ple.27.21-32 20/01/2025 plaice Baltic Sea

[RuthFG]

1. Please select only one of the following cases:

• A new stock code needs to be created (not linked to any existing stock).
• An existing stock code needs to be split into 2 or more components.
• Two (or more) existing stock codes need to be merged into a single stock.
• One or more existing stocks need to be modified.

2. Please Provide information regarding the request below:

List the previously existing code(s) and description(s), if applicable:
ple.27.21-23
ple.27.24-32

__*Describe your request in detail, with the new/updated stock code(s) and description(s), and the proposed changes:
new stock code ple.27.21-32
WD on the matter reviewed by SIMWG and include din their 2024 report: see Annex 7 and 4

SIMWG conclusion on Baltic Plaice:
Based on neutral genetic data only, the presented data support a joint Baltic stock including SD
22-32, but there is no evidence on where to merge SD21. It is also unclear whether the low num�ber of plaice in SD 25 and SD21 is reflecting the natural state. If so, merging SD 21 with the Baltic
Sea will probably not have any drastic negative effect on the plaice stocks. On the other hand, if
the low number of plaice in Kattegat nowadays is a small remnant of the original populations,
care should be taking not to merge it with other stocks. When considering ecologically important
adaptive traits, the picture becomes more complex – there is some evidence, also at the genetic
level, of adaptive differences along the continuum of plaice distribution from Kattegat to the
Baltic Sea. There is a need for additional data on adaptive traits to make sure that the possible
merging of plaice stocks will not result in a loss of adaptive variation.

Benchmark experts decided to ho ahead with the merging at WKBPLAICE 2024*__

*Which Benchmark, Expert Group or Workshop has requested a new stock code?
WKBPLAICE
Report on the making. SharePoint link: https://community.ices.dk/ExpertGroups/benchmarks/2024/WKBPLAICE/SitePages/[HomePage](https://community.ices.dk/ExpertGroups/benchmarks/2024/WKBPLAICE/SitePages/HomePage.aspx).aspx
*
(Link to the report and section within it if relevant)

Name of the contact ICES Professional Officer for the request: Ruth Fernandez

3. Please confirm:

• The request has been approved by ACOM.
  Please provide a link to the minutes, notes etc. where the approval is found.

• The codes and descriptions have been reviewed for grammar and style by the editorial office

To be filled by RMG

Checklist for RMG (click arrow to expand)

• Request is processed by RMG
• ICES Vocabulary updated
• The requester PO has been informed

If the request is accepted, the RMG will create the stock code in the ICES Vocabulary, whereafter the Professional Officer needs to create a stock list record in SID by linking the stock code to the year(s) that it is valid for.

[MariaMakri]

@RuthFG will there be a stock covering 21? We would need approval from ACOM, please take that into account. Can you also update the title with relevant information?

[RuthFG]

Hi, yes, the stock will also cover 21. I edited the notes above. It needs ACOM approval but for that wee need the final report of the benchmark that will be ready in about 2 weeks.

[Osanna123]

Hi @RuthFG , could you please edit the title of this issue, updating the information in [ ]?