SEDAR 68 CIE Reviewer Report - Cook

This document is the individual CIE Reviewer report of the SEDAR 68 Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Scamp assessment conducted during August-September 2021 and provided at the request of the Center for Independent Experts (CIE).

Both assessments are thorough and high-quality analyses and represent the best science available.

The Atlantic assessment is probably the more reliable on the basis of the model diagnostics, both in terms of fit to the data and retrospective pattern. The Gulf assessment is more challenging as two of the surveys are not fit well and there is uncertainty about the estimate of unexploited biomass which affects its scale. This is reflected in a rather poor retrospective pattern. Improvements were made to both assessment models during the review, but it is acknowledged that more improvements are possible before an operational assessment is established.

Independent peer review report of the SEDAR 68 Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Scamp assessment review Prepared for the Center for Independent Experts

By Robin Cook