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The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT ) will hold an inter-sessional meeting of its SCRS (Standing Committee on Research and Statistics) Sub-committee on Ecosystems in Recife, Brazil from 8-12 June 2009.

The objectives of the meeting include finalizing the evaluation of the impact of ICCAT fisheries on seabird populations.  The degree of overlap between fishing effort and bird distribution and an estimation of the total numbers of birds caught will form part of this evaluation.

A planned outcome is preparing advice to the Commission on modifications to Recommendation 07-07 on Reducing Incidental By-Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (click here).  The recommendation requires all vessels fishing south of 20°S to carry and use bird-scaring lines (tori poles) – although vessels fishing for swordfish may be exempted under certain conditions.

Visit http://www.iccat.int/Documents/Meetings/Announce/839-09_ENG.pdf for more information on the meeting.

News from John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, posted 20 May 2009