SPRFMO SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE (SC)
Mandate
The Scientific Committee is established by Article 10 of the SPRFMO Convention and has the following functions:
- to plan, conduct and review scientific assessments of the status of fishery resources;
- provide advice and recommendations to the Commission on assessments (including precautionary and other reference points) and management strategies;
- provide advice and recommendations to the Commission and its subsidiary bodies on the impact of fishing on the marine ecosystems (including on vulnerable marine ecosystems, VMEs);
- encourage and promote cooperation in scientific research.
The SC provides scientific advice and recommendations to the Commission, which uses this input to adopt Conservation and Management Measures (CMMs) and guide policy.
Structure
The following table illustrates the current structure and Chairpersons of the Scientific Committee:
| Body/Group/Team | Chairperson | Vice-chairperson |
| Scientific Committee (SC) | Dr Ricardo Oliveros Ramos (PER) | Ignacio Paya (CHL) |
| Jack Mackerel Working Group (JMWG) | Dr Jim Ianelli (USA) | |
| Deep Water Working Group (DWWG) | Dr Trent Timmis (AUS) | |
| Squid Working Group (SQWG) | Dr Gang Li (CHN) | Ignacio Paya (CHL) |
| Ecosystems Working Group (EWG) | Dr Sebastian Vasquez (CHL) | |
| Data Working Group (DWG) | Vacant | |
| MSE Task Team | Dr Niels Hintzen (EUR) | |
| Climate Change Task Team | Dr Jorge Tam (PER) | |
| Salas y Gomez Task Team | Vacant |
SC Workplan
The SPRFMO Scientific Committee Multiannual Workplan contains the activities, timelines, and funding priorities for the short and medium-term work of the Scientific Committee. It is an instrument of cyclic synergy between the Scientific Committee and the Commission; it serves as a reference for the work of the Scientific Committee throughout the year and is endorsed and adopted annually by the Commission.
A proposed multiannual workplan is prepared by the Scientific Committee during its meeting and included as an annex within the SC meeting report. It is then put forward as a meeting document to the Commission for consideration, relevant amendments, and ultimately, adoption. The workplan adopted by the Commission is then published as a standalone Annex to the meeting report and guides the immediate intersessional and future work of the Scientific Committee.
The current Multiannual Workplan del SC was adopted by the Commission at its 2025 annual meeting, and it's available as part of the Commission report.
Relevant CMMs
A number of Conservation and Management Measures have specific requirements requiring input from the Scientific Committee, including:
- CMM 01 (Trachurus murphyi)
- CMM 02 (Data Standards)
- CMM 03 (Bottom Fishing)
- CMM 03a (Deepwater Species)
- CMM 09 (Seabirds)
- CMM 13 (Exploratory fisheries)
- All CMM 14 (Exploratory fisheries)
- CMM 16 (Observer Programme)
- CMM 18 (Squid)
Useful links
- 2022 Proposed Jack Mackerel Harvest Control Rule
- 2024 template for succinct description of Fisheries Operations Plans
- 2020 SPRFMO Maturity Stages for Jumbo Flying Squid
- 2020 MSE Group Web Meeting Reports
- 2020 Jack mackerel MSE Management Objectives
- 2020 Template for request of VMS information for Science purposes (and explanatory notes)
- 2019 Protocol for papers to be submitted to the Scientific Committee
- 2019 Guidelines for Annual National Reports
- 2019 Bottom Fishing Impact Assessment Standard
- 2014 Adjusted Annex K in SC-02 Final Report
- 2014 Annex K Proposed Jack Mackerel Rebuilding Plan