22 July 2010. Málaga, Spain. CopeMed II held the ad hoc meeting between Morocco and Spain on red seabream P. bogaraveo. Following a request of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC, GFCM) to Spain and Morocco, experts from the INRH centres in Tangier and Nador (Morocco) and Spanish experts from the IEO centre in Fuengirola (Málaga) and from the Junta de Andalucía in Seville met in the project premises to review the situation of the two countries’ fisheries targeting the red seabream. After reviewing the existing information in the two countries the experts agreed in having a new meeting next September to carry out a joint assessment of the stock.

14-18 June 2010. Course on Technological Advances in Fishing Gear for Sustainable Management. Twenty-nine experts from nine Mediterranean countries and the EC and Argentina met in Zaragoza (IAMZ/CIHEAM) to follow a course on fishing gears selectivity. Experts from several CopeMed II countries attended the course: Morocco (DPMA, INRH), Tunisia (UTAP, INSTM, MARH, IRESA), Algeria (MPRH), France, Italy and Spain. The Coordinator of CopeMed II was participating in the course as invited lecture. Mr. Luis Esteruelas, Director IAMZ/CIHEAM closed the course during a ceremony in which the course certificates were distributed to the participants.

18-19/05/2010, Libian Arab Jamahiriya. 8th MedSudMed Coordination Committee Meeting. The 8th Coordination Committee Meeting was kindly hosted by the Marine Biology Research Centre of Tajura. The Meeting was focused on the inter committee period activities and on activities to be planned for the next 12 months. The meeting was attended by delegations from the four participating countries (Italy, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malta and Tunisia), as well as by a representative of the Italian Donor, the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department and the FAO General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean and Black Sea.

06-07/05/2010. CopeMed II Third Coordination Committee Meeting. The Third Meeting of the Coordination Committee reviewed the aims and results achieved during the last year by ArtFiMed and CopeMed II. The coordination committee meeting was also an occasion to discuss and plan a possible extension of the project.

29-30/04/2010. Meeting in CopeMed II offices to organize the Subregional Demersal and Pelagic Working Groups in the CopeMed II area. Experts from France, Italy, Morocco, Spain and Tunisia, the FAO and the EastMed and CopeMed II projects met in Malaga (CopeMed II Offices) to discuss on the list of shared stocks in the subregion and organize the Demersal and Pelagic Working Groups. Mr O. Jarboui from Tunisia was nominated convener for the demersal WG and Mr. L. Quintanilla from Spain convener for the pelagic WG. Agenda and documents for the meeting can be downloaded here.

19-20/04/2010: EastMed Inception Meeting, Athens (Greece). The inception meeting of the new FAO subregional project EastMed was held in the project premises in Athens. Delegates from the member countries, the FAO Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources Use and Conservation Dr. K. Cochrane and other FAO experts; the Coordinators of the Project AdriaMed and CopeMed also responsible of MedSudMed and ArtFiMed were present and offered the vision of their experience to the new project.

13-17/04/2010: GFCM, 34th Commission Meeting, Athens (Greece). National Delegates from the CopeMed II countries participating in the ordinary GFCM Commission Meeting and in the COC (Committee on Compliance) were present during the sessions held in Athens. CopeMed II Coordinator and the other FAO Project’s Coordinator were participating and supporting activities of the GFCM Secretariat. - Report of the GFCM 34th Session.

03/04/2010: CopeMed II and ArtFiMed Coordinator attended the 11th Coordination Meeting of AdriaMed in Kotor (Montenegro). For the first time since his appointment as CopeMed II Coordinator, Juan A. Camiñas attended the 11th Coordination Meeting of AdriaMed in Kotor (Montenegro), representing all the Projects of CopeMed II. The Coordinator of AdriaMed, Enrico Arneri, celebrated his presence and, as AdriaMed and MedSudMed representative (MedSudMed share countries with CopeMed II: Tunisia, Libya, Malta and Italy), defend strength of cooperation between both of the Projects. More information: http://www.faoadriamed.org.

March 2010: Preparation of a protocol for the experiences of the 40 mm square mesh size selectivity. From the discussions held during the meeting of the sub regional Working Group on the implementation of the 40 mm square mesh size, the Project cared of the preparation of a Protocol for the experiences of selectivity that could be common for all the countries and that will include the basic needs and methodologies for undertaking this kind of campaign. The experts Jacques Sacchi and Jorge Baro have worked to prepare this CopeMed II protocol which is already in its final editing phase.

16/02/2010: Meeting in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Direction (DPMA). Rabat (Morocco). Juan Antonio Camiñas and Matthieu Bernardon travelled to Rabat where they met with the Moroccan fishery authorities to discuss the pilot plan for the implementation of the 40 mm mesh in the trawl fleets. The meeting was held at the Fishery and Aquaculture Direction and was chaired by its Directrice Ms Driouich. The purpose of the meeting was to review various points of interest between the Moroccan authorities and CopeMed II, of which a scientific pilot campaign on the selectivity of 40 mm square mesh applied to demersal trawling fleets. The meeting was attended by representatives of the DPMA, the General Director of the INRH, the FAO Representative in Morocco and members of the Projects ArtFiMed and CopeMed II.

25-29/01/2010: Experts from several Mediterranean countries visiting the Kotor Marine Laboratory. During the celebration of the annual SAC meeting in Budva (Montenegro, 25-29 January) a group of FAO experts and SAC Delegates from several countries, the Chairperson of the SAC Dr. H. Farrugio and the four Coordinators of the Sub Committees visited Kotor Center of Marine Research. Under the direction of Dr. Aleksandar Joksimovic, Director of Institute of Marine Biology the experts visited the Center departments and conversed with the Institute experts.

02/12/2009: Meeting of Coordination Committee of the GFCM Sub-Committees in CopeMed II headquarters (Malaga). After the end of the regular sessions of the forth SAC Sub-Committees in Malaga (Spain), the Coordination Committee meeting of the Sub-Committees took place, with the participation of the GFCM’ Secretary, President and Vice-president of SAC, coordinators of Sub-Committees and experts of FAO and regional projects AdriaMed, ArtFiMed, CopeMed II, EastMed, MedSudMed and MedFisis.

30/11-3/12/2009: SAC Anual Meeting of GCPM Sub-Committees in CopeMed II headquarters. Regular sessions of the forth SAC Sub-Committees took place in CopeMed II headquarters from November 30th to December 3rd 2009. CopeMed II supported local organisation and meetings with the participation of its experts as technical support to Environment, Economy and Social Sciences Sub-Committees.

11/2009: Representatives of Fisheries Administration of Algeria, IEO (Spain) and expert of CopeMed II met to strength collaboration. The Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and FAO-CopeMed II Project, met in Malaga with Representatives of the Algerian Administration lay the foundations for cooperation in fisheries matters.

26-27/10/2009: Meeting in Tunisia with General Direction for Fisheries and General Director of INSTM, and visit of ArtFiMed headquarters in Gabes. Juan A. Camiñas and Matthieu Bernardon met in Tunisia with the General Director of Fisheries Dr. Missaoui and staff member Mrs Belkaia. Then, they visited the INSTM, where they disccused with the General Director Dr. Ridha MRabet and they travelled to Gabes with the NPP of ArtFiMed Mr. Elaiba. In Gabes, the Day of Traditional Fishery was celebrated, organised by ArtFiMed and the General Direction of Fisheries.