22nd Regular Session of the Scientific Committee

SC22 will consider the proposed process for establishing a periodic schedule of independent reviews of WCPFC stock assessments, including the proposed criteria for identifying candidate stocks for review and their application in developing an indicative review schedule. SC22 will also discuss how independent reviews can be integrated with the existing stock assessment schedule and harvest strategy work programme and consider whether the proposed process should be applied on a periodic basis to support the Scientific Committee's future work.

SC12 adopted a formal Process for the Independent Review of Stock Assessments, including provisions for developing a multi-year review schedule, Commission approval, reviewer selection, and the conduct of independent reviews. At SC21, the Scientific Committee recognised the importance of establishing a regular programme of independent reviews as good fisheries management practice and recommended that this matter be considered at SC22. In response, WCPFC-SC22-2026-GN-WP06 proposes a process for developing a periodic schedule of independent reviews, including criteria for identifying candidate stocks for review and an illustrative application of those criteria that takes account of the existing stock assessment schedule and harvest strategy work programme.

See Attachment K, SC12 Summary Report.