Link to the report - Fao - Copemed

Annex III. Introduction and Objectives of the meeting (by the CopeMed II
Project coordinator)
The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)’s objectives are to
promote the development, conservation, rational management and best utilization of living
marine resources, as well as the sustainable development of aquaculture in the
Mediterranean, Black Sea and connecting waters 3 . The Commission implements its policy
and activities through the Secretariat and operates during the intersessional period by means
of the following committees:
• Committee on Aquaculture (CAQ): established in 1995
• Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC): established in 1997
• Compliance Committee (CoC): established in 2006
• Committee on Administration and Finance (CAF): established in 2009
The SAC provides independent advice on the technical and scientific bases for decisions
concerning fishery conservation and management, including biological, social and economic
aspects; in particular, it:
• assesses information provided by Members and relevant fishery organizations or
programmes on catches, fishing effort and other data relevant to the conservation and
management of fisheries;
• formulates advice to the Commission on the conservation and management of
fisheries;
• identifies cooperative research programmes and coordinates their implementation;
• undertakes such other functions or responsibilities as may be conferred on it by the
Commission.
During the 12 th Session of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), held in Budva,
Montenegro, 25-29 January 2010, the Committee, in the Summary Report of its 12 th Session,
adopted (in paragraph 70 thereof), the following proposal:
In relation to the assessment of the blackspot seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo) carried out in
GSA03, the Spanish delegation noted that this fishery extended into the Atlantic in GSA01
and proposed the establishment of a joint ad hoc working group involving Moroccan and
Spanish scientists to analyse the existing information and the importance of presenting the
outcome to SAC.
The SAC itself proposed the establishment of a joint ad hoc scientific Working Group between
Morocco and Spain on Pagellus bogaraveo in the Strait of Gibraltar area to analyse the
existing information. CopeMed II was requested to support the organization and running of a
meeting of this Working Group. Moreover, during the 3 rd Session of the Coordination
Committee of CopeMed II, it was also agreed that the project would support the organization
of a meeting of the Working Group between Morocco and Spain on Pagellus bogaraveo in
the Strait of Gibraltar area, as requested by the SAC.
The GFCM definition of shared stocks
The SAC, since the beginning of its activities, has discussed a common definition of “shared
stocks.” The SAC agreed a list of priority species and a list of shared stocks. At its tenth
3 In “About the GFCM”: www.gfcm.org
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