Report of the 15th Session of the IOTC Working Party on Data Collection and Statistics

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The 15th Session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission’s (IOTC) Working Party on Data Collection and Statistics (WPDCS) was held in Karachi, Pakistan, from the 27th to the 30th of November 2019. A total of 41 participants attended the Session.

The following are a subset of the complete recommendations and decisions from the WPDCS15 to the Scientific Committee, which are provided at Appendix VI.

Alternative approaches to the revision of official species composition for the Spanish log-associated catch-and-effort data for tropical tuna species in 2018

WPDCS15.01 (para. 61) The WPDCS RECOMMENDED that a data preparatory meeting be organized prior to the Working Party on Tropical Tunas in order to ensure sufficient time is dedicated to resolving

issues with the quality and preparation of the input data for the stocks assessments.

Revision of the WPDCS Program of work (2019–2023)

WPDCS15.02 (para. 182): The WPDCS RECOMMENDED that the Scientific Committee consider and endorse the WPDCS Program of Work (2020–2024), as provided at Appendix V.

Review of the draft, and adoption of the report of the 15th Session of the WPDCS

WPDCS15.03 (para. 190): The WPDCS RECOMMENDED that the Scientific Committee consider the consolidated set of recommendations arising from WPDCS15, provided at Appendix VI.