{"id":7599,"date":"2018-02-14T10:00:11","date_gmt":"2018-02-14T10:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/marine-scotland\/?p=7599"},"modified":"2018-02-15T09:16:28","modified_gmt":"2018-02-15T09:16:28","slug":"iambic-pentameter-meets-the-ices-north-sea-lemon-sole-benchmark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/marine-scotland\/2018\/02\/14\/iambic-pentameter-meets-the-ices-north-sea-lemon-sole-benchmark\/","title":{"rendered":"Iambic Pentameter Meets the ICES North Sea Lemon Sole Benchmark"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last year we introduced you to our Sea Fisheries Programme Manager, Dr Coby Needle<\/a>. When he isn’t dealing with fish\u00a0stock and assessment, or even sometimes when he is, he also writes. So here, in something a little different, we introduce you to the work of the\u00a0ICES Benchmark Workshop on North Sea Stocks in poetry.<\/p>\n

Attend, good sirs and ladies, while I tell,
\nOf Microstomus kitt<\/em>, the lemon sole,
\nI\u2019faith a shortish tale it is, I own,
\nSo best to hear it partial not, but whole.<\/p>\n

We met one morn in coldest K\u00f8benhavn,
\nAvowed to seek the truth by hook or crook,
\n\u2018Twas yet the first of benchmarks for the stock,
\nFor useful data did we search and look.<\/p>\n

Alas, alack, the ages\u2019 samples sought,
\nWere few and far between, though try we may,
\nForsooth, the surveys seemed the safest bet,
\nAnd survey-based assessment ruled the day.<\/p>\n

A SPiCT assessment did not pass the test,
\nThe IBTS survey was too brief,
\nAnd lack\u00e9d contrast in the index seen,
\nMuch work was lost, yet gave we not to grief.<\/p>\n

So SURBAR cameth forth, as well it might,
\nThe status of the stock did it suggest,
\nAdvice be based on rule of 3-to-2,
\nA valid scheme for kitt<\/em> from east to west.<\/p>\n

And finally to homeland we were bound,
\nA useful ICES venture once again,
\nThe fate of lemon sole looks safe enough\u2026
\nTill meeting May in Belgian town Ostend.<\/p>\n

Further Information<\/strong><\/p>\n