E - Iccat

STACFAD REPORT
The Executive Secretary responded that in some organizations, the civil servants receive economic compensation
for overtime hours at night.
After the discussion, the proposed amendment to Article 7.3 was not approved.
8. Budget and Contracting Party contributions for 2004-2005
The Chairman pointed out that two budget options had been presented for study. The first (Option A) presents a
budgetary program with an increase in some chapters that should be discussed. There are items that have been
included in the budget, after communication between the Executive Secretary and the Chairman (such as the
Separation from Service Fund, and the purchase of computers), due to the non-payment of contributions,
whereas if the Working Capital Fund were at 30% of the budget, these items would be assumed. Increases were
also made in order to support the Secretariat’s work concerning the Positive List, a matter that was already
discussed at last year’s Commission meeting.
As regards Option B, he explained that it was the same as Option A, with the exception that the 2003 SCRS
recommendations are included.
The Delegate of the European Community asked the Secretariat for justification for the increase in the various
chapters.
The Secretariat prepared a document (Appendix 4 to ANNEX 12) that explained in detail the increase in each
chapter. The Chairman, together with the Executive Secretary and the Assistant Executive Secretary clarified, in
particular, everything concerning the salaries chapters, since these have the most financial repercussions and
explained that the increase was due to the hiring of staff already carried out and to future contracting of staff,
because of the increase in work and that the Positive List of Vessels had been included within the budget.
The Chairman added that during the 2002 STACFAD meeting, there was discussion that the Positive List project
would have some repercussion in the budget, since funding was needed to carry out this project.
With regard to the staff already contracted, the Executive Secretary explained that due to the volume of work and
once it was determined that the 2003 budget was sufficient, it was decided to carry out this hiring.
The Delegate of Canada proposed the budget for 2005 include the forecasts carried out by the Secretariat for the
salaries chapters (1 and 8A), in accordance with Appendix 4 to ANNEX 12, as concerns the possible increase in
salaries for staff in the General Services category according to the United Nations scheme, due to the
repercussion this could have in the budget, and suggested that in the case there is no increase that a review be
carried out in 2005, and the estimate be in included in the budget for 2006.
The Chairman indicated that this proposal would be carried out.
The Delegate of the United States suggested including some funding in the budget for next year to carry out a
new design of the web page, since in that way more information could be divulged and expenses would be cut.
After the explanation and some comments, the Chairman listed each proposal by chapter, and approved these
accordingly.
Once each chapter had been reviewed, the Chairman listed the proposals made by the SCRS (see Appendix 5 to
ANNEX 12.
The SCRS Chairman listed each one of the recommendations proposed in the SCRS Report: publication of a
revised edition of the ICCAT Manual, a By -catch Coordinator (due to the inclusion of sharks, turtles and other
by-catches there will be more and more data, etc.), maintenance and improvement of computer equipment and
software (a fixed amount each for each year is proposed, with the presentation of a list of the equipment and
software needed, for replacement, etc.), symposium on swordfish stock structure [Ref. 99-03], ICCAT Bluefin
Year Program and ICCAT Enhanced Research Program on Billfish, and lastly, the peer review system.
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