Major topics discussed were: present situation of fishery statistical data collection in the CECAF region with a case study; fisheries data and their transformation into information for basic fisheries management; review of the present state of exploitation of stocks and management requirements; and future scientific work in the region.

Major topics discussed were: present situation of fishery statistical data collection in the CECAF region with a case study; fisheries data and their transformation into information for basic fisheries management; review of the present state of exploitation of stocks and management requirements; and future scientific work in the region.

Topics discussed at the meeting, held in Togo in February 2004, include: reports of the three working groups on artisanal fisheries, demersal species and small pelagics; fisheries management issues in the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic region; the position regarding fisheries data in the region; the status of fish stocks in the high seas area of the Eastern Central Atlantic ocean and the legal and institutional arrangements for the region.

Major topics discussed were: action on recommendations of the fourteenth session; global emerging issues in fisheries development and management relevant to the region; recommendations of the CECAF Scientific Sub-Committee and its future work; possibilities for upgrading the committee to a commission level; and regional implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.