The session, attended by delegates from 21 members of the Commission as well as observers from intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organization together with the Russian Federation, appraised the achievements by its subsidiary bodies, the activities of the regional projects to support GFCM as well as the outcome of the Coordinating Meeting of the Sub-Committees (CMSC). Les delegues de 21 membres de la Commission, des observateurs d'organisations intergouvernementales et d'organisations non-gouvernementales ainsi que la Federation Russe qui ont participe a ce Comite, ont examines les activites de ses organes subsidiaires et celles des projets regionaux qui soutiennent la Commission ainsi que les resultats de la Reunion de coordination des sous-comites (CMSC)."

This publication reports on the 8th session of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, which was held in Tirana, Albania in October 2005. Issues discussed include: fishery management proposals emanating from the work of sub-committees; research priorities and its workplan for 2006; measures for the protection of certain marine ecosystem including gear selectivity issues and stock assessment methodologies.

The Committee reviewed the intersessional activities of its four Sub-committees and those of the regional projects supporting the Commission, as well as the outcome of the Coordinating Meeting of the Sub-committees (CMSC). The SAC reviewed and reformulated managment advice; it furthermore appreciated the gradual imlementation of the 40 mm square mesh codend of bottom trawls. It was also noted that progress was achieved on the measurement, calibration and allocation of fishing effort and adopted the statistical scheme (Task 1 matrix) for the data collection on Operational Units (OUs). The SAC has also encouraged the use of socio-economic indicators in fisheries management, including in recreational fisheries. It was proposed to relaunch the acitivities of the GFCM/ICCAT International Joint Working Group on Large Pelagic Species and the workplan for 2007 was agreed.

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Fisheries (SAC) of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) held its twentieth session in Tangiers, Morocco, from 26 to 29 June 2018. The session was attended by delegates from 14 Mediterranean contracting parties, seven observers, representatives of the FAO regional projects, the GFCM Secretariat and invited experts. The Committee reviewed the work carried out during the 2017–2018 intersession, including within its four subregional subsidiary bodies (Subregional Committee for the Adriatic Sea, Subregional Committee for the Central Mediterranean, Subregional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean and Subregional Committee for the Western Mediterranean) which all met during the intersession. In relation to the mid-term strategy (2017–2020) towards the sustainability of Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries, the Committee welcomed the progress in multiple priority activities as well as cooperation with partners. Issues in relation to fishery data quality, data collection needs and methodologies, estimation and quantification of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and formulation of advice on the status of fisheries were discussed. Recalling the need to improve knowledge on small-scale fisheries in the the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, the work underway to test a characterization matrix as well as the forthcoming Regional Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries in the Mediterranean and Black Sea were tackled. Furthermore, the Committee formulated advice on the following aspects: i) overall status of Mediterranean stocks; ii) management of European eel; iii) management of deep-sea fisheries and identification of VMEs and iv) roadmap towards a network of essential fish habitats. In line with the subregional approach and based on the conclusions of the four subregional committees, the SAC also provided specific advice for each subregion. In particular, attention was paid to: i) blackspot seabream in the western Mediterranean; ii) demersal fisheries in the Strait of Sicily; iii) small pelagic fisheries in the Adriatic Sea; iv) demersal fisheries in the Adriatic Sea, including the monitoring of the Jabuka/Pomo Pit fisheries restricted area; and v) deep-water red shrimps in the central and eastern Mediterranean. In addition, the Committee also endorsed un updated table of priority species by subregion. Finally, the Committee agreed upon its work plan for 2018–2020 and elected its new Bureau.

The Committee appraised the activities of its subsidiary bodies and those of the regional projects supporting the Commission. It acknowledged the strengthening of the stock assessment process through joint assessment by experts. It favoured the use of the data from trawl survey and requested to pay special attention to the hake (Merluccius merluccius) in 2008. SAC reviewed fishery management proposals from its Sub-Committees. It took note of progress achieved for defining fisheries restricted areas and the activities on the ecosystem approach for fisheries and marine protected areas. The SAC established ad hoc Working Groups on recreational fisheries and on trawl selectivity. It provided guidance regarding the activities of the GFCM/International Commission and agreed upon its work plan for 2008. - Le Comite a examine les activites de ses organes subsidiaires et celles des projets regionaux qui soutiennent la Commission. Il a note le processus d'evaluation des stocks, notamment par des evaluations conjointes des experts. Il s'est prononce en faveur de l'utilisation des donnees des campagnes de chalutage et a demande d'accorder un interet particulier au merlu (Merluccius merluccius) en 2008. Le CSC a examine les propositions relatives a l'amenagement de pecheries de ses sous-comites. Le Comite a pris note des progres realises en ce qui concerne la definition de zones de restriction de la peche et les activites concernant la mise en oeuvre de l'approche ecosystemique des peches et les aires marines protegees."