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

ICCAT REPORT 2008-2009 (I)all CPCs to collect information aimed at creating a meta-database of current and past observer programs andmake this information available on the ICCAT web site (see Table 6 of the Secretariat’s Report SCI-008/2008for an available response on observer programs metadata). Although the survey specifically addressed the needsof the Sub-Committee on Ecosystems, the Chair indicated that some of the information may be useful for otherSpecies Groups.4. Updated report on a relational database systemThe Secretariat reported on the progress and updates to the relational database and web applications for datadissemination and submission. The Sub-Committee acknowledged the effort and quality of the work carried outby the Secretariat during the year despite the heavy workload due to, inter alia, numerous inter-sessionalmeetings (e.g., stock assessments, data preparatory) in 2008. Given the recent increase in the workload for theSecretariat related to compliance matters and the continuing demand to support ICCAT scientific efforts, theSub-Committee reiterated its prior year’s recommendation that the Commission provide additional humanresources to the Secretariat for scientific fishery related support. It was reiterated that the use of web basedconferencing tools can help with the coordination of data needs between the Secretariat and the nationalscientists prior to stock assessments meetings.The Secretariat informed that progress on the full documentation of the ICCAT database has been made, but dueto the large number of intersessional meetings during this year the final product is not yet available. The Sub-Committee reiterates the importance of this task, and recommended it again as a priority task for the Secretariatin the work plan for the upcoming year.The Secretariat reported an increase in the number of Contracting Parties submitting data using the availableelectronic forms. But, once again the Sub-Committee recommended moving towards fully electronic submissionof data by all Contracting Parties. The Sub-Committee reminded that the inclusion of data in the Annual Reportis not considered a formal data submission to the Secretariat.4.1 Database extractions and support by the Secretariat for Species Working Groups during intersessionaland assessment meetingsAs noted above (Section 3.3.2), during the 2008 Bluefin Tuna Stock Assessment Session delays and a workoverload resulted from data changes made in previous assessments (i.e., Task II) not being included in theICCAT database as permanent. Therefore, during the assessment meeting the same changes have to be made andapproved again by the Group. It is recommended that Task II data and conversions to CAA made duringassessment meetings be made permanent in the database. However, working groups should formalize the requestby submitting documentation including the changes to be made, algorithms used to convert CAS into CAA, datasubstitution scheme, etc. The Sub-Committee emphasizes that the decision of introducing changes as permanentin the ICCAT database corresponds to the Species Groups and not the Secretariat.5. Evaluation of data deficiencies pursuant to [Rec. 05-09]. Analysis and presentation materials5.1 Data report cardsThe Secretariat presented a report of the data submitted during 2008 in the Secretariat Report on Statistics andCoordination of Research 2008. Table 1 of the Secretariat’s Report presents a summary by Contracting Party ofthe Task I data submitted either before (green) or after the deadline(s) (yellow) or not submitted (red) to theSecretariat. The Sub-Committee recommended that Table 1 be updated, specifying fisheries that likely do notcatch tuna or tunas-like species, either by actual reports of zero catch or evaluating catches in the last decade.Similarly, the Secretariat’s Report (Tables 2, 3 and 4) reported on Task II, size data and fleet characteristics datasubmitted in 2008 following a similar format as Task I. The Sub-Committee requested the scientists present atthe meeting to review the information provided and submit corrections if needed to the Secretariat. A revisedtable was prepared and presented to Plenary for further review (Table 1).208