E - Iccat

PLENARY SESSIONS
The Compliance Committee proposed that the identification status concerning Panama also be maintained. The
Commission approved this action and the proposed special letter informing Panama of this action (Appendix 4.2
to ANNEX 9).
Mr. Wieland also indicated the following: The Delegate of Vanuatu informed the Committee that information on
the measures Vanuatu has taken will be provided and the Committee will evaluate these measures once they
become available; the Delegate of Ghana referred to the measures it has taken to comply with the moratorium in
the Gulf of Guinea in 2002/2003 and the Committee encouraged Ghana to continue its efforts to ensure full
compliance; and one delegation moved that measures under the Compliance Recommendation [Ref. 96-14] be
taken in respect of Chinese Taipei’s compliance failures in connection with North Atlantic swordfish and bigeye
but this was resolved in the discussions in the Panels. Mr. Wieland also noted that the Committee briefly
discussed the operation of the newly established Record of Authorized Vessels and noted that experience with
this novel instrument was yet to be gathered and that the Committee will revisit this topic in due course.
It was agreed that the Report of the Compliance Committee would be adopted by mail. The Report of the
Compliance Committee is attached as ANNEX 9.
12. Report of the Permanent Working Group for the Improvement of ICCAT Statistics and Conservation
Measures (PWG) and consideration of any proposed recommendations therein
Ms. Kimberly Blankenbeker, Chair of the PWG, reported to the Commission Plenary, and reviewed the two
Recommendations that were being brought forward to the Commission for adoption. The Commission adopted
the following, by consensus:
– Recommendation on Criteria for Attaining the Status of Cooperating non-Contracting Party, Entity or
Fishing Entity in ICCAT (see ANNEX 5 [Ref. 03-20]).
– Recommendation by ICCAT for Bigeye Tuna Trade Restrictive Measures on Georgia (see ANNEX 5 [Ref.
03-18]).
The PWG Chair also noted that the following Recommendation related to statistical documents had been adopted
by Panel 2:
– Recommendation by ICCAT Concerning the Amendment of the Forms of the ICCAT Bluefin/
Bigeye/Swordfish Statistical Documents (see ANNEX 5 [Ref. 03-19]).
The PWG Chair noted that the PWG had agreed to extend the Cooperating Status of Chinese Taipei and the
Philippines. The Commission agreed with this decision and requested the Secretariat to draft and send these
letters. In addition, Guyana was granted Cooperating Status. It was considered premature to take a decision
regarding the requests for Cooperating Status from Belize, Cuba, Egypt and Guatemala and the issue was
deferred until 2004. The Parties will be asked to reiterate their interest in receiving Cooperating Status and to
take into account the provisions of the newly-adopted Recommendation on Cooperating Status (see ANNEX 5
[Ref. 03-20]). In the case of Netherlands Antilles, there was no consensus reached on the granting of
Cooperating Status, and therefore it was not conferred. It was agreed that letters would be sent to inform these
countries of the Commission’s decisions (see Appendix 5 to ANNEX 10).
The PWG Chair noted that the PWG had agreed to the updated “List of Large-Scale Longline Vessels Believed
to be Engaged in Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing Activities in the ICCAT Convention Area and
Other Areas” (attached as Appendix 3 to ANNEX 10). The Commission adopted this list as an information
document with provisional status and noted that it was not being adopted pursuant to the Recommendation by
ICCAT to Establish a List of Vessels Presumed to Have Carried Out Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated
Fishing Activities in the ICCAT Convention Area [Ref. 02-23] and thus should not be published electronically on
the ICCAT web site. It was agreed to append it to the meeting proceedings, however. The Chair reported that the
Parties had undertaken a commitment to improve data and information over the coming months with respect to
the vessel list so that a list in line with the terms of Recommendation 02-23 could be developed at the 2004
ICCAT meeting.
Ms. Blankenbeker noted that the Working Group conducted a case-by-case review of cooperation by non-
Contracting Parties, Entities or Fishing Entities as summarized in the “Summary Table of Information for 2003
PWG Actions” (attached as Appendix 4 to ANNEX 10). The PWG agreed to draft and send letters (attached as
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