E - Iccat

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
− Recommendation Concerning Mesh Size of Trawl Nets Exploiting Demersal Resources (GFCM/2007/1).
− Recommendation on the Pelagos Sanctuary for the Conservation of Marine Mammals (GFCM/2006/2).
The adoption of three Recommendations which were adopted by ICCAT in its 15 th Special Meeting of the
Commission (Dubrovnik, November 2006):
− Recommendation aimed at amending Recommendation 05-04 on bluefin tuna farming [Rec. 06-07]
(GFCM/2007/8(B)).
− Recommendation on the recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean [Rec.
06-05] (GFCM/2007/8(A)).
− Recommendation establishing a program for transshipment by large-scale longline fishing vessels [Rec.
06-11] (GFCM/2007/8(C)).
As regards the collaboration with ICCAT, the Commission recognized the need to re-launch the activities under
the mandate of the joint GFCM/ICCAT Working Group on Large Pelagic Species: Once more the Commission
acknowledged the positive achievements obtained by this Joint GFCM/ICCAT Working Group on Large Pelagic
Species since its establishment in 1989. It was agreed to once again review the terms of reference of the mandate
of the joint Working Group during the inter-sessional period in order to submit this information to the following
Commission meeting.
The 31 st Session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean was characterized by the
establishment of a Compliance Committee that elected its office during the first meeting of this session.
Discussions were maintained regarding the Commission’s financial and administrative matters, including the
ratification status, the progress carried out concerning the Commission’s headquarters, the autonomous budget,
amendments to the internal basic texts, development of a compendium of recommendations and resolutions, and
the calendar of inter-sessional meetings for 2007.
During the discussion concerning the ICCAT recommendations, some Contracting Parties and the Medisamak
representative, considered the procedure in which the GFCM adopts these recommendations. Following the
discussions, the ICCAT recommendations were also considered as well as those of the GFCM.
At the time of the adoption of the report, there was disagreement concerning the resolution on the division of the
Mediterranean into geographical sub-areas previously adopted during the previous sessions. Turkey hoped to
reopen the discussion on this resolution considering its provisions unsuitable to them. However the difference in
opinions was so great that the Commission had to resort to a vote for the adoption of the report.
Actions: None.
Report availability:
http://www.fao.org/fi/eims_search/advanced_s_result.aspstatutory=22&pub_year=2007&sortorder=7&no_in_s
erie=No.31&form_c=AND&lang=en
JDIP TRAINING COURSE
Location: Recife, Brazil.
Dates: February 5 to 16, 2007.
Instructors: Victor Restrepo (ICCAT Secretariat) and Mauricio Ortiz (United States).
Comments: The course was held at the University (UFPRE) and was attended by 22 students (13 from Brazil, 4
from Uruguay and 5 from Venezuela). Nearly half of them were young, either in their last years of university, or
having just finished their degrees. Each student had a portable computer.
The course had three main teaching objectives: (1) Using maximum likelihood methods for parameter
estimation, with emphasis on non-linear models; (2) Theory and practice of estimating common biological
reference points, with emphasis on proxies for data-moderate situations; and, (3) theory and practice of
production models. I took primary responsibility for (1) and (2), while Mauricio Ortiz took primary
responsibility for (3). We complemented each other in helping students along with the practical exercises.
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