E - Iccat

PANEL 1 REPORT
ANNEX 8
REPORTS OF THE MEETINGS OF PANELS 1-4
REPORT OF THE MEETING OF PANEL 1
1. Opening of the meeting
The Panel was chaired by Dr. Abdellah Srour (Morocco). In the interest of time, it was requested that opening
statements be submitted in writing; no opening statements were submitted to Panel 1.
2. Adoption of Agenda
The Agenda was adopted as proposed (Appendix 1 to ANNEX 8).
3. Appointment of Rapporteur
Mr. Bryan Wood (Canada) was appointed Rapporteur of Panel 1.
4. Review of Panel Membership
Panel 1 is comprised of 24 Contracting Parties: Angola, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, China, Côte d’Ivoire,
European Community, Gabon, Ghana, Honduras, Japan, Korea (Rep.), Libya, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia,
Panama, Russia, Sao Tomé and Principe, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom (Overseas
Territories), United States, and Venezuela. The Chairman welcomed South Africa as a new member of Panel 1.
Cape Verde, Honduras, Libya, Panama, Sao Tomé and Principe and Venezuela were not present at this meeting.
5. Report of the Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS)
5.1 Yellowfin tuna
Dr. Joao Gil Pereira, Chairman of the SCRS, presented the results of the stock assessment conducted for
yellowfin tuna in 2003. He noted that it included data only up to 2001 as less than 20% of the 2002 data were
available at the time the assessment was carried out. He also indicated that catches of juvenile fish (0+1)
appeared to be very high. Various models were applied to the available data. The equilibrium production models
resulted in estimates of biomass that would support an MSY ranging from 151,300 to 161,300 t, whereas values
from the non-equilibrium models ranged from 147,200 to 148,300 t. The results from the virtual population
analysis (VPA) were more comparable to the results from production models than in previous years. The VPA
also suggested that fishing mortality and spawning biomass were close to levels that would support MSY.
Reported landings for 2001 suggested catches could be slightly higher than MSY based on certain assumptions
and that recent fishing mortality also appeared to be slightly above MSY. It is important that fishing effort does
not increase beyond current levels. A reduction in fishing mortality for fish less than 3.2 kg could lead to
substantial gains in yield per recruit and modest gains in spawning biomass per recruit.
The SCRS Chairman added that conventional assessment models were used for yellowfin and that the
assessment for this species is robust.
5.2 Bigeye tuna
Assessment results were based on analyses conducted in 2002. The SCRS Chairman noted that the assessment
process had been hampered by a lack of basic information, hence the establishment of the Bigeye Tuna Year
Program (BETYP). There appeared to be a decline in longline and IUU catches. It was estimated that unreported
catches are now less than 3,000 t, which represents a 90% decrease from a high of 25,000 t in 1998. However, it
is not clear whether IUU vessels have indeed curtailed their catches or if they are shipping their catches
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