A record of the generation of data used in the 2016 sardine and anchovy assessments

The data to which the South African anchovy and sardine assessments are tuned are not all raw data. Some data have already been subjected to analyses and refinements. These associated calculations are often done “behind the scenes” and their details are seldom recorded. This lack of record can result in a discontinuity in the method used to calculate data for subsequent assessments, particularly if assumptions made in the calculations are not documented and/or a new person becomes responsible for developing the data to be used for input to the assessment. This document serves to record the generation from the raw data of the data used in the anchovy and sardine assessments carried out in 2016.