West of Scotland Greater Silver Smelt Fisheries Management Plan

Stock Assessment and MSY

Scientific evidence

As set out in Section 3.2 of the JFS, the UK takes an evidence-based approach to fisheries management, making use of the best available scientific evidence. For the purpose of stock management and TAC setting, this tends to focus on the use of advice produced by ICES, although other sources of information, including data from the fishing industry, may also be used.

ICES provides annual advice for Faroese Ground and West of Scotland GSS. ICES advice is organised according to categories, ranging from 1 (the most information available) to 6 (the least). This stock is an ICES Category 1 stock which means that it is considered to have full age- and size-structured data on which to base an assessment, and that MSY reference points are available to provide a framework for advice on sustainable management.

Benchmark exercises are a process used by ICES to evaluate existing and new scientific evidence and methods and, where relevant, apply them in the stock assessment process. They are part of the continuous improvement process which ensures that ICES advice is based on the best available scientific evidence. ICES last completed an assessment benchmarking process for West of Scotland GSS in 2020.

Assessment of evidence

The following evidence has been collated from the most recent ICES Advisory Committee report (ICES 2026).^[9]

As set out above, West of Scotland GSS is a stock that has sufficient data available for ICES to make annual assessments of the stock status and provide advice on sustainable catches using the MSY approach.

The most recent ICES advice (2026) details that fishing pressure on the stock is below FMSY and spawning-stock size is above MSY B_trigger, B_pa, and B_lim.