The fifth session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) met in Rome, Italy, from 1 to 4 July 2002 and was attended by delegates from sixteen members of the Commission. The Committee reviewed the conclusions and recommendations of its four Sub-Committees and their Ad Hoc Working Groups. SAC endorsed the recommendations of the GFCM/lnternational Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Working Group on Large Pelagic Species and recommended developing technical guidelines on sustainable tuna farming and fattening practices. It further recommended management measures for three demersal species and for two small pelagic species. The Committee adopted a set of economic indicators and thirteen fleet segments mainly based on "métiers" and vessel length to contribute to monitoring fleet capacity. It discussed stock assessment methods, elaborated a strategy to cope with the ecosystem-based management approach and addressed the issue of involving the private sector in GFCM research activities. SAC agreed on a programme of work for the intersessional period and appointed two new vice-chairpersons of the Committee.