Download FAR 2022/34 Catch per unit effort standardisation and stock assessment of blue mackerel in EMA 7 to the fishing year 2017–18

Standardised catch per unit effort (CPUE) indices for blue mackerel in EMA 7 were updated. The results suggested that blue mackerel abundance decreased from 1996–97 to 2004–05 and then stabilised until 2017–18, at 20–30% of the level seen at the start (1996–97 to 1999–2000). A stock assessment based on these CPUE indices was attempted, but none of the models were accepted as valid representations of the dynamics of this stock. The assessment was rejected for use in providing management advice.