E - Iccat

SCRS PLENARY SESSIONS 1 TO 8
REPORT OF THE
STANDING COMMITTEE ON RESEARCH AND STATISTICS (SCRS)
(Madrid, Spain - October 3 to 7, 2011)
1. Opening of the meeting
The 2011 Meeting of the Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) was opened on Monday,
October 3, at the Hotel Velázquez in Madrid by Dr. Josu Santiago, Chairman of the Committee. Dr. Santiago
welcomed all the participants to the annual meeting.
The ICCAT Executive Secretary, Mr. Driss Meski, addressed the meeting and welcomed all the participants to
Madrid. The Executive Secretary reminded the relevance of the work conducted by the Committee and the
important role of the SCRS in providing scientific advice to the Commission. Mr. Meski recognized that as the
stock status becomes complicated our Commission is requested to provide more clarifications. Mr. Meski
highlighted that the SCRS work is very much appreciated by our Commission and on the international level,
even though participation of the national scientists has shown a sharp decline in recent years.
Finally, the Executive Secretary hoped that the delegations that have undergone a reduction in their activities
will renew their interest by participating more in the work of the SCRS so as to assure that our Committee has
the reputation it deserves and wished every success in the work of our Committee.
2. Adoption of Agenda and arrangements for the meeting
The Tentative Agenda was reviewed and adopted (attached as Appendix 1). Stock assessments were carried out
this year on South Atlantic and Mediterranean albacore (ALB-Med and ALB-S), blue marlin (BUM) and
yellowfin tuna (YFT).
The following scientists served as rapporteurs of the various species sections (Agenda Item 8) of the 2011 SCRS
Report.
Tropical tunas- General J. Pereira
YFT - Yellowfin tuna C. Brown
BET - Bigeye tuna D. Die
SKJ - Skipjack tuna D. Gaertner
ALB - Albacore H. Arrizabalaga, J. Ortiz de Urbina (Med)
BFT - Bluefin tuna C. Porch (W), J.M. Fromentin (E)
BIL - Billfishes F. Arocha
SWO - Swordfish J. Neilson, P. Travassos (Atl.), G. Tserpes (Med.)
SBF - Southern bluefin
SMT - Small tunas N. Abid
SHK - Sharks A. Domingo
The Secretariat served as rapporteur for all other Agenda items.
3. Introduction of Contracting Party delegations
The Executive Secretary introduced the 19 Contracting Parties present at the 2011 meeting: Brazil, Canada,
Cape Verde, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, European Union, Ghana, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, Norway,
Russian Federation, Senegal, Turkey, United Kingdom (Overseas Territories), United States and Uruguay. The
List of Participants at the Species Groups Meetings and the Plenary Sessions is attached as Appendix 2.
4. Introduction and admission of observers
Representatives from the following Cooperating non-Contracting Party, Entity, or Fishing Entity (Chinese
Taipei), intergovernmental organizations (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean-GFCM), and
1