E - Iccat

PANEL 1 REPORT
After deletion of the last sentence of operative paragraph 5 and the removal of operative paragraphs 6 and 7, the
Panel adopted the Recommendation by ICCAT on Bigeye Tuna Conservation Measures (see ANNEX 5 [Ref. 03-
01]) and forwarded it to the Plenary.
7. Research
In response to the Commission’s request, the Chairman of the SCRS recommended a postponement of the
skipjack assessment originally planned for 2004.
The SCRS Chairman noted that work at the March 2004 and the Bigeye Tuna Year Program (BETYP)
Symposium and the 2 nd World Meeting on Bigeye Tuna will serve to facilitate future assessments of this species.
He also indicated several new assessment models are under development but could not say whether they will be
ready by March 2004.
Finally, the SCRS Chairman indicated a bigeye assessment using traditional methods in 2004 could be prepared,
if so requested by the Commission.
8. Election of Chair
In consideration that the previous Chairman of this Panel was not in attendance, Dr. Srour agreed to lead the
Panel on an interim basis only. The Delegates of the European Community and the United States thanked Dr.
Srour for the professional manner in which he chaired this meeting.
The Delegate of Japan nominated Côte d’Ivoire as the new Chairman and various other Parties seconded this
nomination. The Côte d’Ivoire accepted the Panel’s nomination as the new Chairman and expressed their thanks
for the nomination, as well as to Dr. Srour.
9. Other matters
No other matters were discussed.
10. Date of the next meeting of the Panel
This Panel will reconvene at the 2004 meeting of the Commission in New Orleans (United States) in November
2004.
11. Adoption of the Report and adjournment
The Chairman noted all adopted documents would be forwarded to the Plenary and that the Report of Panel 1
would be adopted by mail. On this note, he adjourned the 2003 meeting of Panel 1.
The Report of Panel 1 was adopted by correspondence.
181