PROGRAMME OF WORK FOR THE INTERSESSIONAL PERIOD 2005-2006

Programme of work of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC)

89. The Chairperson of SAC presented the programme of work adopted by the Seventh session of the Committee on the basis of document GFCM/XXIX/2005/7. He recalled that the activities identified followed the Reference Framework for the mandate of SAC (2003-2004) provided by the Commission at its Twenty-seventh session, and updated at its Twenty-eighth session. He pointed out that the programme for 2005 would mainly consist in finalizing, consolidating or extending most of the current activities for each of SAC subsidiary bodies.

90. With regard to the convening of a Permanent working group on methodologies applied for stock assessment, the Commission agreed that it should include the proposed "Workshop on Stock Assessment Methodology in the Black Sea". Furthermore the Commission requested that the SCSI transversal Workshop on GFCM Statistical Framework and Databases be held back to back with the meetings of the Sub-Committees and invited these subsidiary bodies to consider reviewing progress made with the establishment of the vessel register during the transversal workshop. In addition, the Commission acknowledged the need to identify technical measures for the management of swordfish fisheries and recommended that Members favour, as a priority, the collection of all available data on the fisheries and on the biology of this species.

91. The Chair of the Committee remarked that, in view of the amount of activities planned, it would be appropriate to convene the meetings of the SAC Sub-Committees in late 2005.

92. The Commission welcomed the offer made by the delegate of Morocco to host the SCSI Workshop on measurement of fishing effort and the offer made by the delegate of Tunisia to host the SCMEE transversal Workshop on Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries.

93. The Commission noted that the activities proposed in document GFCM/XXIX/2005/7 reflected the needs and priorities identified by the SAC and its Sub-Committees as well as by CAQ and its Networks. The Commission endorsed these proposals and stressed however that these activities should be consistent with the forecast of expenditure adopted through the autonomous budget or, should be adequately complemented with additional financial inputs from other sources.

94. With the view to limiting expenditures from the autonomous budget, the delegate from the EC suggested that consideration be given to possibly hold some of the meetings at the new Headquarters of the Commission.

95. The Commission endorsed the proposed programme of work of SAC and its Sub-Committees and agreed on the following meetings to support it.

Programme of work of the Committee on Aquaculture (CAQ)

96. On behalf of the Chairperson of CAQ, the Technical Secretary highlighted the main activities foreseen in the programme of work of the Committee and its Networks for 2005 and 2006 and recalled that they had been already reviewed by the Commission at its Extraordinary Session.

97. The Commission was informed of the resignation of Mr J.P Blancheton as Chairperson of the Committee.

98. The delegate of France confirmed that the first workshop on Bio-indicators for Sustainable Aquaculture will be organized as planned by IFREMER. The second meeting would then be organized and supported by Italy.

99. The Commission welcomed the confirmation of the offer made by the delegate from Croatia to host the SIPAM Annual Meeting in Split. The Commission recommended that the expert meeting for the re-establishment of the EAM Network be convened as soon as the allocated funds become available.

100. The Commission noted that the TECAM advanced course on "Design and management of bivalve mollusc hatcheries" had been organized prior to its Twenty-ninth session and that some of the other courses under TECAM and SELAM to be organized by CIHEAM still required funds for their implementation.

101. The Commission confirmed its approval on the activities proposed by CAQ and endorsed the following meetings in support of the programme of work of the Committee.