REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON RESEARCH ... - Iccat

ICCAT REPORT 2008-2009 (I)Small Tunas Work Plan (2009-2010)− 2009: Priority in ICCAT for the data collection of all small tuna species.− 2009: First priority data collections on the following species:- Mediterranean and Black Sea: Bullet tuna, Atlantic bonito, little tunny and plain bonito;- West Africa: Atlantic bonito, little tunny, bullet tuna and West African Spanish mackerel;- Caribbean area: Blackfin tuna and serra Spanish mackerel.The Small Tunas Species Group considers that cooperation should be possibly established between ICCAT andother RFOs in areas within the ICCAT Convention, because of the nature of the small tuna fisheries, whichusually necessitate a deep knowledge of coastal artisanal fisheries. It recommends that the Commission examinesthis opportunity and if approved, pursue the necessary steps to achieve the desired cooperation agreementsbetween ICCAT and concerned RFOs.If the formal cooperation agreements with other RFOs cannot be supported at this time, a secondary optionwould be for the SMTG to try to establish contacts with national scientists in the various areas with the purposeto develop informal collaboration at the scientific level.−Spring/summer 2009: preparatory work for data collection on small tunas in W. Africa, Caribbean area,Mediterranean countries where data on small tunas are not provided.The preparatory work should be conducted by a web-based / video conference strategy, after a possibleagreement with the RFOs concerned (CECAF, CRFM, WECAF and GFCM), in direct contact with allCPCs and local scientists concerned.− Late spring/beginning summer 2009: to be eventually agreed by the ICCAT with CECAF-JointICCAT/CECAF meeting on small tuna species fisheries in West Africa.This is considered as an essential meeting to start a process of data gathering and data sharing in the area,including the artisanal fisheries and the by-catch in other fisheries (like the small pelagic fisheries). ECcountries having fishery permits in the area, West African coastal countries and other countries havingfishery permits in the area should be invited.−−−−−2009: Data mining in all areas where catch statistics and biological data are lacking, largely incomplete orapparently inconsistent. This exercise should be continued at national level, with the support of RFOs whenpossible.Summer 2009: for the CPCs concerned: provide local stock assessments results and reports to ICCAT.September/October 2009: SCRS/ICCAT Small Tuna Species Group – Evaluation of the data availability forthe most relevant species, with the purpose to identify and plan priority stock analyses to be undertaken, asagreed, during proposed joint ICCAT/regional RFO Spring/Summer 2010 meetings, and to identify practicalmethods to fill the gaps.Spring/Summer 2010: to be eventually agreed with WECAF and CRFM-Joint ICCAT/WECAF/CRFMMeeting on Small Tuna Species in the Caribbean Area.Spring/Summer 2010: to be eventually agreed with GFCM – Joint ICCAT/GFCM Meeting on Small TunaSpecies in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (with a particular attention for the coastal countries notreporting catches of these species).194