Report of the ICES Advisory Committee on Fishery Management, 2003. Parts 1-3

The ICES Advisory Committee for Fishery Management met twice in 2003, 27 May–5 June and 8–16 October 2002. Both meetings were held at ICES Headquarters, Palægade 2–4, Copenhagen. Attendance is listed on the following pages. The report includes a description on how the Precautionary Approach has been interpreted in the ICES advice (see Form of Advice in the Introductory Chapter). The Form of Advice has been changed since last year with respect to the mixed fisheries on demersal stocks in Division IIIa and Subareas IV, VI, VII, VIII, and IX and is now built on an explicit consideration of fisheries impact on the fish stock complex (mixed fisheries). This consideration has previously been presented in connection with the target stock. The evaluation of the individual stock status is unchanged, however; the management advice for mixed fisheries is presented under the Area Overviews (sections 3.5.1, 3.7.1, 3.8.1, 3.9.1,

and 3.10.1) and not in the sections dealing with individual stocks. The reports are in response to requests from Management Commissions (EC, IBSFC, JNRFC, NEAFC, and NASCO) and from member countries. The requests from Management Commissions fall into two categories: recurrent advice that is specified by Memoranda of Understanding between the Management Commissions and ICES, and Special Requests. Recurrent advice includes assessment of stock status and management advice for the more important stocks in the Northeast Atlantic. This advice is provided in the form used by ICES Advisory Committee for Fishery Management in recent years.