The Benchmark Workshop on Pelagic Stocks (WKPELA) 2013 was convened between 22 November 2012 and 8 February 2013. It met three times and worked intersessionally by correspondence. Its remit was to determine and review the appropriate stock assessment methods for three pelagic stocks: anchovy in Subarea VIII (Bay of Biscay), herring in Division IIIa and Subdivisions 22–24 (Western Baltic Spring spawners) and sardine in Subarea VII and Divisions VIIIa, b, d (Celtic Sea, English Channel and Bay of Biscay). 26 People participated from seven countries including stakeholders. Two independent scientists from outside the ICES community took part in the process and reviewed with the findings of the workshop. See the participants list in Annex 1.