Report of the 2019 ICCAT sub-committee on ecosystems meeting

In 2018 the SCRS elaborated a work plan for 2019 that included an intersessional meeting of the Sub-Committee on Ecosystems. The meeting was held between 8-12 April 2019, in Madrid (Spain). Pertaining to the ecosystem’s component, in conjunction with the proposal to develop an Ecosystem report card for ICCAT, the Sub-committee reviewed progress on the inter-sessional exercise to update the status of the 11 ecosystem components that were identified earlier. As in 2018, the Sub-committee continued the work required to assess the feasibility of and provide information towards implementing ecosystems-based fisheries management (EBFM) in agreement with Resolution 15-11. Furthermore, reported on the trophic ecology of pelagic ecosystems that are important and unique for ICCAT species in the Convention area as per Resolution 16-23. Pertaining to by-catch component, the Sub-committee continued the ongoing collaborative work related to seabirds and marine turtles, namely related to the impact of tuna fisheries on these taxa. Several papers were presented on mitigation measures for by-catch and mortality in tuna fisheries: intra and interspecific effects of the measures. Finally, the Sub-Committee initiated a process to review the mitigation measures and their effects in the different fisheries of ICCAT.