Fisheries Data Collection 22nd Liaison Meeting: Meeting between the Chairs of RCGs, key end-users, European Commission DG Mare and JRC

The 22nd Liaison Meeting (LM), bringing together the Chairs of the Regional Coordination Groups
(RCGs), key end-users (STECF, RMFOs, ICES), JRC, and the Commission, was held on September
23rd and 24th, 2025, in a hybrid format. The meeting was opened by the Commission and the LM
chair who introduced the ToRs and the agenda, and highlighted the importance of high-quality data
to inform policy. The LM was described as the forum where issues that affect several marine regions
can be assessed and discussed, providing valuable input and insights to improve collaboration at
both regional and pan-regional levels.
The first day of the meeting was dedicated to end-users and their interaction with RCGs.
Contributions from SPRFMO, SIOFA, IOTC, ICCAT, GFCM, STECF/JRC and ICES were presented. Endusers described the basics of their mandate and the main issues and difficulties encountered. They
highlighted ongoing work on data platforms for uploading and storing data, improving quality-control
tools, adjusting the timing of data calls and making data requirements clearer and simpler for
Member States (MS). End-users acknowledged good cooperation with RCGs in different ways such
as improving data quality, advancing research, revising reporting forms, improving métier coding or
working on bycatch mitigation. The need to improve communication on MS data amendments to
Data Calls was highlighted, and the use of standard templates was proposed. It was also noted that
the changes in one data call variable may have a large effect on other databases, so changes must
be done with caution and in collaboration with other end-users.
Regional databases are recognized as the cornerstone for storing and disseminating DCF data.
Progress on the Regional Database for the Mediterranean and Black Sea (RDBFIS) and the Regional
Database & Estimation System (RDBES) were presented. The importance of coordinating both
databases was highlighted, especially in streamlining data calls and developing a common format for
data on diadromous, large pelagic and bycatch species. The work done by RCGs on confidentiality
and data sharing was presented, showing that MS concerns are mostly with publication of data (and
not that much with sharing and using the data for scientific purposes), and that socio-economic data
are the most sensitive. The current proposal, where MS decide on sensitivity levels for data
publication, was presented and discussed.
The second day focused on the coordination among RCGs. RCGs presented a summary of their
activities, including work on data quality, sampling optimization, incorporation of new types of data,
métiers codification, regional databases, data calls and preparation of the next Regional Work Plan
(RWP). Main decisions and recommendations were presented. No changes in the RoP were reported.
A pan-regional joint meeting on bycatch data, with relevant RCGs and end-users, was proposed to
strengthen coordination in the submission of bycatch data. The challenges for the collection of data
on fuel use and carbon emissions were discussed and feedback was provided. Collaboration was
suggested between the RCG ECON and the ICES Working Group on Economic issues, the ISSG on
métiers and transversal variables and the ISSG on regional RWP. The group reflected on the
difficulties in optimizing data collection and prioritizing the variables to be collected, discussed the
different approaches used by the RCGs, and agreed that stronger interaction between RCGs and endusers is essential. Another point raised was that the DCF cannot support the collection of all types of
data, and that a distinction needs to be done between core DCF requirements and opportunistic data
collection. With regard to the RWPs, the Commission agreed on the request to maintain the current
format of the RWP unchanged, the key dates for the RWP submission were defined, and options for
setting the reference periods in table 2.1 were discussed.