Catch and effort data - reference file

The geo-referenced catch-and-effort data presented in the CE-Surface file include a re-estimation of species composition for tropical tuna catches originally reported by the Purse Seine fleet of EU(Spain) in 2018.

This was done in agreement with the methodology described by IOTC-2019-WPDCS15-10_Rev2 and following a specific request in this regard from the WPTT24(DP).

These re-estimations result in reduced catches of BET (and a corresponding increase in catches of YFT) for EU(Spain) / PS(LS) / 2018 when compared to what originally submitted by the CPC.

They shall therefore exclusively be intended as representing the best scientific estimates for the strata concerned, and while they can be used for stock assessment purposes they are not meant as a replacement for the original data submissions, which will continue to be the reference until further notice.