Task Group (TG) — 2026 Meeting Schedule & Agendas

Task Group (TG) — 2026 Meeting Schedule & Agendas

Chair: J. Ianelli | All meetings: Online (Zoom/Teams) | 14:00–15:30 CET

08:00–9:30 Lima (PET) 09:00-10:30 Santiago (CLT)

AT-A-GLANCE SCHEDULE

Table 1

Meeting	Date	Topic	Key Milestone
TG-01	Thu 26 March 2026	Post-Commission Kickoff	—
TG-02	Thu 9 April 2026	WP1 Launch & Benchmark Preparation	→ Leads to: Benchmark Workshop, Lima (May)
TG-03	Thu 30 April 2026	Final Pre-Benchmark Preparation	→ Leads to: Benchmark Workshop, Lima (~12–16 May)
TG-04	Thu 28 May 2026	Post-Lima / Pre-Intersessional Debrief	→ Leads to: MSE-02 draft performance metrics
TG-05	Thu 11 June 2026	Pre-Wageningen Final Preparation	→ Leads to: MSE Workshop, Wageningen, 15–19 June 2026
TG-06	Thu 9 July 2026	Post-Wageningen: CMP Shortlist Review	→ SC14 paper drafting begins
TG-07	Thu 13 August 2026	Pre-SC14 Draft Review	→ Leads to: SC14 (September 2026)
TG-08	Fri 28 August 2026	Final SC14 Paper Sign-off	→ SC14 submission deadline
TG-09	Thu 8 October 2026	Post-SC14 Debrief & Commission Prep	→ Leads to: Commission decision (Nov/Dec 2026)
TG-10	Thu 12 November 2026	WP4 Report Review & Year-End Close	→ SC15 / archive

Regular = 2nd Thursday of month. Extra = milestone-driven additional call.

2026 PROGRAMME MILESTONES (FOR REFERENCE)

Table 2

Month	Event	Deliverable	Output for
May 2026	Benchmark Workshop — Lima (Peru)	Candidate assessment models	SC Intersessional
Late May 2026	SC Intersessional meeting	Approved OM for MSE	Wageningen workshop
Jun 15–19	MSE Workshop — Wageningen (WMR/NL)	CMP shortlist	SC14 document
Sep 2026	SC14 — Scientific Committee	CMP recommendation	Commission decision
Nov 2026	WP4 final deliverable	Technical report + source code	SC15 / archive

SPRFMO Jack Mackerel MSE — Technical Group (TG) Session Agenda Plan 2026

Five 2-hour TG sessions (March–June 2026) leading to the Lima Benchmark (early May) and the Wageningen MSE Workshop (16 June). Each session covers topics for discussion and decisions; where consensus cannot be reached, the decision is deferred one session. Based on Carruthers et al. (2024) MSE roadmap phases.

Colour legend: White = discussion topics Yellow = items requiring decision Grey = pre-meeting preparation Blue = linked working papers

Table 3

TC	Date	Main Topics for Discussion	Topics Requiring Decision	Pre-meeting Prep	WPs
TG-01 — 26 Mar 2026 15:00 CET
1	26 Mar 2026 15:00 CET	Review & endorse working paper plan (10 WPs: Benchmark, Wageningen, SC14) Sequence and allocation of technical topics across TG-02 to TG-05 Identify which decisions need two sessions (prepare → conclude)	Endorse WP plan; confirm all lead authors (SCW16-03 needs volunteer) Agree topic schedule TG-02 through TG-05 — frames all subsequent work	Chair circulates: SCW16-01 draft, SCW16-02 draft, WP plan, Carruthers roadmap summary, proposed topic allocation. All ≥5 working days before.	SCW16-01 SCW16-02 Plan doc
TG-02 — 9 Apr 2026 15:00 CEST
2	9 Apr 2026 15:00 CEST	Selectivity: block-based alternatives (SCW16-01 §6.1) vs time-varying; fleet implications Reference points: fixed RPs vs dynamic BMSY/FMSY — pros, cons, RFMO precedent S-R alternatives: simplified options (single BH, regime variants) from SCW16-01 §6.2 — initial reaction Indices (SCW16-03): inventory of all 7, CPUE standardisation, index–biomass proportionality Uncertainty dimensions most consequential for long-term projections	Discuss selectivity block options — narrow to ≤2 candidates (conclude TG-03) Discuss reference point approach — identify preferred direction (conclude TG-03) Confirm SCW16-03 lead and scope; agree index standardisation methodology	SCW16-01 §6.1–6.3 fitted diagnostics; SCW16-03 outline; updated topic schedule from TG-01	SCW16-01 SCW16-03
TG-03 — 30 Apr 2026 15:00 CEST
3	30 Apr 2026 15:00 CEST	CONCLUDE selectivity: agree block structure(s) for OM conditioning CONCLUDE reference points: agree fixed benchmark RPs; document rationale Far North treatment (SCW16-01 §6.4): options for h1/h2 consistency OM grid design (SCW16-04): reference set vs robustness set; which uncertainty axes in each tier Benchmark handoff: define minimum outputs needed for TG-04 to proceed	Agree selectivity block structure for OM (carried from TG-02) Agree fixed reference point approach (carried from TG-02) Agree harmonised Far North treatment for both stock hypotheses Agree OM grid structure: axes, tiers (reference set vs robustness set) Agree criteria for OM reconditioning decision at TG-04	SCW16-01 §6.4 draft; SCW16-03 first full draft; SCW16-04 outline with OM grid sketch; Chair circulates 'Benchmark handoff checklist'	SCW16-01 SCW16-03 SCW16-04
TG-04 — 28 May 2026 15:00 CEST
4	28 May 2026 15:00 CEST	Lima Benchmark debrief: model simplification, indices, OM design — what was agreed and what remains open CRITICAL FORK: Recondition on Benchmark OM outputs OR proceed with SC13-based OM Stock-hypothesis: using base case + robustness tests to derive advice; attempt consensus Performance metrics (MSE-02): conservation (P(B MP families: candidate model-free (DLMtool) and model-based (multi-index, surplus production)	CRITICAL: Recondition OM on Benchmark outputs OR proceed with SC13-based OM — gates Wageningen scope Agree S-R priors (steepness, σR) and recruitment regime treatment across all OMs Discuss stock-hypothesis treatment for advice — to conclude at TG-05 Endorse draft performance metrics and time horizons (5/10/20+ yr) — to finalise at TG-05	Lima Benchmark summary circulated after meeting; BM MSE-02 draft performance metrics	SCW16-04 MSE-02 SCW16-01 outcomes
TG-05 — 11 Jun 2026 15:00 CEST
5	11 Jun 2026 15:00 CEST	CONCLUDE stock-hypothesis: close from TG-04 (or confirm fallback) CONCLUDE performance metrics: finalise metric list, time horizons, risk tolerance for Wageningen MP specifications (MSE-01): technical freeze — data streams, tuning targets, HCR, Buffer/K60 Robustness scenario matrix: finalise all scenarios entering Wageningen (MSE-03) Cross-platform validation: FLR vs RTMB/OpenMSE — metrics, responsibilities (WMR/CHL/PER), timeline Wageningen logistics: trade-off format (Slick, worm plots, Kobe-style); decision-making protocol	Conclude stock-hypothesis (from TG-04) Finalise performance metrics list, time horizons and risk tolerance Freeze MP specifications: no new MPs added after this TG Agree complete robustness scenario matrix (reference set + robustness set) Agree cross-platform validation protocol and assign responsibilities Agree Wageningen communication and decision-making format	Full drafts MSE-01 and MSE-03; Slick/trade-off prototype if available; updated OM status note from WMR	MSE-01 MSE-02 MSE-03

Notes: (1) If Lima Benchmark endorses reconditioning the OM, TG-04 agenda must adjust to incorporate benchmark outcomes before Wageningen. (2) The stock-hypothesis weighting decision (TG-04) is a potential sticking point — plan extra time or a dedicated sub-group call if no consensus at TG-03. (3) All working paper drafts should be circulated at least 5 working days before each TG.