DRAFT Report of the Shark Working Groups (May 2012, January & April 2013)

An intercessional workshop of the Shark Working Group (SHARKWG or WG) of the International Scientific Committee for Tuna and Tuna-like Species in the North Pacific Ocean (ISC) was convened at the National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries (NRIFSF) in Shizuoka, Japan from 16 - 24 April, 2013. The primary goal of the workshop was to complete a Bayesian Surplus Production (BSP) stock assessment for blue sharks in the North Pacific and develop tentative conservation information for the ISC Plenary. Other goals included 1) developing plans for a preliminary age-structured assessment of blue sharks in the North Pacific that will be completed by the next SHARKWG meeting in July and 2) gathering information and discussing assessment plans for shortfin mako shark.