The Mediterranean and Black Sea STECF Stock Assessment Database - SAMBS

The stock assessment process starts with the specific request of Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) (https://commission.europa.eu/about/departments-and-executive-agencies/maritime-affairs-and-fisheries) through a list of Terms of Reference (ToRs) given to STECF. TORs can indicate the priorities of assessment or can make specific questions of explorative or methodological nature. According to these needs, a group of independent experts are invited to attend a so called Expert Working Group (EWG). During an EWG exclusively dedicated to perform stock assessments, between 15 and 20 assessments are performed. Each stock assessment typically covers one species in one GSA, which is the most used definition of stock. However, for some species, based on biological evidence, one stock covers several GSAs for which, assessments are performed across all GSAs. The results of all the assessments performed are presented to STECF plenary meetings, where difficulties, limitations and problems on data and/or assessments are described and discussed. According to this, some of the assessments might be not accepted, whereas those accepted will serve as basis of advice and published as so in the final report.