Stock Assessment Group (SAG)

The CCSBT identified the need to separate the technical evaluation and advisory roles of its Scientific Committee. To achieve this objective the CCSBT agreed to the establishment of a technical subcommittee or working group (called the Stock Assessment Group of SAG) to conduct the scientific stock assessments and technical evaluation of data from the SBT fishery. The SAG performs the following scientific role for the CCSBT:-

• review any new information on the stock structure and biology of SBT;
  
• update the stock assessment of SBT, including estimating trends in abundance and current and future stock size;
  
• develop and evaluate methods and models for assessing the stock status of SBT;
  
• provide the technical evaluation of the implications of management measures that have been identified by the Scientific Committee;
  
• consider any matter referred to it by the Scientific Committee;
  
• identify the research and technical requirements for future stock assessment of SBT;
  
• produce a report as specified in the agreed "Format and Content for the Report from the Stock Assessment Group";
  
• refer matters to the Scientific Committee for consideration.

Scientific Committee (SC)

The Scientific Committee (SC) has been established as an advisory body to the Commission. The main activities of the SC are as follows:-

• assess and analyse the status and trends of the population of SBT;
  
• coordinate research and studies of SBT;
  
• report to the Commission its findings or conclusions, including consensus, majority and minority views, on the status of SBT stock and, where appropriate, of ecologically related species;
  
• make recommendations, as appropriate, to the Commission by consensus on matters concerning the conservation, management and optimum utilisation of SBT;
  
• consider any matter referred to it by the Commission.
  

	The Roles of Independent Chairs of SAG/ SC
	and the Advisory Panel to the Scientific Process of CCSBT

In accordance with the recommendation of the Report of the 1998 Peer Review Panel (PDF 172Kb) (Dr Jean-Jacques Maguire, Dr Patrick J. Sullivan and Dr Syoiti Tanaka ), the CCSBT has established an Advisory Panel to provide external input to its stock assessment and scientific processes. It has also appointed independent chairpersons for the SAG and Scientific Committee.

Chairs of SAG and SC and members of the Advisory Panel are as follows:-

The Duties of the independent chairs of SAG and SC are:-

• circulate the draft agenda through the Secretariat;
  
• declare the meeting schedule, the opening and closing of Meetings of SC/SAG;
  
• direct discussions in the Meetings, to ensure that the work of SC/SAG adheres to the scientific principles of demonstrable evidence, statement of assumptions and examination of logic, and to ensure observance of these Rules;
  
• facilitate reaching consensus to the extent possible;
  
• accord the right to speak and to limit the time allowed for speaking;
  
• rule on points of order, subject to the right of any Member to request that any ruling by the Chair be submitted to SC/SAG for decision;
  
• ascertain if consensus exists;
  
• in relation to each Meeting of SC/SAG, to sign, on behalf of SC/SAG, a report of the proceedings of the Meeting for transmission to the Commission/SC and present such reports to the Commission/SC;
  
• to convey to the Executive Secretary/Chair of SC any instructions determined by SC/SAG;
  
• the authority to call meetings of the representatives of the Members after conferring with the representatives; and
  
• to exercise other powers and responsibilities as provided in the Rules of Procedure for the Commission and make such decisions and give such directions as will ensure that the business of SC/SAG is carried out effectively and in accordance with its decisions.

The Advisory Panel terms of reference are:-

• to participate in all meetings of the SAG, SC and other scientific meetings as requested by the Commission;
  
• to help to consolidate parties' views to facilitate consensus;
  
• to incorporate their views in SAG/SC reports and provide to SC and CCSBT in the form of a report of their own views on stock assessment and other matters.