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

ICCAT REPORT 2008-2009 (I)Chinese TaipeiChinese Taipei presented a document (SCRS/2008/181) describing the results of a test using an image-systemonboard a fishing boat to measure tunas caught. The results indicated a measure margin error on the order of 6.8-4.8% when the system operated on automatic or manual mode, respectively.MexicoMexico reported on a project to recover yellowfin tuna data (catch, effort, size and biological information) in theMexican waters of the Gulf of Mexico from 1994 to 2007.EC-FranceDuring 2007-2008 France updated the French albacore data in the northeast Atlantic Ocean for the period 1999-2007. Catch and effort data by one square degree are now available for all gears for 1999-2007 in the ICCATdatabase.Following up the 4th meeting of the WCPFC Scientific Committee during which there were serious doubtsexpressed about the bias faced by the sampling schemes used in the Atlantic, document SCRS/2008/162discusses the potential biases associated with species and size sampling carried out in the Atlantic Ocean duringlandings of purse seiners. The conclusion of the paper is that the sampling scheme used in the Atlantic isconsistent. However, since large sets are over sampled comparatively to small sets, minor potential biases shouldbe better identified and reduced by improvements in the current sampling and data processing. It isrecommended that an international working group is organized to identify these uncertainties and to improve themulti-species sampling schemes and the data processing of their results.European CommunityA recent Council Regulation (EC No. 199/2008) replacing Council Regulation (EC No. 1543/2000) concerns theestablishment of a Community framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sectorand support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy. This regulation includes someimportant new dispositions relevant for the Sub-Committee, in particular: the institution of a stable multi-annualregional framework, adopting fisheries approach, encouraging coordination between EC countries and thirdcountries, reinforcing participation and cooperation of Member States in the relevant international scientificbodies, encouraging the ecosystem approach of fisheries and the collection of data able to measure the effect offisheries on the ecosystem (9 indicators) and, finally, various dispositions concerning availability of data to endusers and quality controls. Member States national programs will start adopting this framework in 2009.7. Report on data improvement activitiesThe Coordinator's Report on Activities of the Japan Data Improvement Project (JDIP) October 2007 toSeptember 2008 reported on the activities and projects supported by the JDIP and the Data Fund programs. TheSub-Committee recommended that the presentations and discussions from these projects be deferred to theSCRS plenary. The Sub-Committee acknowledged the positive impact that these programs made which isevident by the increase participation of scientists from Africa and Latin-America during intersessional meetings,SCRS Species Groups meetings, and fisheries training courses.7.1 Data recovery activitiesEC-Portugal reported on a project to reconstruct catch and effort data from former Portuguese colonies: SaintTome, Cape Verde and Angola from historical records in the Lisbon National Library and in collaboration withscientists of Angola, Cape Verde and St. Tome. Records extend from 1940 to 1973, with total landings byspecies and more detailed information from the early 1990s to the present, in particular, from Angola fisheries.Bluefin data recovery prior to 1950 was started by EC-France, and data were provided to the Secretariat and theSpecies Group for assessment purposes in 2008. These data included catch and catch at size from trap fisheriesand purse seine in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea from 1900 to 1982. Full documentation and a report210