The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) held its ninth session at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, from 24 to 27 Octobre 2006. Delegates from 18 Members of the Commission participated. 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). SAC reviewed and refor mulated management advice; it furthermore showed appreciation for a gradual implementation of the 40 mm square mesh codend of bottom trawls. The Committee took note of progress 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 encouraged the use of socio-economic indicators in fisheries management, including in recreational fisheries. The Committee proposed to relaunch the activities of the GFCM/ICCAT Joint Working Group on Large Pelagic Species. The Committee agreed upon its Workplan for 2007.