Report of the Regional Coordination Meeting for the North Atlantic 2014 (RCM NA 2014)

• Main Authors: Rodríguez-Gutiérrez, J. (José), Juárez, A. (Ana), Zenner, A. (Annemie), Harley, B., Elson, J. (Jon), Beek, F., Zarauz, L. (Lucía), Mugerza, E. (Estanis), McCormick, H. (Helen), Reis, D.B. (Diana), Ulleweit, J. (Jens), Pout, A. (Alastair), Dintheer, C. (Christian), Azevedo, M. (Manuela), Dias, M., Bertelsen, M. (Mette), Kjems-Nilsen, H. (Henrik), Drukker, B.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Centro Oceanográfico de Santander 2014
• Subjects: data collection; regional coordination; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10508/9782

The 11th RCM North Atlantic was held in Horta (Portugal) 22-26 September 2014. Due to the delayed introduction of the revised DCF the European Commission decided a roll-over in 2013 meaning Member States National Programmes 2011-2013 remains unchanged for the period 2014-2017. The limitations this decision brings for coordination of current MS national programmes have allowed RCM NA to focus in three major different aspects of the data collection where a better integration –as stated by article 4 Commission Decision 665/2008— is currently needed. 1. Concurrent sampling One of the major changes in the DCF that came into force in 2009 was a shift towards concurrent sampling: a sampling strategy covering the sampling of all species during sampling operations. Via this strategy the DCF is able to facilitate the data demands of the existing stock-based assessments as well as serving the revised needs for the ecosystem approach to fishery management. The requirements for concurrent length sampling were developed in PGCCDBS07. Implementation studies were done through the following years at national level and an ICES Workshop (2008) discussed about the common problems and the way for best implementation. However it seems concurrent sampling has been under discussion in some countries since then. STECF report (STECF, 12-07) noted “that concurrent sampling of different fish stocks in the same catch is carried out differently in different Member States leading to inconsistent estimates of catch compositions from sampling schemes. There is a need to explain and define concurrent sampling in order to ensure consistent sampling by MS.” RCM NA analysed the current situation. Data collected is increasingly being used by groups to provide additional information, not available in the past under historic data collection methods. RCM NA detailed the ICES Working Groups that have benefited from the introduction of concurrent sampling allowing them to provide more robust advice. Moreover, there are a large number of stocks lacking ...