17th Meeting of the Scientific Advisory Committee

Event details
Meeting planner

Registration link - 4th Permanent Working Group on Ecosystem and Bycatch (WGEB)

Registration link - 10th Ad Hoc W.G. on Fish-Aggregating Devices (FADs)

Registration link - 4th Meeting of the Ad Hoc WG on MSE

Registration link - 17th Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC)

Hotel Reservations: Embassy Suites by Hilton San Diego La Jolla
La Jolla
8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, California, USA

4th Meeting of the Permanent Working Group on Ecosystem and Bycatch
01 Jun - 02 Jun 2026

Meeting Announcement

See the previous meeting See all similar meetings

Meeting details

Registration link - 4th Permanent Working Group on Ecosystem and Bycatch (WGEB)

Agenda

Agenda of the 4th Working Group on Ecosystem and Bycatch

	Agenda items	Documents
1	Opening of the meeting
2	Adoption of agenda
3	Review of recommendations from the 3rd meeting of the EBWG
4	Updates on Ecosystem and Bycatch Activities
5	Ecosystem
6	Climate Change
7	Elasmobranchs
8	Seabirds
9	Best Handling and Release Practices (BHRP)
10	Recommendations
11	Other business
12	Adjournment

Meeting documents

EBWG-03 Recommendations follow up - Co-Chairs document		Posted on 31 May 26
Preliminary draft of EBWG-04 Co-chairs recommendations		Posted on 02 Jun 26
EBWG-04-01 - Ecosystem Considerations		Corrected on 18 May 26 Posted on 06 May 26
EBWG-04-02 - Albatross and Petrel overlap with pelagic longline fisheries in the EPO		Posted on 23 Apr 26
EBWG-04-03 - Advancing the EcoCard Workplan: Exploring ecoregions and establishing criteria for candidate indicators		Posted on 06 May 26
EBWG-04-04 - Best Handling and Release Practices for Sea Turtles captured in IATTC fisheries		Posted on 14 Apr 26
EBWG-04-05 - Updated Seabird Best Handling and Release Practice Guidelines		Posted on 16 Apr 26
SAC-17-07 - Characterizing and Classifying Longline Fisheries in the IATTC Convention Area: Updated		Revised on 15 May 26 Posted on 27 Apr 26
SAC-17-08 - Updated Best Handling and Release Practice guidelines for sharks in IATTC fisheries		Posted on 06 May 26
SAC-17-09 - Proposed IATTC shark data collection and research plan: Follow-up on paragraphs 15 and 16 of Resolution C-25-08		Posted on 26 May 26

Informational documents

INF-A. Seabird Reporting Template	Posted on 16 Apr 26
INF-B. Notification of a template for the implementation of Resolution C-25-08 -- Conservation measures for the protection and sustainable management of sharks	Posted on 27 May 26
SAC-17- INF-K. Testing the Safety and Efficacy of Shark Bycatch Release Devices: Velcros and Harnesses	Posted on 06 May 26
SAC-17 INF-M. Updated Staff Draft Recommendations on Climate Change	Posted on 06 May 26

Presentations

4.i Characterizing and classifying longline fisheries in the IATTC Convention Area: Updated (SAC-17-07)
4.ii Potential pathways for interactions between deep-sea mining and tuna fisheries
5.i Ecosystem Considerations
5.ii Advancing the EcoCard Workplan
5.iii Persistent hotspots of billfish (by)catch pervade the high seas of the tropical Pacific Ocean
5.iv Meeting on the Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management in tunaRFMOs: Advancing the Development of Ecosystem Indicators
7.i Proposed IATTC Shark Data Collection and Research Plan
7.ii Handling and survival of Silky Sharks captured in Class 4 and 5 purse seine vessels
7.iii Genetic population structure and misidentification reveal the need for regionally informed management of manta and devil rays
7.iv Identifying anthropogenic drivers of mobulid ray bycatch in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) purse seine fishery
7.v A collaborative approach to collecting species-specific manta and devil ray catch data and assessing effect on post release survival
7.vii Capturas incidentales de tiburón azul en el OPO ES
8.iii Ongoing seabird work to support updates at the IATTC
8.v At-sea comparative testing of the effects of different towed objects on the aerial performance of tori lines in tuna longline fisheries
9.i A decade of monitoring Best Practices in tuna purse seine fisheries: Implications for observer data collection
9.iii Pilot study: Testing the safety and efficacy of shark bycatch release devices

Related documents

RD-A. At-sea comparative testing of the effects of different towed objects on the aerial performance of tori lines in tuna longline fisheries
RD-B. A decade of monitoring Best Practices in tuna purse seine fisheries: implications for observer data collection
RD-C. Analysis of incidental catches of blue shark in industrial longline vessels targeting swordfish in the Tropical EPO (2022-2025)
RD-D. USA suggested edits to the shark reporting template (INF-B)
RD-E. PAN proposal for the Establishment of a Billfish Working Group within the IATTC
RD-F. Statement by the Delegation of Guatemala

Background documents

Stahl et al. -- A Comprehensive Approach to Collecting Species-Specific Data and Assessing Post-release Survival on Mobulid Rays in the Hawaii Longline Fisheries

10th Meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group on FADs
03 Jun - 04 Jun 2026

See the previous meeting See all similar meetings

Meeting details

Registration link - 10th Ad Hoc W.G. on Fish-Aggregating Devices (FADs)

Agenda

10th Meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group on FADs

	Agenda items	Documents
1	Opening of the meeting
2	Adoption of the agenda
3	Review of recommendations from the 9th meeting of the FAD Working Group
4	FAD data reporting established in Resolution C-19-01 & C-25-01
5	FAD fishery indicators
6	Advances on biodegradable FADs in the EPO
7	FAD marking: potential benefits and modalities
8	Initiatives to reduce impacts of FADs fishing
9	Conclusions and recommendations
10	Other business
11	Adjournment

Meeting documents

Preliminary draft recommendations of FADWG-10		Posted on 03 Jun 26
FAD-10-01 - Floating-Object Fishery Indicators: A 2025 report		Posted on 06 May 26
FAD-10-02 - Dynamics of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADS) in the EPO: A trajectory-based analysis		Posted on 12 May 26
FAD-10-03 - Evaluation of bio-based FAD materials in relation to marine biodegrability certification standards		Posted on 20 Apr 26
FAD-10-04 - Options for FAD marking in the IATTC		Posted on 11 May 26

Presentations

3. Review of recommendations from the 9th Meeting of the FAD Working Group
4. FAD data reporting established in Resolutions C-24-01 and C-19-02
5.a Floating-object fishery indicators: a 2025 report
6. Evolution of bio-based FAD materials in relation to marine biodegradability certification standards
6.a An Analysis of Fish Aggregating Device Dynamics in the Pacific Ocean
6.c Marine biodegradable materials and how to assess them - Basic definitions, standards, methods, potential and gaps
6.d Biodegradable nets and ropes for FADs
6.f Second International workshop on BioFADs
6.g AGAC's worldwide transition to biodegradable FADs
6.i EcoFADs - Avances en las acciones del 2025 ES
6.j Clarification on some aspects of Resolution C-23-04
8.a Regional data collection program on FAD strandings: update and recommendations
8.b Report from the international workshop on mitigations of dFAD loss and abandonment in the Pacific: Insights from fishing industry communities
8.c Preliminary assessment of the behiaviour of drifting FADs during stranding events and costs of a recovery vessel at sea

Related documents

RD-A. Preliminary assessment of the behavior of drifting FADs during stranding events and costs of recovery vessel at sea
RD-B. Advancing Biodegradable Materials in Fish Aggregating Devices toward Safe and Sustainable-by-Design Fisheries Plastics

Background documents

Second International Workshop on Biodegradable Drifting Fish Aggregating Devices

4th Meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group to Strengthen the Dialogue among Scientists, Managers, and other Stakeholders on MSE
05 Jun 2026

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Meeting details

Registration link - 4th Meeting of the Ad Hoc WG on MSE

Location: Embassy Suites by Hilton, San Diego, La Jolla
Time: 9AM - 5PM
Agenda
4th Meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group to Strengthen the Dialogue among Scientists, Managers, and other Stakeholders on MSE

Meeting documents

SAC-17 INF-Q - An interim multi-species and multi-stock MSE for tropical tunas in the EPO		Posted on 04 Jun 26
SAC-17-05 - Management Strategy Evaluation for Bigeye tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean		Posted on 04 Jun 26

Informational documents

INF-A. Working document on management objectives	Posted on 04 Jun 26
INF-B. Companion guide to the OPO Bigeye tuna MSE	Posted on 04 Jun 26

Presentations

DRAFT - Considerations for Implementing a Management Procedure for Tropical Tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean

17th Meeting of the Scientific Advisory Committee
08 Jun - 12 Jun 2026

Meeting Announcement

See the previous meeting See all similar meetings

Meeting details

Registration link - 17th Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC)

Agenda

17th Meeting of the Scientific Advisory Committee
17th Meeting of the Scientific Advisory Committee - Annotated

	Agenda items	Documents
1	Opening of the meeting
2	Adoption of agenda
3	The fishery in the EPO
3a	The tuna fishery in 2025
4	Tropical tunas: stock assessments and data collection
4a	Stock status indicators (SSIs)
4b	Bigeye (BET) update assessment
4c	IATTC Tropical Tuna Tagging Program: proposed collaborative workplan
4d	Development and implementation of the Integrated Port Sampling Program: update
5	Tropical tuna: development of harvest strategies
5a	BET Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE)
5b	BET harvest strategy
5c	Staff recommendations for conservation and management: tropical tunas
6	FADs
6a	Report of the FADs WG
7	Temperate tunas and other species
7a	Pacific bluefin tuna (PBF):
7a.i	ISC and IATTC-WCPFC-NC Joint WG: update
7b	North Pacific albacore tuna (NP-ALB):
7b.i	ISC benchmark assessment
7c	South Pacific albacore tuna (SP-ALB):
7c.i	Joint IATTC-WCPFC-WG: update
7d	Dorado (DOR): update
7e	Staff recommendations for conservation and management: temperate tunas
8	Ecosystem and bycatch
8a	Sharks and rays
8a.i	Characterization of longline fleets in the Convention Area: update
8a.ii	Guidelines for best handling and release practices for sharks: update
8a.iii	Proposed shark data collection and research plan for the IATTC: follow-up on paragraphs 15 and 16 of C-25-08
8b	Dolphin research: update
8c	Climate change
8c.i	Report on 2nd Workshop on Climate Change
8d	IATTC Achotines Laboratory: discussion on future activities
8e	Staff recommendations for conservation and management: ecosystem and bycatch
8f	Report of the Ecosystem and Bycatch WG
9	Staff recommendations
10	Other business
11	SAC recommendations
12	Adjournment

Meeting documents

SAC-17-01 - The Tuna Fishery in the Eastern Pacific Ocean in 2025		Posted on 15 May 26
SAC-17-02 - Stock Status Indicators (SSI) for Tropical Tunas in the Eastern Pacific Ocean		Posted on 18 May 26
SAC-17-03 - Stock Assessment of Bigeye tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean: 2026 Update Assessment		Posted on 15 May 26
SAC-17-04 - Development and Implementation of the Integrated Port Sampling Program: Update		Posted on 05 May 26
SAC-17-05 - Management Strategy Evaluation for Bigeye tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean		Posted on 15 May 26
SAC-17-07 - Characterizing and Classifying Longline Fisheries in the IATTC Convention Area: Updated		Revised on 15 May 26 Posted on 10 Apr 26
SAC-17-08 - Shark BHRP guidelines		Posted on 10 Apr 26
SAC-17-09 - Proposed IATTC shark data collection and research plan: Follow-up on paragraphs 15 and 16 of Resolution C-25-08		Posted on 26 May 26
SAC-17-10a - Staff Recommendations for Management and Data Collection: TUNA (Part 1)		Posted on 27 May 26
SAC-17-10b - Staff Recommendations for Management and Data Collection: Non-target species (Part 2)		Posted on 25 May 26

Informational documents

INF-B. Synopsis of longline observer data reporting pursuant to Resolution C-19-08	Revised on 02 Jun 26 Posted on 22 May 26
INF-C. Implementation of the IATTC Regional Observer Program for Transshipments at sea in accordance with Resolution C-22-03	Posted on 18 May 26
INF-F. Tuna Tagging Project Strategies 2026-2028	Posted on 27 Apr 26
INF-G. Enhanced Monitoring Program - 2025 Report	Posted on 05 May 26
INF-H.a. ISC PBF MSE Final Report (with Erratum)	Posted on 18 May 26
INF-H.b. ISC PBFWG Response to JWGI-03	Posted on 18 May 26
INF-H.c. Report Joint IATTC and WCPFC-NC PBF WG - March 2026	Posted on 18 May 26
INF-I. Executive Draft Summary on ISC North Pacific Albacore Assessment	Posted on 12 May 26
INF-J. Dorado: Advances in collaborative research	Posted on 28 May 26
INF-K. Testing the Safety and Efficacy of Shark Bycatch Release Devices: Velcros and Harnesses	Posted on 05 May 26
INF-M. Updated Staff Draft Recommendations on Climate Change	Posted on 05 May 26
INF-N. Considerations and opportunities to strengthen the IATTC's Achotines Laboratory	Posted on 21 May 26
INF-O. Feasibility study for sample collection to update morphometric relationships and biological samples of sharks in the EPO	Posted on 17 Apr 26
INF-P. Preliminary report on proposed sampling designs for collecting fisheries-dependent data for the assessment of priority shark species populations.	Posted on 17 Apr 26
INF-Q. An interim multi-species and multi-stock MSE for tropical tunas in the EPO	Posted on 03 Jun 26
INF-S. Report for project: Close-Kin Mark-Recapture (CKMR) to assess population abundance of ETP dolphins: Phase I - Sampling feasibility	Posted on 05 May 26
INF-U. Science advice on interpreting historical impacts of fleets fishing for north Pacific albacore tuna in terms of fishing intensity	Posted on 12 May 26
INF-V. South EPO Swordfish: Strategy for International Cooperation	Posted on 22 May 26
INF-W. South EPO Albacore catch and longline effort statistics (1981-2024)	Posted on 26 May 26

Annual summary reporting - scientific observers for longline vessels (Resolution C-19-08)

INF-A(a). ECU Annual Report 2025
INF-A(b). PAN Annual Report 2025
INF-A(c). KOR Annual Report 2025
INF-A(d). CHN Annual Report 2025
INF-A(e). USA Annual Report 2025
INF-A(f). MEX Annual Report 2025
INF-A(g). TWN Annual Report 2025
INF-A(h). TWN Annual Report 2024 (updated)
INF-A(i). JPN Annual Report 2025
INF-A(j). JPN Annual Report 2024 (updated)
INF-A(k). EUR Annual Report 2025
INF-A(l). CRI Annual Report 2025
INF-A(m). VUT Annual Report 2025