GFCM - Report of the sixth session of the Scientific Advisory Committee. Thessaloniki, Greece, 30 June - 3 July 2003 / CGPM - Rapport de la sixième session du Comité scientifique consultatif. Tessalonique, Grèce, 30 juin - 3 juillet 2003

Abstract

The sixth session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) was held in Thessaloniki, Greece, from 30 June to 3 July 2003. It was attended by delegates from fourteen members of the Commission. The Committee reviewed work by its subcommittees during the intersessional period, appraised research activities, formulated advice on fishery management and research and agreed on a workplan for 20032004. In particular, SAC invited the Commissi on to encourage members to adopt measures aimed at adjusting fishing effort to maintain selected small pelagic and demersal recruitment stocks at levels compatible with sustainable exploitation. The Committee requested that the Commission reinforce the implementation of the measures that would contribute to reverse declining biomass of a number of important stocks. SAC endorsed proposals of its Working Group on Operational Units and noted progress made by the Joint GFCM/ICCAT Working Group on Tu na Farming. The Committee made suggestions to rationalize some aspects of its modus operandi. It further welcomed the undertaking of an appraisal of its achievements and recommended that the outcome be presented at the next session of the Commission. The Committee unanimously elected a new chairperson, and first and second vice-chairpersons and further endorsed the nomination of coordinators of the four subcommittees.