GFCM/XXVII/2002/4

INTRODUCTION

1. The intervention of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) in the management of fisheries and aquaculture is based on the scientific knowledge available as provided by the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the Committee on Aquaculture (CAQ). These two Committees met during the intersessional period, as reported in document GFCM/XXVII/2002/2. Their conclusions and recommendations are detailed in documents GFCM/XXVII/2002/Inf.4 and GFCM/XXVII/2002/Inf.5. The following are the main recommendations for consideration by the Commission.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SAC)

2. The recommendations adopted by SAC at its Fifth Session (Rome, Italy, 1-4 July 2002) stemmed mainly from the conclusions and proposals made by its four Sub-committees and thus are classified by areas of competence of these Sub-committees.

Sub-Committee for Stock Assessment (SCSA)

3. SAC recommended the following:

Large Pelagic Species

• GFCM Members should provide sufficient financial resources for research on stocks of large pelagic species. Besides routine monitoring of fisheries and the recommendations listed below, this would allow: (a) comparative studies on the maturity of swordfish between the eastern and western Mediterranean; (b) improvement of reporting rates of tag recoveries; and (c) stepped-up efforts to collect fishery-independent data on bluefin abundance via larval and aerial surveys;

• Detailed catch and operational information about these fisheries should be submitted to ICCAT in order to standardize data with regard to the various gears encompassed by the "drift net" category;

• Member countries should collect data on bluefin farming (inputs and outputs to fattening operations) and transmit them to ICCAT and GFCM, as part of the legal requirements for permitting farming operations;

• Shark species Prionace glauca, Lamna nasus and Isurus oxyrinchus should be added to the GFCM list of priority species and shared stocks. Data collected on these species by GFCM Members should be transmitted also to ICCAT;

• Countries interested in Coryphaena hippurus should collaborate to carry out an assessment of this stock and present it to the next GFCM/ICCAT Group for validation. This species should also be included in the list of shared stocks;

• Countries that have any historical or recent data on Mediterranean swordfish that are not part of the ICCAT database should transmit the data to ICCAT.

4. On the issue of tuna farming/fattening practices, SAC recommended to establish an Ad Hoc Working Group to Develop Technical Guidelines on Sustainable Tuna Farming/Fattening Practices in the Mediterranean. The Working Group should comprise scientists with expertise covering the areas listed in the draft terms of reference of the Group¹. It was suggested that, for this purpose, SAC, CAQ and the ICCAT Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) should collaborate together.

Demersal Species

Hake (Merluccius merluccius)

• In GFCM Geographical Sub-Area 9 (Ligurian and northern Tirrenian), to reduce at least 15% of the fishing effort on multi-annual basis. This measure can be complemented with the protection of nursery areas;
• In Geographical Sub-Area 7 (Gulf of Lions), to reduce the effort of longline and gillnets by about 20% in order to avoid recruitment overfishing; to reduce growth overfishing, through improving trawl selectivity; to enforce relevant provisions on length at first capture at 20 cm TL; and to reduce global fishing effort by about 20%;
• In Geographical Sub-Areas 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, and 23 ², to implement temporary closure of the identified hake nursery areas. Trawling effort limitation in space and time were also suggested for hake and other species of the fishing assemblages.

Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus)

• In Geographical Sub-Areas 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, and 23, to introduce technical improvement of the gear to avoid the capture of small-sized Norway lobster and to reduce the impact of otter trawl doors on the bottom and the "scraping" capability of the gear.

Blue and red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus)

• In Geographical Sub-Area 1, 5 and 6 (Northern Alboran Sea, Balearic Island and Northern Spain), the optimum effort should be half of the current fishing effort on females and three quarters of the current fishing effort on males. In any case, a reduction of effort should be applied on the overall stock, irrespective of sex.

Red mullet (Mullus barbatus)

5. The main concern was the exploitation of very small individuals during the recruitment season (late summer and early autumn). Therefore, most of the management measures to be taken should aim at avoiding catches.

• In Geographical Sub-Area 9 (Ligurian and Northern Tyrrenian), to implement management measures, including: spatial and temporary closures, effort limitation, a minimum landing size, gear modifications, quotas and market restrictions, as well as an adequate enforcement of current trawl ban within the 3 miles, at depth smaller than 50 meters;

• In Geographical Sub-Areas 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, and 23, to strengthen the protection of the shallow waters where the recruitment occurs throughout the year, as well as to establish temporary closure of the fishery.

Small Pelagic Species

6. SAC noted that abundance is heavily dependent on recruitment and that stock biomass shows high inter-annual variability. With regard to exploiting stocks of anchovies or other small pelagic species that showed an evident risk of recruitment overfishing, SAC suggested to avoid the catch of fish smaller than their first maturity size. It further suggested that biomass estimations be made on a yearly basis in all GFCM geographical sub-areas, and that scientific advices be provided in good time to allow managers to adapt in real time the exploitation to the biological condition of the resources. More particularly for :

Anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus)

• In Geographical Sub-Area 1 (Northern Alboran Sea), 6 (Northern Spain), 7 (Gulf of Lions), 17 (Northern Adriatic) : fishing effort should not to be increased.

Sardines (Sardina pilchardus)

• In Geographical Sub-Area 6 (Northern Spain), fishing effort should not to be increased.
• In Geographical Sub-Area 17 (Northern Adriatic), it was recommended to monitor closely sardine discards at sea and to develop market strategies to increase the human consumption of sardine and discourage discarding at sea.

Sub-Committee on Economic and Social Sciences (SCESS)

7. SAC recommended:

• to adopt the fleet segmentation being identified (Appendix E of the Report of the Fifth Session);
• to adopt the list of basic economic and social indicators (Appendix F of the Report of the Fifth Session);
• to extend to all GFCM geographical sub-areas the methodology for indicators agreed upon by the Sub-Committee, taking into consideration the above mentioned fleet segmentation;
• that member countries collect (as an annual routine) the basic data necessary for building-up the set of Mediterranean economic and social indicators identified;
• that a third meeting of the Working Group on indicators be organized in 2003.

8. SAC further endorsed the following suggestions from SCESS:

• to undertake pilot studies to further define the concept of local operational units (LOUs);
• to add the following social indicators: weighted average age; number of years of active fishing; capital share; education; household structure, social background and experience, to the existing list of basic indicators;
• to finalize the manual on sampling techniques (covering the Neyman and Bethel methods) for the collection of economic and social data;
• to pursue the work on the glossary through the network of social scientists, by e-mail as a first step, and through a meeting to update outputs, as a second step;
• that social scientists collect the required information on regional and national projects and activities related to fishery social sciences in the Mediterranean, as well as the bibliographical references, taking into account the agreed standard format;
• that the studies on legal aspects of fisheries management respectively undertaken by COPEMED and ADRIAMED regional projects be presented at the next session of SAC.

Sub-Committee on Fisheries Statistics and Information (SCSI)

9. SAC recommended that :

• an inventory of all databases in the various systems (e.g.: COPEMED; ADRIAMED, ITAFISH, etc.) be carried out and those that can be maintained by the GFCM Secretariat (e.g.: on research and development) be progressively transferred to it;
• the validity of each available information system be assessed and that SCSI interact more closely with the other Sub-Committees in this respect;
• a joint Working Group on Operational Units be established between SCSI and SCESS;
• new applications envisaged for consolidating the GFCM information system follow common standards agreed by SCSI, and that they foresee members' requirements;
• a list of stocks and fisheries monitored under the GFCM mandate be established with a view to facilitating a possible agreement between FIGIS and GFCM.

10. With regard to operational units, the need to build a system that could be flexible, according to users' requirements (at country, regional and international levels) was stressed. SAC also noted the need to further specify the characteristics of operational units, in particular through defining its spatial dimension in relation to the concept of Local Operational Units (LOUs).

Sub-Committee on Marine Environment and Ecosystems (SCMEE)

11. SAC recommended :

• to launch national action plans on migratory shark monitoring;
• to establish two working groups, respectively on anthropogenic effects and fishing technology and on ecology and environment;
• to hold a meeting of experts on environment and marine ecosystems in order to finalize the Glossary during the next Sub-Committees meeting;
• to improve the awareness of Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea countries of the problem of environment and marine ecosystems, in order to encourage more specialists to attend the Sub-Committee meetings;
• to invite research institutes to make every effort to assist in the filling of forms on environment parameters.

12. SAC further agreed that closer liaison and cooperation should be established with sister organizations dealing with sharks in the Mediterranean, particularly with the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA) networks.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ON AQUACULTURE (CAQ)

13. The recommendations adopted by the Committee on Aquaculture (CAQ) at its Third Session (Zaragoza, Spain, 25-27 September 2002) stemmed mainly from transversal issues, i.e., of interest to the Committee and its three Networks as a whole and from specific proposals made for SIPAM (Information System for the Promotion of Aquaculture in the Mediterranean) and for TECAM (Technology and Aquaculture in the Mediterranean) and SELAM (Socio-Economic and Legal Aspects of Aquaculture in the Mediterranean) respectively. These are classified below in this order.

Transversal Issues

14. With regard to analysing aquaculture trends in the Mediterranean, the Committee recommended that:

• comprehensive assessments on production and values trends of aquaculture be regularly undertaken and published;
• such assessments utilize the information processed by the various SIPAM databases, complemented, if necessary, with data from other sources;
• statistical reports on trends also include prospective analyses on selected species in order to anticipate possible evolution of markets;
• outputs from freshwater culture originating from the Mediterranean basin should be specifically identified, and production from marine and brackish water from selected Mediterranean and Black Sea countries should be differentiated from those of the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea.

15. With regard to analysing interactions between fisheries and aquaculture, CAQ :

• endorsed the recommendation made by the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), at its Fifth Session (Rome, Italy, 1-4 July 2002), for establishing a joint SAC/CAQ/ICCAT Ad Hoc Working Group on Sustainable Tuna Farming/Fattening Practices in the Mediterranean, including the Terms of Reference for the proposed Working Group. It further agreed that experts from its networks who will participate in the Working Group should possibly cover relevant disciplines referred to in these Terms of Reference and that the Working Group maintain liaison with the project on Domestication of Thunnus thynnus thynnus (DOTT) which is supported by the Fifth RTB Framework Programme of the European Commission. It also recommended that the statistical definition of bluefin tuna farming/fattening be clarified;
• invited the ADRIAMED (Scientific Cooperation to Support Responsible Fisheries in the Adriatic Sea) regional project to consider welcoming the participation of experts from the CAQ at the Consultation on "Interactions between Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture" which is expected to be organized in early 2003.

16. With regard to the regional project idea on "Sustainable Aquaculture Development in the Mediterranean", CAQ:

• called upon the Secretariat to draft a revised and targeted regional aquaculture project profile for possible endorsement by the Commission at its Twenty-seventh Session and suggested that the profile be thereafter developed into a project document to be submitted to potential donors.

17. When reviewing its core activities, CAQ reiterated that funds forecasted within the minimum GFCM Autonomous budget to cover CAQs activities, for the intersessional period, were insufficient for the Committee to properly implement its mandate. It recommended that:

• the Commission consider revising and increasing budget shares for CAQ activities within the proposed autonomous budget;
• FAO continue to provide financial contribution for the next intersessional period;
• Regular meetings of its Networks be held as proposed in the workplan for the forthcoming intersession (Document GFCM/2002/XXVII/5).

SIPAM

18. In relation to the difficulties encountered by the National Coordinators to dedicate adequate time for the compilation of all data required by the system, the Committee suggested to investigate the possibility of securing some financial incentives for SIPAM National Coordinators, in order to ensure a better and a more regular provision of data by all countries.

19. CAQ further recommended that :

• the expansion of the SIPAM Network to all GFCM countries should be pursued;
• all participating countries of SIPAM reinforce their contribution to ensure that the Network become fully operational and in a position to supply information to all aquaculture stakeholders and to all segments of the industry;
• SIPAM investigate the possibility of selling value-added information in order to generate some income for its operation;
• GFCM considers scheduling an external evaluation of the system in order to have an independent audit on its performance and weaknesses as well as advise on its enhancement;
• technical support to SIPAM be increased by securing the services of an expert in the field of communication and, concomitantly, that the Secretariat investigate the possibility to create a post of Associate Professional Officer (APO) or to benefit from the FAO Volunteer Programme or similar schemes;
• the integration of the Aquatic Animal Pathogen and Quarantine Information System (AAPQIS) in the SIPAM pathology database be pursued and finalized at the earliest.

SELAM and TECAM

20. The Committee recommended that :

• renewed efforts be made toward securing the involvement and participation of additional relevant national or international institutions and associations, in order to complement the limited resources that the CIHEAM and the FAO Fisheries Department can offer for the implementation of the activities of TECAM and SELAM;
• TECAM pursue activities on environmental issues;
• the Commission endorsed the following issues as priorities in the programme of work of TECAM and SELAM: bio-indicators for sustainable Mediterranean aquaculture; finfish diversification; offshore mariculture; recirculation systems for new species; traceability of aquaculture products; interactions between capture fisheries and aquaculture.

SUGGESTED ACTION BY THE COMMISSION

21. The Commission is invited to review the conclusions and recommendations submitted by SAC and CAQ and to endorse those it may consider opportune. It might also find it opportune to provide guidelines on possible ways (i) to strengthen the format of the conclusions and recommendations expressed by the subsidiary bodies of SAC, and (ii) to consolidate outputs from CAQ Networks, including through the proposed regional aquaculture project.

¹ Appendix G of the report of the Fifth session of SAC.

² Areas where assessments were undertaken under the aegis of the SAMED E.U. project that analyzed the data collected by MEDITS E.U. projects at Mediterranean scale. As shown in Appendix F of the report of the twenty-sixth session of GFCM, these corespond respectively to : Northern Alboran Sea, Northern Spain, Gulf of Lions, Corsica Island, Ligurian and North Tirrenian Sea, South Tirrenian Sea, Sardinia, Malta Island, South of Sicily, Northern Adriatic Sea , Southern Adriatic Sea, Western Ionian Sea, Esatern Ionian Sea, Aegean Sea, Crete Island.