Quantitative stock assessments can be used to show us how stock status has changed over time. Resources such as the RAM Legacy Database provide useful information for global stock status comparisons. This database currently includes 14 harvested marine species from South African waters, including small pelagic fish. However, the story of current status is more complicated than a single time series can show. I will briefly discuss the current status of small pelagic fish in the Southern Benguela, considering changes in species distribution, our understanding of stock structure and whether fish movement is triggered by the environment. Management of fisheries for these resources needs to consider their key role in the wider ecosystem in addition to their substantial contribution to global food security with associated socio-economic benefits.
