In the framework of its annual activities, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), which is an FAO Regional Fisheries Management Organization, will organize a training course on methodologies for fish stock assessment during the period from 22 - 26 June 2008, at the Egyptian International Centre for Agriculture (EICA) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, (Nady El-Seid Street, Dokki), Cairo, Egypt. The Egyptian General Authority for Fishery Resources Development is the local organizer of the event.

The course will be conducted by two lecturers from Italy and Portugal and attended by scientists of ten GFCM Member countries (Egypt, Algeria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Libya, Malta, Morocco and Slovenia), in addition to the FAO/GFCM Secretariat.

The course aims to develop regional knowledge and capacities on methodologies for fish stock assessment and train stock assessment scientists on advanced methods and techniques suitable to the nature of Mediterranean fisheries. The training intends to introduce stock assessment theory and guide participants on how to put it into practice through case studies and practical exercises by applying different assessment methods. This regional course has the ultimate objective of supporting scientifically reliable appraisal of fish stocks in order to contribute to the sustainability of Mediterranean fisheries.