A Benchmark Workshop for selected elasmobranch stocks (WKBELASMO3) was convened to evaluate the appropriateness of data and methods to assess and provide short-term forecast for three rays stocks in Atlantic Iberian waters: thornback ray (rjc.27.9a), blonde ray (rjh.27.9a) and cuckoo ray (rjn.27.9a).
For thornback ray in Iberian waters, a SPiCT assessment using landings since 2000 and four series of biomass indices (PT-IBTS-Q4, PT-LPUE, SpGFS-GC-WIBTS -Q1 and SpGFS-GC-WIBTS -Q4) combined, since 1990 was accepted. The workshop also agreed on the settings for the short-term forecast, allowing the stock to be assessed as category 2. This stock is estimated to be har-vested well below Fmsy with a biomass above Bmsy. The 15th percentile of the landings at Fmsyis very closed to MSY and corresponds to landings slightly lower (-10.5%) than the previouslandings advice.
For blonde ray in Iberian waters, SPiCT assessments using landings since 2000 and one series of biomass indices (PT-LPUE from polyvalent fleet) since 2008 were tested but not accepted. The workshop agreed that the stock should remain in category 3 and the advice given according to the rfb rule.
For cuckoo ray in Iberian waters, a SPiCT assessment using landings since 2001 and two series of biomass indices (SpGFS-GC-WIBTS-Q1 and SpGFS-GC-WIBTS -Q4) since 2001 was accepted. The workshop also agreed on the settings for the short-term forecast, allowing the stock to be assessed as category 2. This stock is estimated to be harvested well below Fmsy with a biomass above Bmsy. The 15th percentile of the landings at Fmsy is slightly above MSY and corresponds to landings higher (~2 times) than the previous advice.