South Atlantic Albacore MSE

History

In 2024, the SCRS supported the initiative of starting development of a Stock Synthesis model for the South albacore stock, that could be the basis of a future MSE (Anon., 2024). The Commission agreed  Res. 24‑09 with a set of initial operational management objectives to promote the MSE process for southern albacore. Operating model (OM) development is anticipated in coordination with updated assessments by the SCRS in 2026-2027 to provide Candidate Management Procedures (CMPs) to the Commission in 2027.

Operating Models (OMs)

The OMs for South Atlantic albacore will be developed based on the 2026 stock assessment using Stock Synthesis models. In 2025, as a preliminary preparation, the SCRS demonstrated the MSE framework using data up to 2018 (Hordyk et al., 2025), including the development of Candidate Management Procedures (CMPs).

Materials

More materials can be found in References

Summary

Management Objectives

Rec. 24-09

Stock Status	Safety	Yield	Stability
Prob. >= 60% in green quadrant	Prob. < 15% of stock falling below BLIM	Maximize overall catch	TAC changes between periods +20%/-20%

Candidate Management Procedures (CMPs)

Various empirical index-based and assessment model-based Candidate Management Procedures (CMPs) will be developed in 2026.

Management Procedure (MP)

The Commission will adopt a MP by 2029 (Res. 24-09).

Exceptional Circumstances (ECs)

The SCRS will develop a draft of the Exceptional Circumstances Protocol (ECP) in 2028 (Anon., 2025).

References of South Atlantic Albacore