The main functions of the Scientific Committee are to provide the Commission with scientific advice and recommendations on conservation and management measures and to promote research cooperation among Parties (Article 10). Each Party is entitled to be represented by one representative in the Scientific Committee Meeting who may be accompanied by alternate representatives and advisors. Mr. Phil Large (phil.large@cefas.co.uk) based at Lowestoft Laboratory, UK is the Chairperson of the Scientific Committee.

The first meeting of the Scientific Committee took place in September 2005 in Windhoek, Namibia. Among the issues discussed and recommended to the Commission were Rules of Procedure, species to be managed, monitoring of fishing activities, improve the collection of catch data, and the establishment of the a Provisional Working Group (PWG) to analyse existing fishery and environmental data (Scientific Committee Report 2005). In December 2005, the Scientific Committee has also developed new Sampling Forms for the collection of catch and effort data that were distributed to Parties.

During the 2006 (Scientific Committee Report 2006) and 2007 (Scientific Committee Report 2007) annual meetings, the Scientific Committee, among others, analysed catch and effort data for the main fish stocks (orange roughy, alfonsino, armourhead, deep sea red crab and Patagonian toothfish) and made specific recommendations for the consideration of the Commission.