TERMS OF REFERENCE
OF THE SCIENTIFIC WORKING GROUP
FOR STOCK ASSESSMENT ON NERITIC TUNAS
IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN REGION

(Adopted at 52^nd SEAFDEC Council)

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I. Introduction and Rationale

Refers to the Expert Group Meeting on Regional Plan of Action on Sustainable Utilization of Neritic Tuna Resources in the Southeast Asian Waters conducted on 18-20 June 2014 in Krabi Province, Thailand, that, during the workshop, one of the important outputs was the need to establish Scientific Working Group on Stock Assessment for neritic tunas in the Southeast Asian waters herein after called “SWG-Neritic tunas”. In this connection, SEAFDEC Member Countries namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam nominated their delegations to work as members of the scientific working group since October 2014. To facilitate the work of Scientific Working Group, SEAFDEC formulated the Term of Reference (ToR) and finalized by all members of the SWG at the 1st Meeting of the Scientific Working Group on Neritic Tunas Stock Assessment in the Southeast Asian Waters, 18-20 November 2014 in Malaysia, and later adopted at the 47^th Meeting of the Council in April 2015 (http://www.seafdec.or.th/neritic-tunas/tor.php). The objective of the ToR is to ensure that the regional cooperation from the ASEAN Member States (AMS) on the stock assessment of the neritic tunas can be effectively implemented by the SWG as well as SEAFDEC to continue support under the ToR framework. During the 50^th Meeting of SEAFDEC Council in 2018, the Council suggested that the TOR of Scientific Working Group should expand to other species, such as anchovy, sardines, Indo-Pacific mackerels and also suggested SEAFDEC could continue the activities on the stock and risk assessments of neritic tunas that will be provided the results which undertaken in coordination with to the relevant RFMOs. This TOR was revised based on the 2015 adopted TOR on SWG Neritic Tuna accommodating the suggestions from the 50th Meeting of SEAFDEC Council.

II. Role of SWG-Neritic tunas

The role of SWG is to provide technical/scientific advice particular on the current status of neritic tuna fisheries resources and policy consideration needs to the SEAFDEC Council for the improvement of fisheries management in Southeast region.

III. Scope of Work

SWG will cover data collection, genetic study and other relevant activities to support stock assessment on neritic tunas, mackerel species (seerfish), and the other important pelagic fishes for the management of neritic tunas and the other important pelagic fishes in Southeast Asian waters.

IV. Terms of Reference of the SWG-Neritic tunas

• To review and assess the current resource status of the neritic tuna and the other important pelagic fishes in the region;
• To provide scientific based recommendations on priority fisheries management issues which may include policy consideration, and coordinated fisheries management actions for sustainable utilization of neritic tunas and the other important pelagic fishes;
• To share the national catch and effort data/information including the biological data (if available) for regional stock assessment of the neritic tunas and the other important pelagic fishes;
• To identify the needs for human capacity requirements in Member Countries; and
• To coordinate with international/regional organizations, programs or projects concerned with fisheries management and sustainable use of fisheries resources in formulating advice.

V. Composition of the SWG-Neritic tunas

The composition of the SWG-Neritic tunas is identified as follows:

a. SWG-Neritic tunas:
The SWG comprises at least two standing members representing the SEAFDEC Member Country by nomination with Four-year fixed tenure of members and possibility for reappointment.

b. Chief Scientist(s):
An interim Chief Scientist for stock assessment of neritic tunas shall be a stock assessment expert from MFRDMD. A work period of the Chief Scientist is depended upon the tenure of the study period as decided by the SWG.

c. Chairperson:
SWG-Neritic tunas shall be chaired by Chief MFRDMD and co-chaired by a representative of its Member Countries on an annual/biennial rotational basis following alphabetical in order.

d. Resources persons/ Experts:
SWG-Neritic tunas may identify and invite resource persons/experts from the Member Countries, ASEAN and other international/regional organizations to participate in SWG Meeting on an ad-hoc basis.

e. Secretariat:
MFRDMD shall serve as a secretariat of the SWG meeting, as well as coordinate with the SWG members on the propose period and date of the meeting.

f. Rapporteur:
Secretariat of the meeting shall perform a Rapporteur of the SWG meeting in collaboration with the host country.

VI. Nature of SWG Activities and Financial Arrangements

1. SWG is scheduled to meet at least once every other year. The timing of the meeting(s) should be set in accordance with SEAFDEC annual working cycle before the SEAFDEC Program Committee Meeting.
2. Inter-sessional activities may be conducted as the need arises and subject to availability of funds.
3. The SWG meetings will be partially funded by relevant programs/projects of SEAFDEC managing by the secretariat of the working group. Under this condition, a certain amount of the money would be used for the meeting cost and participation of members from SEAFDEC to the SWG meetings; while the Member Countries would bear the cost for their participation to the SWG meetings starting from 2020.
4. The cost for attendance of the resource persons during SWG meeting (s) or during the inter-sessional activities should be from the relevant program/activity, while the cost for the experts/representatives from international/regional organizations will be shouldered by their respective organizations.
5. The cost for the inter-sessional activities will be funded by relevant programs/projects of SEAFDEC and/or extra-budgetary sources.
6. SEAFDEC MFRDMD and the Secretariat in collaboration with the Member Countries are responsible for sourcing extra-budgetary funds for SWG.
7. Based on SWG’s advice, the SEAFDEC Council will decide on how such advice should be considered and followed-up for the next session including imparting the recommendations to the ASEAN through ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Fisheries.

VII. Mechanism to Convey the Technical/Scientific Advice/Recommendation

Remarks: At the 2^nd SWG-Neritic Tuna Meeting in RIMF, Hai Phong, Viet Nam, the meeting suggested that any Scientific based recommendations from the SWG meeting should send to NC for consideration and comments before further submission to Secretariat and the SEAFDEC Council.