E - Iccat

ICCAT REPORT 2012-2013 (I)
REPORT OF THE MEETING OF PANEL 3
1. Opening of the meeting
The meeting was opened by the Panel 3 Chair, Dr. Johann Augustyn (South Africa).
2. Adoption of Agenda
The Agenda was adopted by the Panel members and is attached as Appendix 1 to ANNEX 9.
3. Appointment of Rapporteur
The Secretariat agreed to serve as Rapporteur for Panel 3.
4. Review of Panel 3 membership
Panel 3 currently comprises eleven members as follows: Belize, Brazil, European Union, Japan, Mexico,
Namibia, Philippines, South Africa, Turkey, United States of America and Uruguay, all of which were present.
Honduras communicated its intention to join Panel 3. It was agreed that Honduras would effectively participate
as a member at the 23 rd Regular Meeting of the Commission (in November 2013).
5. Report of the Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS)
Relevant information is contained in the 2012 SCRS Report. No stock assessments of Panel 3 species were
carried out in 2012. The SCRS Chair, Dr. Josu Santiago, reviewed the current state of the stocks covered by this
Panel, based on the last meeting of the SCRS held in October 2012.
5.1 South Atlantic albacore
The SCRS Chair reminded the Panel that a stock assessment of South Atlantic albacore had been conducted in
2011 and no new assessment was conducted in 2012. Dr. Santiago reported that most scenarios of the last
assessment indicate that the South Atlantic albacore stock is both overfished and experiencing overfishing.
Projections showed that harvesting at the current TAC level (24,000 t) would further reduce the stock, although
catches have been below the TAC in most of the recent years, while current catches are slightly over the TAC.
The participation of scientists in the SCRS meetings regarding this stock was limited, with only a few scientists
from the countries mostly concerned with the fishery being present. The need for better participation was further
stressed by SCRS and this will certainly improve both the statistics and the biological knowledge on this species.
The Delegate from the United States pointed out the great need to improve the participation of scientists and
proposed that a formal request for better participation should be circulated to Panel 3 members by the
Secretariat.
The Panel Chair underscored the need to improve the participation of scientists at the assessment meetings.
5.2 Southern bluefin tuna
This stock is currently managed by the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT).
6. Measures for the conservation of stocks and implementation of the ICCAT Criteria for the Allocation of
Fishing Possibilities [Ref. 01-25]
The Recommendation by ICCAT on the Plan to Rebuild Blue Marlin and White Marlin Populations [Rec. 11-05]
remains in force for 2013. Information on cumulative monthly catches has been made available to the
Compliance Committee in the “Secretariat Report to the Compliance Committee”.
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