travail de la FAO sur l’évaluation des petits pélagiques au large de l’Afrique nord-occidentale. Banjul, La Gambie, 19-24 mai 2014

Abstract

This is the report of the fourteenth meeting of the FAO Working Group on the Assessment of Small Pelagic Fish off Northwest Africa which was held in Banjul, The Gambia from 19 to 24 May 2014. The Group assessed the status of the small pelagic resources in Northwest Africa and made projections on the development of the status of the stocks and on future effort and catch levels. The advices for the stocks are given in relation to the agreed reference points F0.1, FMSY, B0.1 and BMSY and on the bas is of the projections for the next five years. A separate section is devoted to each of the main groups of species (sardine, sardinella, horse mackerel, chub mackerel, bonga and anchovy). For each of these, standardized information is given on stock identity, fisheries, abundance indices, sampling intensity, biological data, assessment, projections, management recommendations and future research. The report contains the updated assessments of these important stocks as well as recommendations f or management and future research to maintain sustainability of these important resources. This is used in the fisheries management advice process under CECAF and nationally in the countries.