Report of the Study Group on Mapping the Occurrence of Cold Water Corals (SGCOR)

At the 88th Statutory meeting, a Study Group on Mapping the Occurrence of Cold Water Corals (SGCOR) was established to work by correspondence to compile maps identifying the areas where cold water corals occur in the Northeast Atlantic. SGCOR will circulate these maps to ACE and a selection of Working Group Chairs for comment in order to enable ICES (through ACE) to provide advice to the European Community. In addition, SGCOR will compile relevant reports for further consideration by the Working Group on Ecosystem Effects of Fishing Activities (WGECO) in relation to fishing areas. SGCOR will report by 18 October 2001 for the immediate attention of ACE and thereafter of WGECO, and subsequently again of ACE and the Marine Habitat Committee.