General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean - GFCM

Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) - 10th session

22 October 2007 - 26 October 2007

The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) held its tenth session in Nicosia, Cyprus, from 22 to 26 October 2007. It was attended by delegates from 14 Members of the Commission. The Committee appraised the activities of its subsidiary bodies and those of the regional projects supporting the Commission as well as the outcome of the Coordinating Meeting of the Sub-Committees (CMSC). It acknowledged the progress in strengthening the stock assessment process notably through promoting joint assessment practice as well as the definition and identification of criteria for the priority species and shared stocks. It favoured the trend for the use of the data from trawl survey and requested to pay special attention to the hake (Merluccius merluccius) and associated species in 2008. SAC reviewed fishery management proposals emanating from its Sub-Committees and formulated related advice. The Committee took note of progress achieved with regard to defining Fisheries restricted Area and the promotion of activities on EAF and MPAs. The Committee emphasized the need to implement catch and effort data reporting in the frame of Resolution GFCM/31/2007/1 on Task 1 statistical matrix. The SAC established ad hoc Working Groups on recreational fisheries and on trawl selectivity and gave guidance regarding the activities of the Joint GFCM/International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Working Group on Large Pelagic Species. The Committee agreed upon its workplan for 2008. It elected its new bureau.