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

ICCAT REPORT 2008-2009 (I)Secretariat with expertise in fisheries and population dynamics.5) The Sub-Committee recommends that the Secretariat purchase the software requested last year but notyet acquired, to purchase a server dedicated exclusively to run models for the Species Working Groupsthat require large computing capacity and to make this machine available for remote access via VPNconnections. The Sub-Committee recommends that the Secretariat purchase wireless hardware, accesspoints and software to improve network access during meetings if the move to the new SecretariatHeadquarters is delay further more.6) The Sub-Committee reiterates that the Chairs of the Species Working Groups (or a representative)should be present at the meeting of the Sub-Committee on Statistics.7) The Sub-Committee recommends that the full documentation of the ICCAT database continue.8) The Sub-Committee recommends that the Secretariat inquire about the preferred option for publishingthe Statistical Bulletin volume via email.9) The Sub-Committee recommends to the Secretariat to inform Statistical Correspondents that theyshould specify none or zero catch for those species for which they do not have tuna or tuna-likefisheries.10) Because of the features of bluefin farming/ranching, the Sub-Committee and the bluefin tuna speciesgroup strongly recommends that a specific data-form be adopted for submitting biological and otherdata in addition to Task I obligations. This form should include: Information of initial capture, includingflag, geographical position as well as length, weight and number of fish at entrance and exit from thefarms along with a record of dead fish during holding. The Committee also strongly recommends theinitiation of programs for collecting biological samples, such otoliths, spines, and muscle tissue atharvest and or from dead specimens and for evaluating growth in captivity.11) Due to potential bias in the species composition and size sampling in tropical tuna purse seine fisheriesworldwide, the Committee recommends that the analysis of the multi-species landings of purse seinersbe conducted by an ad hoc international working group with tuna scientists from the different RFOs.Such Working Group should have a wide participation of field scientists and statisticians, and shouldalso evaluate all the main potential types of difficulties and errors involved in the multispecies samplingwith the aim of optimizing the multispecies sampling and the correction procedure of the catch data.10. Other mattersNo other matters were discussed during the meeting.11. Adoption of the report and closureThe report was adopted during the meeting, and the meeting was adjourned.212