22nd Regular Session of the Scientific Committee

SC22 will review the progress towards convening the workshop under Project 130, including its scope and proposed timing and location. It was not possible to convene the workshop prior to SC22.

• Project 130 responds to the need identified by the Billfish Research Plan and Shark Research Plan to improve and standardise stock assessment approaches for bycatch species, particularly billfish and sharks, where assessments are often constrained by limited data and inconsistent methodologies. The project includes the convening of a joint, pan-Pacific expert workshop, including participation from other organizations such as IATTC and ISC, to review existing assessment approaches across a range of data availability contexts, evaluate successful and unsuccessful applications, and consider alternative methods, including multi-model and Bayesian approaches, as well as tiered frameworks for low-information stocks and associated fishery characterisation. The workshop following SC22 will identify best practices, recommend appropriate assessment frameworks, and provide reference points, stock status reporting, and potential alignment of assessment schedules across regions.