Taking into account:
the recommendation of the Fourth GFCM Sub-Committee on Stock Assessment (Barcelona, Spain, 6-9 May 2002) to ".... propose to the SAC the creation of a crosscutting working group with the mandate to elaborate a Code of Conduct on Sustainable Tuna Farming Practices in the Mediterranean, to provide common guidelines to make this activity a sustainable practices...";
the "Impacts of farming" listed in the report of the Sixth GFCM-ICCAT Meeting on Stocks of Large Pelagic Fishes in the Mediterranean (Sliema, Malta, 15-19 April 2002) which include Statistical effects, biological effects, management effects, potential environmental effects, potential social and economical effects, potential management effects and the proposed potential solutions;
The Ad Hoc Working Group will:
prepare a draft Technical Guidelines on Sustainable Tuna Farming/Fattening Practices in the Mediterranean" to be later discussed in the appropriate fora;
follow-up with the potential solutions to reduce the impacts of farming and propose actions for their implementation, taking into consideration the list of issues to be addressed (below).
To maximize the efficiency of the Working Group and in consideration of its functions as drafting committee, it is suggested to convene a limited number of experts. Participants to the Working Group could be a representative of each GFCM/SAC Sub-Committee (i.e. Economic and Social Sciences, Marine Environment and Ecosystems, Statistics and Information, Stock Assessment), representative(s) of the GFCM Committee on Aquaculture and representative(s) of ICCAT.
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List of issues to be addressed
Statistical issues:
Accurate estimation of total weight of the catch from the wild.
Accurate estimation of the biological characteristics of the catch from the wild (e.g. size composition)
Accurate statistics on the origins of the catch (flag, area, season, transfer and destination).
Accurate statistics on purse seine fishing operations (e.g. fishing effort and fishing strategy)
Accurate estimates of growth and conversion rates in cages.
Biological issues:
Availability of biological samples to perform scientific studies (e.g. fecundity, reproduction and growth).
Management issues:
Monitoring of compliance with current regulations (e.g. TACs and size limits)
Gear conflicts (e.g., between towed cages and long lines)
Shifts in the spatial-temporal distribution of fishing efforts
Potential environment issues:
Impact on wild marine populations used as bait
Pollution, contamination and possible alteration of local environments
Contamination of farmed tunas by chemicals, metals, drugs, etc.
Potential social and economical issues:
Interactions with other coastal activities (e.g. tourism and small-scale fisheries)
Other gear and fishing operation conflicts
Conflicts between aquaculture operations (competition for bait)
Potential management issues:
Pressure to increase fishing efforts and targeting of small to medium-size bluefin tuna
Other issues (as deemed necessary by the Working Group)
