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REPORT

of the

TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION OF THE GENERAL FISHERIES COMMISSION FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN

Lacco Ameno, Ischia, Italy, 10-13 September 2001

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Rome, 2001

PREPARATION OF THIS DOCUMENT

This document is the final version of the report adopted in Lacco Ameno, Ischia, Italy, by the twenty-sixth Session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) on 13 September 2001.

Distribution:
All FAO Members
Participants in the Session
GFCM Mailing List
FAO Regional and Sub-Regional Fisheries Officers

FAO.
General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean. Report of the twenty-sixth session. Lacco Ameno, Ischia, 10-13 September 2001.
GFCM Report. No.26. Rome, FAO. 2001. 27p.

SUMMARY

The twenty-sixth session of GFCM was attended by delegates from seventeen of the twenty-two members of the Commission. The Commission reviewed the intersessional activities, mainly the implementation of the recommendations of the twenty-fifth session of GFCM, the recommendation and conclusions of the fourth session of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the activities of GFCM aquaculture networks. The Commission took note of the achievements of the two regional projects (ADRIAMED and COPEMED) and reviewed the recommendations by ICCAT concerning the management of large pelagic species and adopted three of them. The Commission also recommended that the Joint GFCM/ICCAT Working Group on Large Pelagic Species address the sustainability of the bluefin tuna resources including the panning/farming of this species in the Mediterranean. The Commission updated the terms of reference of SAC and agreed on a temporary delimitation of the Management Units that were re-named "Geographical Sub-Areas". The Commission reviewed a proposal for the setting up of a Joint EIFAC/GFCM Working Group on Sturgeon (Acipenser sturio) and endorsed it. The Commission was informed of the new MEDSUDMED project which is due to be implemented in the Central Mediterranean under the umbrella of ADRIAMED.



TABLE OF CONTENTS

OPENING OF THE SESSION

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SESSION

INTERSESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

MANAGEMENT OF MEDITERRANEAN FISHERIES

AUTONOMOUS BUDGET - ACCEPTANCE BY MEMBERS

PROGRAMME OF WORK FOR THE INTERSESSIONAL PERIOD (2001-2002)

ANY OTHER MATTERS

ELECTION OF THE CHAIRPERSON AND VICE-CHAIRPERSONS

DATE AND PLACE OF THE TWENTY-SEVENTH SESSION

ADOPTION OF THE REPORT

Appendix A: Agenda

Appendix B: List of Participants

Appendix C: List of Documents

Appendix D: Recommendations by ICCAT

Appendix E: Recommendation on Tuna and Tuna Like Stocks

Appendix F: GFCM Geographical Sub-Areas

Appendix G: Update of the Terms of Reference for the Intersessional Period 2001-2002 for the Scientific Advisory Committee



OPENING OF THE SESSION

1. The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) held its Twenty-sixth Session in Lacco Ameno, Ischia, Italy, from 10 to 13 September 2001, at the kind invitation of the Government of the Republic of Italy.

2. The Session was attended by delegates from 17 Members of the Commission, and by a representative of the United Nations Environment Programme. Observers from the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) also attended. The list of delegates and observers is given in Appendix B to this report.

3. The meeting was called to order by Mr F. Montanaro Mifsud, Chairman of the Commission, who welcomed the delegates, wishing them a successful meeting. On behalf of the Commission he thanked the Italian authorities for hosting and financing the meeting and for the excellent site that they had selected for the Session.

4. The Chairman of GFCM then gave the floor to Mr Pasquale Giannella, Vice-Direttore Generale, Direzione Generale per la Pesca e l'Aquacultura, Ministero delle Politiche Agricole e Forestali, Italy, who welcomed the delegates to Italy and emphasized the importance that the Italian Government gave to Mediterranean fisheries and particularly to the environmental aspects of the sector. He stated that the Italian authorities supported and would continue to support GFCM in its efforts to manage Mediterranean fisheries in a responsible manner, in conformity with international agreements and declarations adopted by the international community. He stressed that global politics should be respected by all contracting parties and fishery communities and their representatives should be involved in the decision-making process.

5. At the invitation of the Chairman, Mr Z.S. Karnicki, Director of the Fishery Policy and Planning Division, then addressed the Commission on behalf of the Director-General of FAO, Dr Jacques Diouf.

6. Mr Karnicki expressed the appreciation of FAO to the Government of the Republic of Italy for so generously hosting this meeting in addition to all the other support provided to FAO and to fisheries in particular. He acknowledged the excellent facilities provided for the meeting and also commended the organizers for the local arrangements. He reminded delegates that the amendments to the agreement which had been agreed upon in 1997 at the Twenty-second Session of GFCM had still not been ratified by at least 15 Members and therefore had not yet entered into force. Because of this it would not be possible to appoint a new Secretary of the Commission in accordance with the proposed new Rules of Procedure upon the retirement of the present Secretary at the end of October 2001. He went on to thank those Members and regional projects which had provided funds and facilities for the hosting of various meetings of the GFCM subsidiary bodies. He regretted the rather weak participation of scientists and administrators from the southern and eastern Mediterranean and stated that a long-term programme to support and strengthen fisheries research in these sub-regions was required.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SESSION

7. The Agenda attached as Appendix A to this report was adopted.

8. The documents which were before the Commission are listed in Appendix C.

INTERSESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

9. The Secretary of GFCM introduced this agenda item based on documents GFCM/XXVI/Inf.3, Inf.4 and Inf.5, the reports of the Twenty-fifth Session of GFCM, the Fourth Session of the Scientific Advisory Committee and the Second Session of the Committee on Aquaculture, respectively. Special reference was made to the programme of work recommended by the Twenty-fifth Session of GFCM (Malta, September 2000) and a brief assessment was given on the implementation of this work programme. While the activities of a continuing nature were progressing in a satisfactory manner, there were others that had been finalized or were underway.

10. Concerning economics and social sciences, substantial work had been carried out by the relevant SAC Sub-Committee and the ad hoc working group entrusted with the identification of the socio-economic parameters required for fisheries management.

11. The Sub-Committee for Stock Assessment and the Working Groups on Demersal and Small Pelagic Species had made substantial progress in the identification of the level of exploitation of certain species of priority interest to GFCM and formulated management recommendation for consideration by the Commission. Weak participation of scientists from the eastern and southern Mediterranean to the meeting of the Working Groups, and the scarcity of statistical data were highlighted. A project proposal that should improve the quality and coverage of data of the Mediterranean was submitted for the consideration of the Commission.

12. The Sub-Committee on Marine Environment and Ecosystems, after some difficulties during the previous intersessional period (1999-2000), has made substantial progress.

13. The acting Technical Secretary of the GFCM Committee on Aquaculture (CAQ) informed the Commission of the activities carried out during the intersessional period by the three main networks, SIPAM, SELAM and TECAM. The activities followed the priority listing established at the Twenty-fifth Session of the Commission and were implemented within the limits of the financial resources available.

14. In relation to the activities carried out by SIPAM, the Commission noted the meeting of the SIPAM National Coordinators held in Istanbul, Turkey, from 9 to 12 November 2000 with the participation of all the member countries and that of the Steering Committee held at FAO Headquarters, Rome, on 17 and 18 May 2001; the work carried out on the development of the new web page with the support of the regular programme of FAO, linked to FIGIS as the information data base for aquaculture in the Mediterranean; the activities for the promotion of the adhesion of new countries and for the establishment of internal networks; and the activities carried out in order to include market-related information in the system for distribution to member countries. This involved participation in the final meeting of the EC Concerted Action project MASMANAP (Methodology for seafood market studies with the aim of introducing new aquaculture products) and the distribution of selected information on monthly prices of the main species extracted from the GLOBEFISH database. In addition, the activities for the establishment of a revised database on pathology were indicated.

15. In relation to the TECAM and SELAM networks, the activities carried out concerned the TECAM course on offshore mariculture and the advanced course on fish breeding programmes, both held on the premises of CIHEAM in Zaragoza, Spain; the TECAM Survey on Mediterranean Aquaculture Diagnostic Laboratories; and the participation in the Seminar of Seafood Market Studies for Introduction of New Aquaculture Products as a terminal activity of the MASMANAP Concerted Action project, held in Zaragoza, Spain, on 21 and 22 June 2001. The Commission was informed that initial work for the preparation of a Technical Consultation on Capture and Culture Fisheries Interactions was also underway.

16. The delegation of Morocco thanked the Secretariat for the detailed report and informed the Commission of the intention of the Moroccan government to host the next meeting of the SIPAM National Coordinators in Morocco from 8 to 11 November 2001.

17. The Regional Coordinator of SIPAM presented a report on the activities carried out indicating that, with the accession of both Lebanon and Romania, 16 countries were now active participants in SIPAM. He also indicated that it was expected that in 2002 Albania and Bulgaria would become members. The Regional Coordinator of SIPAM then reviewed the efforts made to find a satisfactory solution to the request for economic information from its member countries and the temporary solution to distribute selected data extracted from the GLOBEFISH database. He noted the difficulties in reaching a satisfactory solution on the pathology database, with problems related to the implications which the information to be incorporated could have on trade. The Regional Coordinator informed the Commission of the new partnership between the Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA) and SIPAM through which SIPAM became a partner organization of ASFA and was able to incorporate ASFA extracted information in its own data base in exchange for entering information from the non-ASFA countries of the region. In relation to the new member countries, the delegate of Bulgaria indicated his country’s interest in becoming a full member of the SIPAM system.

18. The Coordinator of the ADRIAMED project presented details of the major activities carried out during the intersessional period by his project which were also listed in a document distributed to the delegates. He informed the Commission on the progress achieved in the network activities. He mentioned the support provided by the project to fishery administrations in its member countries in terms of institution building, strengthening research capabilities and promoting cooperative research programmes. The project had also organized a meeting to which representatives of fisheries associations were invited with a view to providing the professionals in this sector with the opportunity to set up a regional network of resource users.

19. The work of the project concerning the identification of shared stocks, the geographical management unit and the operational unit focused on the Adriatic Sea were also mentioned. Lastly, the participants were informed of the ongoing ADRIAMED research activities such as: "Identification of population units in the Adriatic Sea shared stocks by genetic structure analysis"; "Data collection and biological sampling systems on small pelagic in the Adriatic Sea"; and "International bottom-trawl survey in the Adriatic Sea", all of which included on-the-job training sessions.

20. Information on the major expected outputs and tangible results obtained from the different components of the COPEMED Project were presented and distributed. Particular attention was paid to the support given to GFCM/SAC. In this context the Commission was informed that two new papers, one CD Rom with three case studies related to the influence on bio-economic management tools of gear competition, closure areas and minimum landing sizes and market liberalization and one CD Rom with regional data concerning artisanal fisheries had been prepared. It was also informed that a working group on the relationship between environmental fluctuations and small pelagic fisheries had been organized.

COPEMED Project

21. The Commission noted that one of the main activities planned by the Project of direct interest to GFCM would be the setting up of a regional data server to be integrated into the GFCM information system. This would require the collaboration of Members to identify interested partners in:

22. The Commission expressed its appreciation for the support that the ADRIAMED and COPEMED projects were providing to the Commission and for the results already obtained in several important issues relevant to SAC mandate. The Commission also acknowledged the good work carried out by SIPAM with rather limited human and financial resources.

23. The Commission noted that all the meetings that had been scheduled for the intersessional period had been held thanks to the generosity and hospitality of some of the GFCM members and the support of the regional projects ADRIAMED and COPEMED.

24. The meeting took note of the EIFAC proposal for setting-up a Joint Working Group on Sturgeon to cover the Danube, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea and the Adriatic Sea regions and of the action by the Secretariat to seek the advice of the concerned Members about the proposal.

25. The Commission acknowledged the quantity and quality of work carried out during the intersessional period and expressed its appreciation for the efforts made by SAC, its Working Groups and Sub-Committees as well as the cooperating regional projects.

MANAGEMENT OF MEDITERRANEAN FISHERIES

26. The Chairman of SAC introduced this item by referring to document GFCM/XXVI/2001/Inf.4, Report of the Fourth Session of SAC. He recalled the major issues discussed by the Committee, namely management units, operational units, the draft GFCM glossary, the socio-economic indicators, the status of major fishery stocks, the identification of interaction between environment and fisheries and the formulation of a regional project on statistics.

Management Units: SAC had prepared a list and a chart of management units that were discussed and agreed upon by SAC (See Appendixes D and E of the Report of the Fourth Session of SAC).

Operational Units: The Working Group on Operational Units met in Ancona (April 2001) and agreed on a more polished version of the definition of the operational units which reads as follows: "For the sake of managing fishing effort within a Management Unit, an Operational Unit is the group of fishing vessels practising the same type of fishing operation, targeting the same species or group of species and having a similar economic structure. The grouping of fishing vessels may be subject to change over time and depends on the management objectives to be reached". Nine countries presented the associated data on operational units during the meeting in Rome (May 2001) in the table format agreed upon during the meeting of the Working Group in Ancona. Many countries have yet to submit the operational units data.

Glossary: The draft of the GFCM Glossary was prepared with the support of COPEMED and will be distributed to Members through electronic mail.

27. The Coordinator of the SAC Sub-Committee on Statistics and Information gave an overview of a project proposal to develop a Mediterranean fishery statistics and information system (MEDIFSIS) emphasizing the importance and urgency of setting-up compatible statistical systems covering the entire region. He highlighted the main aspects of this project proposal and its approach to different situations concluding by saying that the layout of the proposal would need additional editing once a donor, or donors, were identified.

28. The representative of the European Community appraised the proposal and stated that the document responded to an actual need of the Commission and would improve substantially the quality of the fisheries statistics in the region. He expressed the readiness of the European Community to consider favourably the co-financing of the project provided that other Members also contribute.

29. The delegations of Bulgaria and Romania requested that their countries by included as members of the MEDIFSIS project.

30. The Commission endorsed the project proposal and requested the Secretariat to submit it to potential donors.

31. The Commission was then invited to review the management recommendations proposed by SAC.

Resources management

32. The Commission reviewed the status of the shared stocks of priority species and agreed on those recommendations that called for maintaining the present level of exploitation of such species as horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus), bogue (Boops boops) and red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus) species. However, some delegations encountered difficulties in agreeing on recommendations that implied a reduction of effort before knowing the implications of those recommendations for their national fleets.

33. Concerning the SAC proposal on the reduction of fishing effort on hake, some delegations felt that the recommendation did not take into account what was in place in terms of management measures already implemented by Members.

34. The Commission, however, encouraged its Scientific Advisory Committee to continue its work and to provide options whenever the reduction of fishing effort was required.

35. The Commission urged all Members to provide the necessary data to SAC to allow it to carry out its duties as described in paragraph 55 of the report of the Twenty-fifth Session of GFCM.

36. Concerning the status of the anchovy stocks and the related recommendation by SAC to establish a minimum length at first maturity, some delegations considered this regulation difficult to implement on a Mediterranean wide basis. Furthermore, the wide range of values of length at first maturity would not allow to set a common legal landing size for all Members. They informed the meeting that measures of this nature have already been implemented in some countries but proved to be difficult to enforce in multispecies fisheries.

37. The delegate from Morocco informed that because of the diversity of factors that caused the collapse of anchovy landings off the Moroccan coast, it would be advisable to continue scientific investigation and to collect additional data before deciding on management measures.

38. The Commission, while acknowledging the work carried out by SAC on anchovy stocks, requested the Committee to monitor further the state of the resources in order to refine its evaluation and identify a set of management options.

39. With regard to large pelagic resources, the observer from ICCAT presented the Recommendations adopted by that Organization.

40. The Commission reviewed those Recommendations which were of relevance to GFCM and endorsed them (See Appendix D).

41. The Secretariat was requested to ensure that reports on meetings on large pelagic stocks organized by ICCAT be made available to the Commission.

42. The delegation of Malta proposed the establishment of a zone in the Central Mediterranean in which bluefin tuna should be fished only by longliners. The Commission considered that the proposal was not sufficiently documented. However, the Commission recognized and discussed the problem related to the sustainability of bluefin tuna resources and its relation to the present development of bluefin tuna penning/farming in the Mediterranean. Considering the importance of the issue, the Commission agreed on the recommendation which is attached as Appendix E.

43. In relation to the work of SAC on the impact of fishing on the environment, the observer from UNEP-RAC/SPA informed the meeting about the contribution of his organization to the work of the Sub-Committee on Marine Environment and Ecosystems. He also presented a list of the future actions of RAC/SPA that were of relevance to the Sub-Committee, and in particular the SAP BIO Project, the implementation of which was expected to be carried out in close cooperation with COPEMED and ADRIAMED.

44. The Commission acknowledged the level of cooperation between MAP RAC-SPA and GFCM and called for greater coordination between that organization and GFCM and its subsidiary bodies and supporting projects (COPEMED and ADRIAMED).

45. As regards the work carried out by SAC on socio-economic aspects of fisheries, it was emphasized that the pilot study on the identification of socio-economic indicators carried out in the Alboran Sea should be extended to other GFCM areas, focusing also on the definition of fleet segments and their contribution to the identification of socio-economic parameters useful for the definition of the operational units. It was also noted that some activities on co-management issues were carried out.

46. The Commission reviewed the conclusions of the ad hoc Working Group on Management Units (Alicante, Spain, January 2001) and considered that, although improvement was still required on the definition of the concept of delimitation, the proposal could be considered at the present time as a useful tool for assessment and management purposes (Appendix F). It was further agreed that the areas identified as management units in Appendix F should be referred to in the future as geographical sub-areas. The Commission agreed with the proposed delimitation of these areas.

47. The Commission also urged Members to pursue efforts for ensuring the participation of social scientists at the relevant meetings organized under the aegis of SAC.

AUTONOMOUS BUDGET - ACCEPTANCE BY MEMBERS

48. The matter of the autonomous budget was not discussed as the amended Agreement had still not entered into force. Of the 22 Members of the Commission, only six (Cyprus, European Community, Italy, Malta, Monaco and Turkey) had ratified the amended Agreement.

49. The Commission was informed that all Members were in an advanced stage in the process to ratify the Agreement and thus it was likely that the amended Agreement would enter into force before the Twenty-seventh Session of the Commission. The Commission also urged Members that did not ratify the amended Agreement to do so at their earliest possible date.

PROGRAMME OF WORK FOR THE INTERSESSIONAL PERIOD (2001-2002)

50. The Secretariat introduced this item by referring to document GFCM/XXVI/2001/4. The Commission noted that the activities proposed reflected the needs and priorities identified by SAC, its Working Groups and Sub-Committees as well as the Committee on Aquaculture and its Networks.

Scientific Advisory Committee

51. The Commission reviewed the proposed activities described in the Report of the Fourth Session of SAC and decided to update its terms of reference for the next intersessional period 2001-2002 (see Appendix G).

52. It was noted during the discussion that SAC could implement its mandate in a more complete way if the data and assessments requested were given to the Working Groups and Sub-Committees as requested by the Commission.

53. It was also noted that whilst Members were being urged to submit data related to operational units, as agreed by the Working Group on Operational Units, the Sub-Committee on Economic and Social Sciences (SCESS) had yet to identify the basic parameters related to the economic structure of operational units. In this respect, SCESS was requested to look into the matter as soon as possible, so that the completed national data table on operational units would be complete.

54. The convening of the following meetings for the intersessional period was agreed upon by the Commission.

Meeting

Date/Venue

Financing

Fifth Session of SAC

Libya, June 2002

Trust Fund

Third Session of CAQ

Spain?
(July 2002)

Spain?

Meetings of SAC Sub-Committees

Barcelona, Spain, May 2002

-

Workshop to finalize the Glossary

Barcelona, Spain, May 2002

-

Working Group on Socio-Economic Indicators

Salerno, Italy, February 2002

-

Working Group on Demersal Species

Sète, France,
March 2002

-

Working Group on Small Pelagic Species

Ancona, Italy,
March 2002

-

Joint GFCM/ICCAT Working Group on Large Pelagic Fishes

Malta, first semester 2002

Malta

Workshop on Ecosystem-based Management Approach

Tunisia,
February 2002

COPEMED
co-financing

 

Committee on Aquaculture

55. The Acting Technical Secretary of the Committee on Aquaculture presented the section concerning the programme on aquaculture. He pointed out that due to the lack of an autonomous budget for GFCM the activities indicated for the Networks were only those for which there were some indications that financing would be at least partially available. The Consultation on the Adoption of Article 9 of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the action plan which had been prepared with the collaboration of the participating countries, provided a general framework for the activities of CAQ.

56. The Third Session of the Committee on Aquaculture was due to be held in July 2002. Funding for the Session still had to be identified. It was pointed out that as agreed at the Second session of CAQ and reiterated at the last session of GFCM, the Third Session of CAQ would require interpretation into four languages.

57. In relation to the activities of the Networks that had been agreed upon at the Second Session of CAQ, the activities for the SIPAM network would cover a meeting of the SIPAM National Coordinators which, thanks to the offer made by the government of Morocco, would take place in Casablanca from 8 to 11 November 2001. Following this meeting a session of the SIPAM Steering Committee was foreseen for the first quarter of 2002, with funding from the FAO regular programme. In the intersessional period, the SIPAM new web page would be concluded and linked to FIGIS by February 2002 with support also from the FAO regular programme. The expansion of the system to other countries, Members of GFCM but not yet Members of SIPAM, would continue in the intersessional period, and some additional funding to facilitate travel of the regional Center team would be required. Support to promote the national networks in some key countries had been provided by the FAO regular programme and it was envisaged that the Regional Coordinator would visit Spain, France, Greece and Egypt before the end of year to discuss the organization of the national networks and to promote better interaction of these countries with the system.

58. For the TECAM and SELAM Networks, coordinated by CIHEAM with the collaboration of the FAO Fisheries Department, the organization of the following activities had already been initiated:

59. The delegation of Tunisia indicated that because of the higher level of activities that were being started in the SIPAM network, and which would require more specialized assistance, it would be necessary to increase the amount of funding. The SIPAM network had so far been mainly supported by the Governments of Tunisia and Italy and the FAO regular programme. The delegation of Japan noted the concern of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) on interactions between capture fisheries and aquaculture and noted the growing trend on bluefin tuna farming in the Mediterranean, requesting an assessment of the situation by the next session of CAQ.

60. In the ensuing discussion, the delegation of Spain indicated that it could possibly fund the Third Session of the Committee on Aquaculture if it was not held before July 2002. Regarding the list of activities under the Networks of CAQ, the Acting Technical Secretary of CAQ indicated that additional funding was being sought for the SIPAM Network to cover contracts and travel related to the upgrading of activities, namely the new web page and the promotion of national networks and new adhesions. Funding requirements were established at US$ 15-20 000. For the other two networks, TECAM and SELAM, the funding requirements were estimated at US$ 25-30 000 for the Consultation on Interactions between Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture, at US$ 40 000 for the Workshop on Indicators of Sustainability for Aquaculture Production in the Mediterranean and a similar figure for the Workshop on the Use of Vaccines and Chemotherapy in Mediterranean Aquaculture. Finally, the establishment of a Working Group on sustainability aspects would require an additional US$ 15 000. During the discussion, the delegates of Italy and France reiterated the offer made at the past session of GFCM to fund the Workshop on Sustainability Indicators in the Mediterranean. No other offers were made in relation to the networks of CAQ.

ANY OTHER MATTERS

Participation of the Private Fisheries Sector in the Activities of GFCM

61. The Commission was in agreement that the participation of the fisheries sector representatives would improve the quality of the work of the Commission and facilitate the implementation of its recommendations. It was agreed however that the process might need some time to be achieved.

62. The need to set up a regional modality that would group together the fish producers and other fishery industry stakeholders in the GFCM area was highlighted by the European Community and supported by several delegations. The setting-up of such an arrangement would facilitate the participation of the private sector in GFCM meetings and would reflect the needs of the sector better.

63. In the meantime, the Commission urged its Members to include whenever possible representatives from the private sector in their national delegations. The Commission noted with satisfaction that the European Federation of Aquaculture Producers (EFAP) had regularly sent observers to previous sessions of the Committee on Aquaculture and that the aquaculture associated networks had taken substantial steps towards this objective and had associated the private sector representatives in their activities. In addition, national delegations had included representatives from the private sector at the consultation on the adoption of Article 9 of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries in the Mediterranean.

64. To this effect, the Commission acknowledged the recent meeting of the fishery associations of the Adriatic region when, for the first time, representatives of a large majority of the fishery associations from the countries participating in the Project (i.e. Albania, Croatia, Italy and Slovenia) gathered. This meeting was convened and organized by the ADRIAMED Project in line with the relevant indications given by the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and within the Project mandate.

MEDSUDMED Project

65. The Secretariat informed the Commission on the status of the FAO Project MedSudMed "Assessment and Monitoring of the Fishery Resources and its Ecosystem in the Sicily Channel". The project was for a four year period and was financed by the Government of Italy (Ministero delle Politiche Agricole e Forestali, Direzione Generale della Pesca e dell’Aquacoltura) with a budget of US$ 2 million (US$ 500 000 per year)

66. The project would operate under the direction of the Fishery Resources Division of FAO, and would be coordinated by the ADRIAMED Project Coordinator. Italy, Libya, Malta and Tunisia would participate in this project involving research studies focusing on environment, fishery ecosystems and interaction between these elements in the Sicily Channel.

Nomination of the new GFCM Secretary

67. The Secretariat informed the Commission that, with the retirement of Mr Habib Ben Alaya, the present Secretary of the Commission, and because of non-ratification of the Agreement by Members, FAO would proceed with the selection of his successor in accordance with FAO Rules and Regulations. The officer selected would act as GFCM Secretary until the Commission was in a position to elect its Executive Secretary following its own Rules of Procedure.

68. The Commission expressed its great appreciation to Mr Habib Ben Alaya for his hard work, dedication and excellent service as GFCM Secretary over a period of ten years.

ELECTION OF THE CHAIRPERSON AND VICE-CHAIRPERSONS

69. The Commission appreciated the excellent work carried out by Mr F. Montanaro Mifsud as Chairman of the Commission. The Commission appointed the following new office bearers: Mr Abdellatif Berraho (Morocco) Chairperson, Mr Julien Turrenne (France) First Vice-Chairperson, Mr Taoufik Chriaa (Tunisia) Second Vice Chairperson.

DATE AND PLACE OF THE TWENTY-SEVENTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION

70. The Twenty-seventh Session of GFCM will be held at FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy, during the first half of September 2002.

ADOPTION OF THE REPORT

71. The report was adopted on Thursday, 13 September 2001.

 



 

APPENDIX A

AGENDA

 

 

1. Opening of the Session

2. Adoption of the Agenda and arrangements for the Session

3. Intersessional activities

4. Management of Mediterranean fisheries

5. Autonomous budget - Acceptance by Members

6. Programme of work for the intersessional period

7. Any other matters

8. Election of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons

9. Date and place of the Twenty-seventh Session

10. Adoption of the Report

 

 

APPENDIX B

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

 

MEMBERS OF GFCM

 

ALBANIA

Roland KRISTO
Director of Fisheries
Directorate of Fisheries
Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Tirana
Email:
[email protected]

ALGERIA

 

BULGARIA

Krassimir KOSTOV
Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to FAO
Rome
Italy
Tel: +39 06 3224643
Fax: +39 06 3226122
Email: [email protected]

CROATIA

Drasko POKROVAC
Lawyer
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Ulica Grada
Vukovara 78
1000 Zagreb
Tel: +385 1610111
Fax: +385 0915210192

CYPRUS

 

EGYPT

Mohamed KHALIFA
Agricultural Counselor
Representative of Egypt to UN Organizations
Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Via Salaria 267 (Villa Savoia)
00199 Rome
Tel: +39 06 854 89 56
Fax: +39 06 854 2603
Email:
[email protected]

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY – MEMBER ORGANIZATION

John SPENCER
Head of Unit – European Commission
International and Regional Arrangements
Directorate General for Fisheries
Rue Joseph II, 99
1049 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: (+32-2) 2956858
Fax: (+32-2) 2955700
Emai:
[email protected]

 

Roberto CESARI
Administrator– European Commission
International and Regional Arrangements
Directorate General for Fisheries
Rue Joseph II, 99
1049 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: (+32-2) 2994276
Fax: (+32-2) 2955700
Email:
[email protected]

 

Franco BIAGI
Principal Administrator - European Commission
Stock Management Unit
Directorate General for Fisheries
Rue Joseph II, 99
1049 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: +32 2 29 94 104
Fax: +32 2 29 55 621
Email:
[email protected]

 

Paul DEPAUW
Conseiller agricole
Ambassade de Belgique
Ministère de l’agriculture
49 via dei Monti Parioli
00197 Rome
Italie
Tel: +39 06 3219102
Fax: +39 06 3215428
Email:
[email protected]

 

Aldo SIRAGUSA
Head of Division
DG B - Fisheries
Council of the European Union
175 Rue de la Loi
1048 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 2856543
Fax: +32 2 2856031
Email:
[email protected]

FRANCE

Julien TURENNE
Chargé de mission pour les affaires internationales
Direction des pêches maritimes et de l’aquaculture
Bureau Ressource, réglementation et affaires internationales
Ministère de l´agriculture et de la pêche
3 Place de Fontenoy
75007 Paris
Tel: (+33-1) 49558236
Fax: (+33-1) 49558200
Email:
[email protected]

GREECE

Olga AGIOVLASSITI (Ms)
Vice-directrice de la Direction
des pêches
Ministry of Agriculture
381 Aharnon Street
11143 Athens
Tel: +30 01 2111175
Fax: +30 01 2022086
Email:
[email protected]

ISRAEL

Oren SONIN
Director
Marine Fisheries Division
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Koranit d.n. Misgav 20181
Email:
[email protected]

ITALY

Pasquale GIANNELLA
Vice Direttore Generale
Direzione Generale per la Pesca
Ministero per le Politiche Agricole e Forestali
Viale dell' Arte 16
00144 Roma

 

Luciano SCHIFONE
Ministero per le Politiche Agricole e Forestali
Via XX Settembre
Roma

 

Giovanni DELLA SETA
Direzione Generale per la Pesca e l’Aquacoltura
Dipartimento per le Politiche di Mercato
Ministero per le Politiche Agricole e Forestali
Viale dell' Arte 16
00144 Roma
Tel: (+39 06) 59084785
Fax: (+39 06) 59084144
Email:
[email protected]

 

Stefano CATAUDELLA
Prof. University of Rome
Tor Vergata
Roma
Email:
[email protected]

 

Corrado PICCINETTI
Laboratorio di Biologia Marina Pesca
Viale Adriatico 1/N
61032 Fano
Email:
[email protected]

 

Rosanna FRONZUTO (Ms)
Segreteria Tecnica
Direzione Generale per la Pesca e l'Acquacoltura
Ministero per le Politiche Agricole e Forestali
Viale dell' Arte 16
00144 Roma
Tel: (+39 06) 59084604
Fax: (+39 06) 59084176

 

Marina MORGERA (Ms)
Segreteria Tecnica
Direzione Generale per la Pesca e l'Acquacoltura
Ministero per le Politiche Agricole e Forestali
Viale dell' Arte 16
00144 Roma

 

Dino LEVI
Director
IRMA/CNR
Via Vaccara 61
91026 Mazara del Vallo

 

Ervio DOBOSZ
Presidente
Federazione Nazionale delle Imprese di Pesca (FEDERPESCA)
Via Emilio de Cavalieri 7
00198 Roma
Tel: (+39 06) 8554198
Fax: (+39 06) 85352992
Email:
[email protected]

 

Mario FERRETTI
Ricercatore, C/RSPE
Via dei Grigli d’Oro 21
Roma

 

Tonino GIARDINI
Consigliere FEDERPESCA
Federazione Nazionale delle Imprese
di Pesca (FEDERPESCA)
Via Emilio de Cavalieri 7
00198 Roma
Tel: (+39 06) 8554198
Fax: (+39 06) 85352992
Email:
[email protected]

 

Giovanni BASCIANO
Vice Presidente AGRIPESCA
Via Bargoni 78
Roma

 

Gianluigi COPPOLA
IREPA
Salerno

JAPAN

Takanori OHASHI
Programme Coordinator
Fisheries Policy Planning Department
International Affairs Division
Fisheries Agency
1-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo
Tel: +81 3 3591 1086
Fax: +81 3 3502 0571
Email:
[email protected]

LEBANON

Akl GHATTAS
Director of Rural Development
and Natural Resources
Ministry of Agriculture
G. Semaan Square
Beirut
Fax: +9615455622

 

Ibrahim AL HAWI
Head of Center for Aquaculture
Ministry of Agriculture
Anjar – Bekaa
Tel: +9618620872/3816897
Fax: +9618822856
Email:
[email protected]

LIBYA

Nuri Ibrahim HASAN
Ambassador
365 Via Nomentana
Roma

MALTA

Francis MONTANARO MIFSUD
Ambassador to FAO
Permanent Representation of the
Republic of Malta to FAO
Lungotevere Marzio 12
00186 Rome
Italy
Tel: (+39 06) 6879990/6879947
Fax: (+39 06) 6892687

 

Anthony GRUPPETTA
Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
Torri San Lucjan
M’xlokk
Tel: (+356) 655525/651898
Fax: (+356) 659330
Email:
[email protected]

 

Matthew CAMILLERI
Fisheries Consultant
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
Barriera Wharf Valletta
Tel: (+356) 650 934
Fax: (+356) 650 932
Email:
[email protected]

 

Raymond BUGEJA
National Fishing Cooperative
Triq il-Najjik, Marsaxlokk
Tel: (+356) 659391/652132
Email:
[email protected]

MONACO

 

MOROCCO

Abdellatif BERRAHO
Directeur
Institut national de recherche halieutique
2, rue de Tiznit
Casablanca

 

Youssef OUATI
Chef de la division de la coopération
Ministère des pêches maritimes
Nouvelle cité administrative
Agdal, Rabat
Tel: +212 7 688162
Fax: +212 7 688194
Email:
[email protected]

 

Abdellah SROUR
Chef
Centre régional de Nador
Institut national de recherche halieutique
B.P. 493 Nador
Tel: +212 56600869
Fax: +212 56603828
Email:
[email protected]

ROMANIA

Ioan PAVEL
Conseiller
Représentant Permanent adjoint
auprès de la FAO
Rome, Italie
Tel: (+39 06) 8084529
Fax: (+39 06) 8084995
Email :
[email protected]

SPAIN

Ernesto RIOS
Subdirector Adjunto
Relaciones Multilaterales
Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y
Alimentación
Ortega y Gasset 57
E-28006 Madrid
Tel: (+34) 91 3476071
Fax: (+34) 91 3476049
E-mail:
[email protected]

 

Juan A. CAMIÑAS
Director
Centro Oceanografíco de Málaga (IEO)
Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología
Puerto Pesquero s/n
29640 Fuengirola
Tel: (+34 95) 247 81 48
Fax: (+34 952) 246 38 08
E-mail:
[email protected]

 

Pilar PEREDA (Mme)
Investigadora
Instituto Español de Oceanografìa
Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología
C. Varadero 1
30740 San Pedro del Pinatar
Murcia
Tel: (+34) 96 81 50 500
Fax: (+34) 96 81 84 441
E-mail:
[email protected]

SYRIA

 

TUNISIA

Taoufik CHERIAA
Directeur général de la pêche et de l'aquaculture
Ministère de l’Agriculture
32 Rue Alain Savary
Tunis
Tel: +216 1 892253
Fax: +216 1 799401

TURKEY

 

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND SPECIALIZED AGENCIES

UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP)
 

Giovanni TORCHIA
Mediterranean Action Plan
of UNEP – RAC/SPA
Boulevard de l’environnement
B.P. 337 Cedex
1080 Tunis
Tel: +216 1 795760
Fax: +216 1 797349
Email: [email protected]

OBSERVERS FROM INTER-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR ADVANCED MEDITERRANEAN AGRONOMIC STUDIES (CIHEAM)

 

Bernardo BASURCO
Administrator, Area of Aquaculture
Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza
Apartado 202
50080 Zaragoza, Spain
Tel: +34 976 7160 00
Fax: +34 976 71 60 01
Email: [email protected]

 

INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF ATLANTIC TUNAS (ICCAT)

 

Takanori OHASHI
Programme Coordinator
Fisheries Policy Planning Department
International Affairs Division
Fisheries Agency
1-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo
Tel: +81 3 3591 1086
Fax: +81 3 3502 0571
Email:
[email protected]

OBSERVERS FROM NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE (WWF)

 

Sergi TUDELA
Fisheries Officer
WWF Mediterranean Programme
Pere Vergés 1, pl. 9
08020 Barcelona, Spain
Tel: +34 93 3056252
Fax: +34 93 2788030
Email:
[email protected]

FAO

Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00100 Rome

Zbigniew KARNICKI
Director
Fishery Policy and Planning Division
Tel: (+39 06) 57054138
Fax: (+39 06) 57056500
Email:
[email protected]

GFCM Secretariat

Fisheries Department

 

Mario PEDINI
Acting Technical Secretary
Committee on Aquaculture
Aquaculture and Fisheries Development Officer
Technical Cooperation Department
Tel: (+39 06) 57056279
Email:
[email protected]

 

Habib BEN ALAYA
Secretary
Senior Fishery Liaison
International Institutions and Liaison Service
Fishery Policy and Planning Division
Tel: (+39 06) 57056435
Fax: (+39 06) 57056500
Email:
[email protected]

 

Pere OLIVER
Senior Fishery Resources Officer
Marine Resources Service
Fishery Resources Division
Tel: (+39 06) 57056354
Fax: (+39 06) 57053020
Email:
[email protected]

 

Alain BONZON
Fishery Planning Officer
Development Planning Service
Fishery Policy and Planning Division
Tel: (+39 06) 57056441
Fax: (+39 06) 57056500
Email:
[email protected]

 

Rino COPPOLA
Fishery Resources Officer
Marine Resources Service
Fishery Resources Division
Tel: (+39 06) 57053034
Fax: (+39 06) 57053020
Email:
[email protected]

 

Janet C. WEBB
Meetings Officer
International Institutions and Liaison Service
Fishery Policy and Planning Division
Tel: (+39 06) 57056721
Fax: (+39 06) 57056500
Email:
[email protected]

 

Marianne GUYONNET
Secretary
International Institutions and Liaison Service
Fishery Policy and Planning Division
Tel: (+39 06) 57053951
Fax: (+39 06) 57056500
Email:
[email protected]

Projects

ADRIAMED

 

Fabio Massa
FAO-ADRIAMED Project Coordinator
Corso Umberto I
86039 Termoli (LB)
Italy
Tel: +39 0875708252
Email:
[email protected]

 

Piero MANINI
Fishery Monitoring Expert
Corso Umberto I
86039 Termoli (LB)
Italy Tel: +39 0875 708252
Email:
[email protected]

 

COPEMED

 

Rafael ROBLES
Director
Universidad de Alicante
Ramón y Cajal 4
03001 Alicante
Spain
Tel: +34 965 145979
Fax: +34 965 145978
Email:
[email protected]

 

SIPAM

 

Mohamed HAJALI SALEM
SIPAM Regional Coordinator
32 Rue Alain Savary
1002 Tunis
Tel: +216 1 784979
Fax: +216 1 793962
Email:
[email protected]

 

APPENDIX C

LIST OF DOCUMENTS

 

 

GFCM/XXVI/2001/1

Agenda

GFCM/XXVI/2001/2

Intersessional Activities

GFCM/XXVI/2001/3

Autonomous budget of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean

GFCM/XXVI/2001/4

Programme of work for the intersessional period

GFCM/XXVI/2001/Inf.1

List of Documents

GFCM/XXVI/2001/Inf.2

List of participants

GFCM/XXVI/2001/Inf.3

Report of the Twenty-fifth Session of GFCM
(Sliema, Malta, 12-15 September 2000)

GFCM/XXVI/2001/Inf.4

Report of the Fourth Session of the Scientific Advisory Committee (Athens, Greece, 4-7 June 2001)

GFCM/XXVI/2001/Inf.5

Report of the Committee on Aquaculture

GFCM/XXVI/2001/Inf.6

Resolutions adopted by ICCAT during the intersessional period

 

******

APPENDIX D


00-9 BFT

RECOMMENDATIONS BY ICCAT
CONCERNING BLUEFIN TUNA CATCH LIMITS
IN THE EAST ATLANTIC AND MEDITERRANEAN

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT that the Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) at its 2000 meeting reiterated that the Commission should note that there are numerous sources of uncertainty since no quantitative assessment of East Atlantic bluefin tuna has been conducted and given this situation it maintains its advice of 1998 whereby a level of annual catches equal to or greater than 33,000 MT would not be sustainable;

RECOGNIZING that it is essential to reconcile conservation with the needs of the coastal communities that are dependent mainly on the fishing of this stock;

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT that Morocco and Libya, in 1999, presented and confirmed their objection to the Recommendation by ICCAT on the Limitation of Catches of Bluefin Tuna in the East Atlantic and Mediterranean;

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE
CONSERVATION OF ATLANTIC TUNAS (ICCAT) RECOMMENDS THAT:

1. A total allowable catch (TAC) of 29,500 MT be established for 2001.

2. In order to establish the fishing allocations, the 1993 and 1994 catches (whichever is higher of the two), as established by the SCRS before 1998, be used as a reference.

3. In accordance with paragraph 2, the following allocation plan be established:

Party

Quota (2001)

China (People’s Republic)

76 MT

Croatia

876 MT

European Community (EC)

18,590 MT

Japan

2,949 MT

Korea

619 MT

Tunisia

2,144 MT

4. Paragraphs 2 and 3 do not apply to Morocco and Libya, which for 2001, will apply independent conservation and management measures on this stock and will inform ICCAT of these measures.

5. It is noted that Morocco and Libya have indicated they will establish bluefin tuna catch limits for 2001 as follows:

Morocco: 3,028 MT Libya: 1,570 MT

6. For the non-Contracting Parties, Entities or Fishing Entities that caught bluefin tuna in the East Atlantic and Mediterranean during the period starting in 1993, the catch limit for the year 2001 will be calculated according to paragraph 2:

2001: 2,291 MT*

 

* This includes a special allocation of 658 MT for Chinese Taipei in 2001, in virtue of their having been granted Cooperating Status.

******

00-14 COMPLY

 

RECOMMENDATION BY ICCAT
REGARDING COMPLIANCE WITH MANAGEMENT MEASURES
WHICH DEFINE QUOTAS AND/OR CATCH LIMITS

 

RECOGNIZING that the Recommendation Regarding Compliance in the Bluefin Tuna and North Atlantic Swordfish Fisheries was adopted at the 1996 Commission meeting and it was extended to include compliance in the South Atlantic swordfish fishery at the 1997 Commission meeting;

NOTING the treatment of overage and underage differs among the stocks and this complicates quota management and compliance;

RECOGNIZING the need to simplify the rules by generalizing the treatment of overage and underage to avoid future confusion;

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF THE CONSERVATION
OF ATLANTIC TUNAS (ICCAT) RECOMMENDS THAT:

 

For any species under quota/catch limit management, underages/overages from one year may be added to/must be subtracted from the quota/catch limit of the management period immediately after or one year after that year, unless any recommendation on a stock specifically deals with overages/underages, in which case that recommendation will take precedence.

 

*****

00-17 COMPLY

RECOMMENDATION BY ICCAT
CONCERNING REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF
INFORMATION OF FISHING VESSELS FISHING FOR TUNA
AND TUNA-LIKE SPECIES IN THE CONVENTION AREA

 

RECALLING that ICCAT adopted at its 1998 meeting a Recommendation Concerning Registration and Exchange of Information of Bigeye Tuna Fishing Vessels,

FURTHER RECALLING that ICCAT adopted at its 1994 meeting a Resolution Regarding the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas,

NOTING that large-scale fishing vessels are highly mobile and easily change fishing grounds from one ocean to another, and have high potential of operating in the Convention Area without timely registration with the Commission,

RECOGNIZING that most of the stocks of tuna and tuna-like species in the Convention Area are fully or over-exploited, and

FURTHER RECOGNIZING that the FAO International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity states in its Objective and Principles that "States and regional fisheries organizations confronted with an over-capacity problem, where capacity is undermining achievement of long-term sustainability outcomes, should endeavor initially to limit at present level and progressively reduce the fishing capacity applied to affected fisheries",

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE CONSERVATION
OF ATLANTIC TUNAS (ICCAT) RECOMMENDS THAT:

1. All the Contracting Parties and Cooperating non-Contracting Parties, Entities or Fishing Entities that fish for tuna and tuna-like species in the Convention Area shall submit to the ICCAT Executive Secretary, by August 31st each year, the list of their respective vessels larger than 24 meters length overall (LOA) (hereinafter referred to as the "large-scale vessels") that are licensed to fish for tuna and tuna-like species in the Convention Area. This list of vessels shall include the following information;

  • name of vessels, register number
  • previous flag (if any)
  • international radio call sign (if any)
  • type of vessels, length and gross registered tonnage (GRT)
  • name and address of owner(s)

2. The ICCAT Executive Secretary shall circulate the lists annually or upon request of a Contracting Party or Parties.

3. The Contracting Parties and Cooperating non-Contracting Parties, Entities or Fishing Entities shall notify the ICCAT Executive Secretary of any information concerning fishing vessels which are not listed according to paragraph 1, but believed to be fishing for tuna and tuna-like species in the Convention Area.

4. a) If the vessel(s) mentioned in paragraph 3 is (are) flying a flag of an identified Contracting Party or a non-Contracting Party, Entity or Fishing Entity, the Executive Secretary shall request that Contracting Party or non-Contracting Party, Entity or Fishing Entity to take the necessary measures to prevent the vessel(s) from fishing for tuna and tuna-like species in the Convention Area.

b) If the flag state of the vessel(s) mentioned in paragraph 3 is not identified, the Executive Secretary shall compile such information for future consideration by the Commission.

5. The Recommendation Concerning Registration and Exchange of Information of Bigeye Tuna Fishing Vessels adopted at 1998 Commission meeting be substituted by this Recommendation.

*****

APPENDIX E

RECOMMENDATION

 

Considering that the issue of over-exploitation of tuna and tuna like stocks was raised at the Twenty-fourth Session of Committee on Fisheries (COFI);

Considering that the COFI report indicated that some Members urged FAO to review and analyse the global status regarding tuna and tuna like stocks and bluefin tuna fisheries, in particular purse seine and longline fisheries;

Considering that this over-exploitation should be addressed firstly at the regional level and that, in this regard, ICCAT was the competent regional organization for this exercise;

Recalling that a wide range of issues needed to be addressed in order to ensure the sustainability of the tuna resources and tuna fisheries, including the issue of increased tuna penning/farming in the Mediterranean;

The Commission requested that the Joint GFCM/ICCAT Working Group address the concerns expressed at the Twenty-sixth Session of the Commission on the sustainability of the bluefin tuna resources including developments in bluefin tuna penning/farming in the Mediterranean.


 

 

******

APPENDIX F

GFCM GEOGRAPHICAL SUB-AREAS
(Ischia, 2001)

 

 

FAO SUBAREA

FAO STATISTICS DIVISIONS

GFCM MANAGEMENT UNITS (24th Meeting)

MANAGEMENT UNITS PROPOSAL (Alicante, 2001)

 

 

 

 

WESTERN

 

1.1. BALEARIC

1.1.a. waters surrounding Balearic Islands

5. Balearic Island

1.1.b. waters off Spanish continental coast

6. Northern Spain

1.1.c. waters off Algeria

4. Algeria

1.1.d. Alboran sea

1. Northern Alboran Sea

2. Alboran Island

3. Southern Alboran Sea

1.2. GULF OF LIONS

1.2.e. Gulf of Lions

7. Gulf of Lions

1.2.f. waters off Cote d’Azur

7. Gulf of Lions

 

1.3. SARDINIA

1.3.g. waters surrounding Corsica

8. Corsica Island

1.3.h. waters surrounding Sardinia

11. Sardinia

1.3.i. waters off north Sicily

10. South and Central Tirrenian Sea

1.3.j. waters off Italian continental shelf

9. Ligurian and North Tirrenian Sea

10. South Tirrenian Sean

1.3.k. waters northern Tunisia

12. Northern Tunisia

 

 

CENTRAL

2.1. ADRIATIC

2.1.a. northern and central Adriatic

17. Northern Adriatic

2.1.b. south Adriatic

18. Southern Adriatic Sea

 

2.2. IONIAN

2.2.c. waters off southeast Italy

19. Western Ionian Sea

2.2.d. waters off western Greek

20. Eastern Ionian Sea

2.2.e. waters off Sicily and Malta

15. Malta Island

16. South of Sicily

2.2.f. Gulf of Gabes and Hamamet

13. Gulf of Hammamet

14. Gulf of Gabes

2.2.g. waters off Libya

21. Libya

 

 

EASTERN

3.1. AEGEAN

3.1.a. Aegean Sea

22. Aegean Sea

3.1.b. waters surrounding Crete

23. Crete Island

3.2. LEVANT

3.2.c. waters surrounding Cyprus

25. Cyprus Island

3.2.d. waters off southern Turkey coast

24. South of Turtkey

3.2.e. southeast Levant

27. Levant

3.2.f. waters off Egypt

26. Egypt

BLACK SEA

4.1. MARMARA

4.1. Marmara Sea

28. Marmara Sea

4.2. BLACK SEA

4.2. Black Sea

29. Black Sea

4.3. AZOV SEA

4.3. Azov Sea

30. Azov Sea

 

 

 

 

******

APPENDIX G

UPDATE OF THE TERMS OF REFERENCE

FOR THE INTERSESSIONAL PERIOD 2001-2002 FOR THE SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

 

For its Fifth Session, the Scientific Advisory Committee is requested:

1. To review existing stocks/fisheries assessment methods highlighting data needs, outputs expected, pros and cons, and their suitability to Mediterranean stocks and fisheries. On the results of the above analysis, SAC is requested to define a set of most appropriate assessment methods which should result in the establishment of a harmonized assessment methodology, agreed by scientists of Members, and which is a prerequisite for a rational decision-making process. To this effect Members should provide GFCM and its subsidiary bodies with all relevant information available.

2. To investigate the issue of stock units in the Mediterranean and Black Seas for the priority species, making use of direct and ancillary information.

3. To update, at regional level, at least the typology of the Operational Units generating catches of priority species. Members are invited to send to the Sub-Committee on Fishery Statistics and Information (SCSI) the appropriate agreed national information.

4. To continue updating the list of shared stocks highlighting the geographical sub-areas as well as the operational units involved.

5. To define and utilize a "standardized" format of reporting to GFCM on stock assessment in which, on a stock basis and by agreed geographic sub-areas, are put in evidence at least the following headings:

5.1 Brief description of fisheries catching the stock: to specify the share by weight and in value of the priority species of the various size ranges in the landings of the corresponding Operational Units, their fishing regime, fishing effort, trends in catches and landings, discards, etc..

5.2 Current status of stock and assessment indicators to define it.

5.3 SAC advice should highlight different management options in terms of risk to be avoided, expected improvements and cost/benefit both in biological and socio-economic terms.

SAC, in providing its advice, should propose new or alternative conservation measures, taking into consideration what was already implemented and enforced, as well as by giving clear quantitative indications of the identified management options (e.g. location and dimension of closed areas; mesh sizes; likely extension of closed season etc.).

Part of the above information should be presented also in chart and/or table format.

Each sheet should also be provided with the list of bibliographic references utilized.

6. To review, update and summarize, in easily readable tables, biological and life history parameters of priority species.

7. To review, update and summarize, in easily readable tables, selectivity parameters by fishing gears for the priority species.

8. To update evaluation for priority demersal and small pelagic species, by using the most recent data sets collected both by direct and indirect methods. SAC is requested to explore different outputs consequent to different management scenarios. In the light of the above outputs SAC is requested to evaluate the appropriateness of present management measures and should propose new or alternative conservation measures whenever necessary. In this regard, the Commission invites SAC also to take into account the knowledge of nursery and or reproductive areas.

List of priority species:

Merluccius merluccius, Micromesistius poutassou, Merlangius merlangus, Mullus barbatus, Mullus surmuletus, Pagellus erythrinus, Boops boops, Psetta maxima, Engraulis encrasicolus, Sardina pichardus, Sardinella aurita, Sprattus sprattus, Trachurus trachurus, Trachurus mediterraneus, Thunnus thynnus, Thunnus alalunga, Xiphias gladius, Coryphaena hippurus, Aristeomorpha foliacea, Aristeus antennatus, Parapenaeus longirostris, Nephrops norvegicus, Eledone cirrhosa and Acipenser sturio.

In the field of relations between fishing activities and environment the following activities should be carried out:

  1. Investigate and update data on incidental catches of protected species in fishing activities
  2. Investigate and update data on target and incidental catches of highly migratory shark species in fishing activities
  3. Investigate, update data and estimates of discards by operational units, geographic sub-areas or management units and season.
  4. Investigate and map essential fish habitats for littoral and offshore priority species

SAC is invited to identify fishing gears and practices (Operational Units), to estimate standardized catch and discard rates, mortality estimates, current population size of interested protected species or populations, to identify alternative fishing practices or selection devices to mitigate problems of incidental catches of protected species.