Jack mackerel researchResearch guide for fisheries managers · Information assembled 7 September 2026

How the research developed

How did the work leading into SC14 address the questions managers face?

The 2026 programme connected three tasks: reviewing the evidence about the stock, improving assessment methods, and testing management rules under uncertainty. Drafting and review took place before and between the workshops as well as afterwards. Sources: JM02, JM03.

The main steps

When What happened Relevance to management
March 2026 The Commission meeting in Panama provides the starting point for the earlier working timeline. Adding its report is a historical priority. Commission decisions will need to be added from the authoritative report.
18–22 May The benchmark workshop in Lima reviewed data, biological assumptions and assessment methods. The reliability of stock advice depends on these foundations. JM02
15–19 June The workshop in Wageningen developed the management strategy evaluation. Candidate rules can be compared before being used in the fishery. JM03
July–August management strategy evaluation (MSE) reporting, independent review and a response prepared the work for SC14. Review helps clarify how much confidence to place in the findings and what work remains. JM04, JM07, JM09
September SC14’s agenda links the assessment and management evaluation to advice for the Commission. This is the planned decision process; its outcomes still need to be recorded. Doc02

What has been agreed?

The reports establish that the two workshops took place and record their recommendations. Scientific Committee advice and Commission decisions each require their own authoritative record.

What is missing from the longer history?

We still need the earlier studies and decisions that explain how today’s assessment and management approach developed. Priorities are the evidence on stock boundaries, the history of abundance indices, changes to assessment methods, and decisions on reference points and catch rules. The SC13 report and Commission reports will help connect the years.

Read the workshop and review papers · Follow this week’s discussions