The seventh session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) was held in Rome, Italy, from 19 to 22 October 2004. It was attended by delegates from nineteen Members of the Commission. The Committee reviewed work by its subcommittees during the intersessional period, appraised scientific activities, formulated advice on fishery management and identified complementary research needs. It agreed on its workplan for 2005. In particular, SAC emphasized the need to ensure the availability of more scientific contributions, data and analysis, as well as a greater coverage of GFCM Geographical Sub-Areas (GSAs). It stressed the need to foster on task-oriented advisory process driven by the Commission and to formulate multidisciplinary management advice, encompassing multispecies fisheries and in conformity with an ecosystem approach. SAC reiterated the importance of identifying indicators and reference points for each fishery and operational unit. It strongly advised to refrain expending deepwater fishing operations beyond 1 000-meter depth. The Committee provided additional suggestions for increasing its functional efficiency. It favoured the formalization of the Coordinating meeting of the Sub-Committees and the strengthening of the Joint GFCM/ICCAT Working Group on Large Pelagics through updating its mandate. SAC also called for greater cooperation with the Committee on Aquaculture (CAQ) on selected issues.