2019 - 2020 Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas) Sprat and Sardine self-sampling 2019/20 - Fisheries Science Partnership

This work was carried out as part of the Fisheries Science Partnership (FSP) programme. The primary objective of the project is to improve the data collection on sprat in the South West of England in support of the stock assessment, by means of the continuation of a self-sampling programme carried out by fishermen and main producers that begun in 2017-2018. After the success of the first year, and some areas identified as requiring further fine-tuning, the sardine self-sampling programme was continued in 2018-2019 and expanded to the sprat fishery. In 2019-20, the current FSP project had the primary objective: to improve and continue the data collection for sprat in the South West by means of a self-sampling programme carried out by fishermen. Although the focus of project was on sprat data, the project continued to support the third season of self- sampling by the sardine fishery as well. Ultimately, the aim of the FSP project is that the self-sampling programme for both the sprat and sardine fisheries can run autonomously and will (continue to) contribute reliable fisheries dependent data to the assessment process for both stocks. Participating vessels recorded haul details (date, position, fishing gear), and length distributions of around 50 individual sprat and sardine. In addition to the data collected by the fishermen, processors agreed to provided individual length and weight information for at least 50 individuals per species per month.