Carry out the GES assessment of the horse mackeral stock, in relation to the D3C1 and D3C2 criteria, until 2024. The biomass indices used in previous assessments carried out by ICES were estimated based on metiers that target only the youthful fraction of the population, namely the seines. Thus, CPUEs (Catches per Unit of Effort) do not credibly reflect the stock's conservation status since it does not include the entire age structure of the population (ICES, 2018). The collection of data from other metiers proves to be essential for the correct assessment of the GES of this species. D3

Develop and implement coastal resource monitoring programmes (fish, echinoderms, molluscs and crustaceans) in a coordinated manner with biodiversity monitoring. Despite the economic importance for the subdivision of the Azores of some coastal resources and the assessment of conservation status, for some species under the Descriptor 3, there is no data on catches and on the structure of the populations that allow the assessment of GES. To this end, it is planned to start a monitoring programme extended to all species of vertebrates and coastal invertebrates of commercial interest in 2020, which will make it possible to assess their status in the next evaluation cycle. Crustaceans, although not covered by Decision (EU) 848/2017, at Descriptor 3 level, constitute a functional group whose commercial exploitation is relevant in the subdivision of the Azores, where the collection of these data could also be relevant at the level of Descriptor 1, Descriptor 4, Descriptor 9. D3

Develop and implement validated analytical methods for assessing stock status for commercially important stocks for the Azores. Propose appropriate analytical methods for assessing the status of stocks of local species and develop procedures for validating assessments made.

Develop and implement appropriate methodology to obtain information to enable the GES to be assessed by 2024.