INTERSESSIONAL ACTIVITIES 2003-2004

Report on the activities of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC)

30. Mr C. Piccinetti, Chairperson of SAC, reported on the activities of the Committee on the basis of document GFCM/XXIX/2005/5 and GFCM/XXIX/2005/Inf.6. He referred to the intense work of the Committee, its Sub-Committees and Working groups during the eleven months of the 2004 intersession, as reflected through the fifteen meetings organized and the scientific and technical documents produced. He further stressed that, with the exception of the workshop on the measurement of fishing effort, all the meetings endorsed by the Commission had been convened.

31. The Commission was further informed that the Seventh session of SAC was characterized by the highest level of participation since the establishment of the Committee. In particular, it was noted that all the Black Sea Members had participated actively in the session. This was also noted, both in term of countries represented and disciplines covered, in relation with the meetings of SAC subsidiary bodies.

32. The Chairperson of SAC emphasized the recommendation made by the Committee on the need to pursue efforts for strengthening the networking and the accountability of national institutions, especially through the SAC National Focal Points and Coordinators for each Sub-Committee. He also alluded to the implementation of the guiding principles endorsed by the Commission following the evaluation of SAC carried out in 2003. Emphasis was put on the strengthening of methodologies for implementing the ecosystem approach to fisheries and for assessing multispecies fisheries, as well as on ensuring that options be devised regarding management advice, with due consideration to socio-economic dimensions.

33. The Chairperson of SAC stressed that a large amount of information available in Member countries was not presented to the subsidiary bodies. He further informed the Commission of the main activities of the Sub-Committees, as follows.

34. The Sub-Committee on Stock Assessment (SCSA) reviewed 22 stocks (14 demersals and 8 small pelagics) which included 9 species and covered 7 GFCM Geographical Sub-areas (GSAs), but only 2 shared stocks. SCSA made notable progress to define the length at first maturity for the anchovy of the Western Mediterranean and of the Adriatic. The Sub-Committee favoured the "traffic-light" approach with regard to biological reference points while acknowledging the need to further fine-tune the list of performance indicators and related criteria.

35. The Sub-Committee on Economics and Social Sciences (SCESS) proved the feasibility across the whole Mediterranean of collecting required data by fleet segmentation and, of estimating socio-economic indicators. SCESS made progress on the development of bio-economic models for fisheries management. Fisheries market analysis was launched. SCESS emphasized the need to strengthen collaboration with the Sub-Committee on Statistics and Information as well as with the CAQ Socio-economic and Legal Aspects of Aquaculture in the Mediterranean (SELAM Network).

36. The Sub-Committee on Marine Environment and Ecosystem (SCMEE) expressed concern on the development of fishing activities at depths greater than 1 000 metres; it also acknowledged the difficulties to implement the ecosystem approach to fisheries. SCMEE noted the lack of contributions from Members to ensure significant progress in studying the impact of surface and bottom longline fisheries on non commercial species, birds and turtles. SCMEE also stressed the need to strengthen activities on the impact of large scale driftnets fisheries on biodiversity and on threatened or endangered species.

37. The Sub-Committee on Statistics and Information (SCSI) further expanded the coverage of MEDSTAT programme, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean through the MedFisis project. It noted the priority need for making progress on the standardization of fishing effort by Operational Unit, following the positive outputs of the case studies carried out in the Adriatic and in Central and Western Mediterranean. The satisfactory developments of biological survey databases and information systems with support from concerned regional projects were also recorded.

38. The Chairperson of SAC referred to the statements made by the Committee on the need to clarify and expand the mandate of the Joint GFCM/ICCAT^[1] Working Group on Large Pelagic Species, especially to endow it with multidisciplinary capacity for analysing fisheries management data. He also mentioned the wish expressed by SAC, in view of current workload and priorities, to suspend activities for the time being from the Joint EIFAC/GFCM Working Party on the Management of Sturgeon.

39. In the discussions which followed, the Commission expressed great appreciation for the work carried out by SAC, both in terms of quantity and quality of outputs. The apparent trend toward increased participation in the work of the Committee was noted with satisfaction and the support provided by the regional projects in this respect was, once more, acknowledged. Several delegations however stressed the need to further precise priorities to alleviate the workload of the Committee and ensure more focused results, especially for the SCMEE. It was suggested that strengthening the cooperation and coordination with environment entities, such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (Mediterranean Action Plan [MAP], the Regional Activity Centre/Specially Protected Areas [RAC] and the SAP/BIO project), ACCOBAMS, IUCN and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) would facilitate the work of the Sub-Committee on Marine Environment and Ecosystems

40. The Commission further reiterated the need for Members to provide all required data and information, and to ensure a full coverage of all GFCM GSAs. It also stressed the need to translate scientific work into a format that would facilitate decisions by managers, including through providing options on how to implement management advice.

41. The Commission noted that suggestions concerning the strengthening of the Joint GFCM/ICCAT Working group on Large Pelagic Species will be discussed under agenda item 8.

42. The Commission endorsed the substitution of Mr P. Oliver with Ms C. Karlou-Riga as Coordinator of the SCSA.

Report on the activities of the Committee on Aquaculture (CAQ)

43. In the absence of the Chairperson of the Committee on Aquaculture (CAQ), the GFCM Chair invited the CAQ Technical Secretary to present the main activities carried out during the intersessional period by the Committee and the Networks.

44. The main activities carried out under the framework of CAQ, as summarized in document GFCM/XXIX/2005/5, included the organization of an ad hoc Expert Meeting on the External Evaluation of CAQ and its Networks; the organization of the second Joint ad hoc GFCM/ICCAT Working Group on Sustainable Bluefin Tuna Farming in the Mediterranean; the preparation of the revised regional aquaculture project proposal; data collection and processing as well as an ad hoc Coordinating Meeting, by the network on Information Systems for the Promotion of Aquaculture in the Mediterranean (SIPAM); and organization of selected activities by the network on Technology of Aquaculture in the Mediterranean (TECAM), coordinated by CIHEAM through the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza (IAMZ) in collaboration with local organizations and support of the FAO Fisheries Department; and convening of a special SIPAM Coordinating meeting.

45. The Commission was reminded that the aforementioned activities had been reviewed at the Fourth Session of CAQ, held in June 2004 in Alexandria, Egypt. Regarding SIPAM, the Commission was informed that the Network, through the Regional Centre in Tunisia, continued to cover its main tasks which consisted principally in collating, verifying and making available through its Web site aquaculture information submitted by the participating Member countries. During this intersessional period actions had been taken to strengthen the capability of the Regional Centre in the maintenance and upgrading of the SIPAM portal and a SIPAM Web site user manual has been prepared.

46. In the discussion that followed, the importance of the appraisal on the external evaluation of CAQ and its networks was once again acknowledged, particularly as the recommendations made were endorsed by the Committee at its Fourth Session. The commitment in supporting the work of the Committee, especially SIPAM, as indicated in the autonomous budget for 2005 was confirmed. The EC delegate insisted on the particular relevance for the Community to benefit from an efficient Environment and Aquaculture in the Mediterranean (EAM) network. The Commission reiterated the need to re-establishing EAM and to have it functional timely. Following an explicit request from Croatia, the delegate from France expressed willingness to positively consider various options to give a new impetus to EAM.

47. The Commission noted that the third meeting of the Joint GFCM/ICCAT Working Group on Sustainable Bluefin Tuna Farming had to be postponed and was now scheduled to be convened from 16 to 18 March 2005. In this respect, the delegate of Japan expressed concern regarding the lack of participation of experts from some Member countries and called for a broader involvement of Members engaged in, or related to, this industry.

48. The delegate from Tunisia invited those Members who have not yet done so to adhere to the SIPAM Network. He also stressed the importance for the participating SIPAM countries to review and confirm the nomination of their National Coordinators referring to the Terms of Reference (TORs) adopted at the Fourth session of CAQ. In this respect, the Commission was informed that the contribution of data by the National Coordinators had not been homogenous and that the level of efficiency was still largely dependent upon the personal commitment of each Coordinator. The Commission was invited to ensure that the Coordinators were provided with an institutional mandate and adequate means at national level to enable them to carry out their activities. It was noted that CAQ recommended integrating SIPAM in the overall GFCM information system and that the SIPAM Special ad hoc Coordinating Meeting, held in December 2004, suggested a preliminary mechanism for such development.

49. Some delegations acknowledged the commitment of CIHEAM as Coordinator of the TECAM and SELAM networks and highlighted the importance of reviewing the mandates of these Networks to ensure that, in addition to training activities, they resume with the analysis of emerging regional aquaculture issues. In this connection, the delegate of Cyprus noted that additional financial support will be required for activities of direct interest to the Commission. The delegate of Egypt, referring to the discussions held during the CAQ in relation to revising the draft regional aquaculture project, emphasized the need to develop proposals to tackle issues relevant to the needs of specific sub-regions in the Mediterranean.

Other intersessional activities

50. The GFCM Secretary informed the Commission on a number of transversal or complementary activities implemented during the intersessional period.

51. These included the AdriaMed Expert Consultation on the Interaction between Aquaculture and Capture Fisheries, organized in November 2003. It was noted that the outcome of the Consultation had been particularly well received by CAQ and SAC and that joint activities among the Committees were suggested, especially on areas such as the management of lagoons, biodiversity and environmental considerations, restocking, space competition and market.

52. The Commission also noted that the Workshop of Experts from GFCM Members on IUU Fishing in the Mediterranean had been convened as scheduled in June 2004 with support from Japan and the FAO FishCode Programme. The Workshop, among other, reviewed the status of IUU fishing and identified principles and priority activities to be implemented through a preliminary workplan. The Commission agreed to review thoroughly the Workshop results under agenda item 9.

53. The Commission was also informed of the efforts made by the Secretariat to increase liaison and strengthen cooperation with other regional organizations, including ICCAT, Conseil international pour l'exploration scientifique de la mer Méditerranée (CIEMS), ACCOBAMS, the Mediterranean Action Plan, the Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable Development and IUCN. Reference was also made to the ongoing formulation of the UNEP/Global Environment Facility (GEF) regional project entitled Strategic Partnership for the Mediterranean Large Marine Ecosystem for which GFCM involvement has been anticipated.