E - Iccat

ICCAT REPORT 2012-2013 (I)
Changes to the procedures for mail voting had also been agreed, and it was determined that the Rules of
Procedure would be changed accordingly. Hence the Modification of Rule 9 of the ICCAT Rules of Procedure in
Respect of Inter-sessional Voting was adopted by the Commission and is attached as ANNEX 7.1
With regard to the development of a Commission Communications Policy, several Parties considered that
sufficient information on costs was still not available in order for a decision to be made. The Chair agreed to
work on this issue intersessionally through a virtual working group to develop a policy for consideration at the
2013 Commission meeting.
It was agreed to adopt the STACFAD Report by correspondence (attached as ANNEX 8).
9. Reports of Panels 1 to 4 and consideration of any proposed recommendations therein
The reports of the Panels were presented by their respective Chairs. The Commission reviewed the reports and
the Recommendations proposed by the Panels.
Panel 1
The Chair of Panel 1, Mr. Helguilè Shep (Côte d’Ivoire), presented the report of Panel 1 to the plenary. Mr. Shep
also reported that a selection committee had examined the Expressions of Interest in implementing the Regional
Observer Programme for Bigeye and Yellowfin (ROP-TROP), and that the Secretariat had been instructed to
invite the pre-selected agencies to tender early in 2013. The ROP-TROP would be implemented through existing
national observer programmes for the 2013 fishing season.
The European Union recalled the SCRS request to improve the FADs management plans required by the
Recommendation by ICCAT on a Multi-annual Conservation and Management program for Bigeye and
Yellowfin Tunas [Rec. 11-01], in order to provide the SCRS with sufficient information to provide advice.
The EU drew the attention of the Commission to the fact that the Panel Chair had circulated a proposal to amend
the Recommendation on a multi-annual conservation and management program for bigeye and yellowfin tunas,
to be considered in the 2013 meeting. This proposal is attached as Appendix 2 to ANNEX 9.
It was agreed to adopt the Report of Panel 1 by correspondence. The Report is attached as ANNEX 9.
Panel 2
Two new Panel members, Guatemala and Honduras, were welcomed to Panel 2, effective from 2013.
The Chair of Panel 2, Mr. Andrew Carroll (European Union), informed the plenary that the Panel had agreed on
a Recommendation by ICCAT Amending the Recommendation by ICCAT to Establish a Multi-Annual Recovery
Plan for Bluefin Tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, as well as a Supplemental Recommendation by
ICCAT Concerning the Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Rebuilding Program. These proposals were adopted by
the Commission (see ANNEX 5 [Rec. 12-03] and [Rec. 12-02]), respectively. It was noted, however, that
Turkey objected to the quota allocation key, and that Algeria and Egypt expressed reservations on this.
Mr. Carroll also reported that Panel members had some additional questions, which are included in the document
on the “Commission’s Requests to SCRS in Direction to the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Bluefin Tuna”;
this is attached to the report of Panel 2 as Appendix 3 to ANNEX 9.
Two measures relating to mechanisms for financing the ICCAT Atlantic-wide Research Program for Bluefin
Tuna (GBYP) had also been put forward, but neither had been approved by the Panel. It was noted, however,
that the administrative burdens implicit in voluntary contributions could detract from the efficiency of the
programme, and that alternative stable funding would be required, for which reason Panel 2 would reconsider
this item at its next meeting.
Given the new measures, Panel 2 had not approved the fishing, inspection and capacity plans presented by the
Parties fishing for east Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna since endorsement would be carried out intersessionally.
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