General
General 1: Announcement. IWS/2025/General/1. 1 pp. (uploaded 21/11/2025).
General 2: Wednesday discussion announcement. IWS/2025/General/2. 1 pp. (uploaded 21/11/2025).
General 3: Schedule. IWS/2025/General/3. 1 pp. (uploaded 28/11/2025)
General 4: Virtual attendance. IWS/2025/General/4. 1 pp. (uploaded 28/11/2025)
General 5: Wednesday discussion schedule. IWS/2025/General/5. 2 pp. (uploaded 02/12/2025)
General 6: Video Statement by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Minister Willem Aucamp. IWS/2025/General/6. (uploaded 03/12/2025)
General 7: Written Statement by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Minister Willem Aucamp. IWS/2025/General/7. 2 pp. (uploaded 03/12/2025)
General 8: Workshop document list. IWS/2025/General/8.
General 9: Workshop song - Fishy business. IWS/2025/General/9. (uploaded 09/12/2025)
General 10: Workshop song - Rho Sigma Tilde. IWS/2025/General/10. (uploaded 09/12/2025)
General 11: Presentation of the Panel report. 26 slides. IWS/2025/General/11. (uploaded 09/12/2025)
General 12: IWS 2025 Final Panel report. 21 pp. IWS/2025/General/12. (uploaded 09/12/2025)
Improving Scientific Communication and Media - reporting on Marine Resource Management Issues Wednesday discussion session
1: Bergh, M. 2025. Communicating the science behind living marine resource management. 19 slides (uploaded 12/12/2025)
2: Butterworth, D. 2025. An overview of possible discussion points. 9 slides (uploaded 12/12/2025)
3: Cochrane, K. 2025. Improving Scientific Communication and Media Reporting on Marine Resource Management Issues. 8 slides (uploaded 12/12/2025)
4: Evans, J. 2025. The Translation Gap: Bridging Science and the Public. 8 slides (uploaded 12/12/2025)
5: SANCOR. 2025. Beyond the Headlines: Why Clear Scientific Communication Matters for Fisheries. (uploaded 12/12/2025)
Sardine
Primary papers
Sardine/P1: Anon. 2025. List of the key focus questions for the panel regarding sardine (and anchovy), together with brief summaries of the documents provided. IWS/2025/Sardine/P1. 3 pp. (uploaded 28/11/2025).
Sardine/P2: de Moor, C.L. 2025. Stock recruitment relationships for South African anchovy. IWS/2025/Sardine/P2. 8 pp. (uploaded 28/11/2025)
Sardine/P3: de Moor, C.L. 2025. Projections of the sardine population using an operating model which does not estimate stock-recruitment relationships during conditioning. IWS/2025/Sardine/P3. 15 pp. (uploaded 28/11/2025)
Sardine/P4: Projections of the sardine population using an operating model with parametric stock-recruitment relationships estimated during conditioning. IWS/2025/Sardine/P4. 13 pp. (uploaded 28/11/2025)
Sardine/P5: Bergh, M. 2025. Correcting the recruitment process error variance for bias due to recruitment estimation error. IWS/2025/Sardine/P5. 6 pp. (uploaded 28/11/2025)
Sardine/P6: Bergh, M. 2025. Some issues and questions regarding sardine model fits and associated Markov chains. IWS/2025/Sardine/P6. 3 pp. (uploaded 28/11/2025)
Sardine/P7: de Moor, C.L. 2025. Projections of the sardine population using an operating model which does not estimate stock-recruitment relationships during conditioning and uses a ‘binning’ approach for generating future recruitment. IWS/2025/Sardine/P7. 9 pp. (uploaded 28/11/2025)
Background papers
Sardine/BG1: de Moor, C.L. and Coetzee, J.C. 2024. A summary of the sardine fishery. IWS/2025/Sardine/BG1. 20 pp. (uploaded 28/11/2025)
Sardine/BG2: de Moor, C.L., Merkle, D., Coetzee, J. and van der Lingen, C.D. 2024. The data used in the 2024 sardine assessment. IWS/2025/Sardine/BG2. 31 pp. (uploaded 28/11/2025)
Sardine/BG3: de Moor, C.L. 2025. Revisions to the updated assessment model for the revised sardine stock structure hypothesis. IWS/2025/Sardine/BG3. 19 pp. (uploaded 28/11/2025)
Sardine/BG4: de Moor, C.L. 2025. Results from the updated stock assessment model of the revised South African sardine stock structure hypothesis. IWS/2025/Sardine/BG4. 38 pp. (uploaded 01/12/2025)
Sardine/BG5: de Moor, C.L. 2025. Scoping MSE for South African sardine. IWS/2025/Sardine/BG5. 11 pp. (uploaded 28/11/2025)
Sardine/BG6: de Moor, C.L., Merkle, D. and Coetzee, J. 2024. The data used in the 2024 anchovy assessment. IWS/2025/Sardine/BG6: 15pp. (uploaded 28/11/2025)
Sardine/BG7: de Moor, C.L. Assessment of the South African anchovy resource using data up to 2024. IWS/2025/Sardine/BG7: 46 pp (uploaded 28/11/2025)
Sardine/BG8: Methot Jr, R.D. and Taylor, I.G. 2011. Adjusting for bias due to variability of estimated recruitments in fishery assessment models. IWS/2025/Sardine/BG8: 17 pp (uploaded 28/11/2025)
Presentations
Sardine/Pres1: de Moor, C.L. 2025. An Introduction to the South African Sardine Resource and Fishery. IWS/2025/Sardine/Pres1: 25 slides (uploaded 01/12/2025)
Sardine/Pres2: Bergh, M. 2025. Some issues and questions regarding sardine model fits and associated Markov chains: Document P6. IWS/2025/Sardine/Pres2: 9 slides (uploaded 01/12/2025)
Working papers
Sardine/WP1: de Moor, C.L. 2025. MSE Performance Statistics for Target Resource v Ecosystem. IWS/2025/Sardine/WP1. 1 pp
Sardine/WP2:
Sardine/WP3: de Moor, C.L. 2025. Further consideration of relationships between recruitment and spawner biomass. IWS/2025/Sardine/WP3. 7pp
Sardine/WP4: de Moor, C.L. 2025. Recruitment deviates. IWS/2025/Sardine/WP4. 2 pp
Sardine/WP5: de Moor, C.L. and Yemane, D. 2025. Results from initial breakpoint analyses for sardine recruitment and recruit/spawner ordered by increasing spawner biomass. IWS/2025/Sardine/WP5. 6pp
Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management (EBFM)
Primary papers
EBFM/P1: Cochrane, K. 2025. Key questions to the panel on approaches to setting harvest levels for low trophic level species that take account of the needs of dependent predators and the wider ecosystem. IWS/2025/EBFM/P1. 2 pp. (uploaded 28/11/2025).
EBFM/P2: Bergh, M. 2025. A proposal to adjust natural mortality to obtain SY:B relationships consistent with Smith et al (2011). IWS/2025/EBFM/P2. 10 pp. (uploaded 21/11/2025).
EBFM/P3: Cochrane, K. and Coetzee, J. 2025. Some initial thoughts on the potential use of mice for informing targets or thresholds for harvest rates to take into account impacts on predators of fishing on small pelagics. IWS/2025/EBFM/P3. 9 pp. (uploaded 21/11/2025).
EBFM/P4: de Moor, C.L. 2025. Variability about Density Dependent Natural Mortality. IWS/2025/EBFM/P4. 4 pp. (uploaded 28/11/2025).
Background papers
EBFM/BG1: Cochrane, K. 2025. Considering appropriate harvest levels for LTL species that take account of the need of dependent predators and the wider ecosystem. IWS/2025/EBFM/BG1. 15 pp. (uploaded 21/11/2025).
EBFM/BG2: Merkle, D., Coetzee, J. and Shannon, L. 2025. Round herring bonanza: Short-term relief or long-term disaster? IWS/2025/EBFM/BG2: 1 pp (uploaded 28/11/2025).
EBFM/BG3: Schiano, S., Nesslage, G.M., Drew, K., Schueller, A.M., Woodland, R.J. and Wilberg, M.J. 2024. Evaluation of alternative harvest policies for striped bass and their prey, Atlantic menhaden. IWS/2025/EBFM/BG3: 23 pp (uploaded 01/12/2025).
Presentations
EBFM/Pres1: Cochrane, K. 2025. Chair’s Summary of the Discussions and Recommendations of the DFFE Ecosystem Inputs to Management Task Group. IWS/2025/EBFM/Pres1: 11 slides (uploaded 01/12/2025)
EBFM/Pres2: Bergh, M. 2025. A proposal to adjust natural mortality to obtain SY:B relationships consistent with Smith et al (2011). IWS/2025/EBFM/Pres2: 11 slides (uploaded 01/12/2025)
EBFM/Pres3: Cochrane, K. and Coetzee, J. 2025. Initial thoughts on the potential use of MICE. IWS/2025/EBFM/Pres1: 8 slides (uploaded 01/12/2025)
Survey
Primary papers
Survey/P1: Anon. 2025. List of key questions (requests) to the 2025 IWS Panel on DFFE pelagic and demersal fishery-independent surveys, together with brief summaries of the documents provided. IWS/2025/Survey/P1. 2 pp. (uploaded 28/11/2025).
Survey/P2: Coetzee, J.C. and Shabangu, F.W. 2025. The importance of regular hydroacoustic biomass surveys off South Africa. IWS/2025/Survey/P2. 14 pp. (uploaded 28/11/2025).
Survey/P3: Ross-Gillespie, A., Butterworth D.S. and Maphumulo, T. 2025. Hake projections with missing surveys under OMP2022. IWS/2025/Survey/P3. 10 pp. (uploaded 21/11/2025).
Survey/P4: Landman, R. and Copeland, M. 2025. Industry concerns and requests to the IWS Panel. IWS/2025/Survey/P4. 3 pp. (uploaded 28/11/2025).
Survey/P5: Somhlaba, S. 2025. Treatment of Uncertainty in Input Variables for a Net Present Value computation for a New Research Survey Vessel Investment Appraisal. IWS/2025/Survey/P5. 10 pp. (uploaded 28/11/2025).
Background papers
Survey/BG1: Coetzee, J., Butterworth, D., de Moor, C. and Durholtz, D. 2024. Summary cost implications of not conducting a November 2024 small pelagic biomass survey with comments on the financial benefits of having conducted the 2024 demersal surveys. IWS/2025/Survey/BG1. 15 pp. (uploaded 21/11/2025).
Survey/BG2: Fairweather, T.P. Singh, L. and Durholtz, D. 2025. DFFE Demersal Research Surveys. IWS/2025/Survey/BG2. 9 pp. (uploaded 21/11/2025).
Survey/BG3: Ross-Gillespie, A., Butterworth D.S. and Maphumulo, T. 2025. Update to the hake Reference Case Operating Model with inclusion of the 2024 commercial data. IWS/2025/Survey/BG3. 14 pp. (uploaded 21/11/2025).
Survey/BG4: Brandao, A. and Butterworth, D.S. 2025. Updated “Replacement Yield” model fit to catch and survey data for the South coast and for the West coast kingklip resources off South Africa to include data up to 2024. IWS/2025/Survey/BG4. 13 pp. (uploaded 21/11/2025).
Survey/BG5: Ross-Gillespie, A. and Butterworth D.S. 2022. Robustness tests results for the hake OMP-2022 revision. IWS/2025/Survey/BG5. 22 pp. (uploaded 21/11/2025).
Presentations
Survey/Pres1: Somhlaba, S. 2025. Vessel replacement appraisal. IWS/2025/Survey/Pres1: 13 slides (uploaded 03/12/2025)
Squid
Primary papers
Squid/P1: Brandao, A. and Butterworth, D.S. 2025. List of key questions/requests for the panel and a brief summary of documents provided pertaining to the chokka squid resource. IWS/2025/Squid/P1. 2 pp. (uploaded 21/11/2025).
Squid/P2: Brandao, A. and Butterworth, D.S. 2025. Excerpts from the 2024 IWS panel report pertaining to the chokka squid resource, together with responses. IWS/2025/Squid/P2. 4 pp. (uploaded 21/11/2025).
Squid/P3: Brandao, A. and Butterworth, D.S. 2025. Available data for the assessment of the South African chokka squid (Loligo reynaudii) resource. IWS/2025/Squid/P3. 14 pp. (uploaded 21/11/2025).
Squid/P4: Brandao, A. and Butterworth, D.S. 2025. Initial implementation of an assessment model for the South African chokka squid (Loligo reynaudii) resource. IWS/2025/Squid/P4. 25 pp. (uploaded 28/11/2025).
Background papers
Squid/BG1: Lipinski LR, Mwangombe CH, Durholtz D, Yemane D, Githaiga-Mwicigi J, Sauer WHH. 2020. Age estimates of chokka squid Loligo reynaudii off South Africa and their use to test the effectiveness of a closed season for conserving this resource. African Journal of Marine Science. 42:4, 461-471. IWS/2025/Squid/BG1 (uploaded 2/12/2025)
Squid/BG2: Lipiński MR, Mmethi MA, Yemane D, Githaiga-Mwicigi J, Sauer WHH. 2021. Are there long-term temporal trends of size composition and the length–weight relationship? Results for chokka squid Loligo reynaudii during the peak spawning season off the south coast of South Africa. African Journal of Marine Science 43: 227–238. IWS/2025/Squid/BG2 (uploaded 2/12/2025)
Squid/BG3: Mwanangombe CH, Durholtz D, Yemane D, Githaiga-Mwicigi J, Sauer WHH, Lipiński MR. 2021. Growth rates of the chokka squid Loligo reynaudii D'Orbigny, 1845 (Cephalopoda: Myopsida: Loliginidae) off South Africa, investigated over two years. Folia Malacologia 29: 153–162. IWS/2025/Squid/BG3 (uploaded 2/12/2025)
Squid/BG4: Glazer, J.P. 2024. Updated assessment of the squid resource, Loligo reynaudii. (also as FISHERIES/2019/MAR/SWG-SQ/06). 19 slides. IWS/2025/Squid/BG4 (uploaded 2/12/2025)
Presentations
Squid/Pres1: Mwicigi, J. 2025. A brief overview of the biology, growth rates and trends in size composition of chokka squid Loligo reynaudi. IWS/2025/SQUID/Pres1: 17 slides (uploaded 03/12/2025)
Working papers
Squid/WP1: Brandão, A. 2025. Further results for the initial implementation of an assessment model for the South African chokka squid (Loligo reynaudii) resource. IWS/2025/Squid/WP1. 22 pp (uploaded 4/12/2025)