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STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES FOR STEREOSCOPICAL CAMERA SYSTEMS IN THE CONTEXT OF CAGING OPERATIONS A. Use of stereoscopical camera systems The use of stereoscopic camera systems in the context of caging operations, as required by Article 51, shall be conducted in accordance with the following: 1. The sampling intensity of live fish shall not be below 20 % of the amount of fish being caged. Where technically possible, the sampling of live fish shall be sequential, one in every five individuals being measured; such a sample shall be made up of fish measured at a distance of between 2 and 8 metres from the camera.

2. The dimensions of the transfer gate connecting the donor cage and the receiving cage shall be set at a maximum width of 10 metres and a maximum height of 10 metres.

3. Where the length measurements of the fish present a multi-modal distribution (two or more cohorts of distinct sizes), it shall be possible to use more than one conversion algorithm for the same caging operation; the most up-to-date algorithm(s) established by SCRS shall be used to convert fork lengths into total weights, according to the size category of the fish measured during the caging operation.

4. Validation of the stereoscopical length measurements shall be undertaken prior to each caging operation using a scale bar at a distance of between 2 and 8 metres.

5. Where the results of the stereoscopical programme are communicated, the information shall indicate the margin of error inherent to the technical specifications of the stereoscopic camera system, which shall not exceed a range of +/- 5 %.

6. The report on the results of the stereoscopical programme shall include details on all the technical specifications above, including the sampling intensity, the sampling methodology, the distance from the camera, the dimensions of the transfer gate, and the algorithms (length-weight relationship). SCRS shall review those specifications and, if necessary, provide recommendations to modify them.

7. In cases where the stereoscopic camera footage is of insufficient quality to estimate the weight of bluefin tuna being caged, a new caging operation shall be ordered by the Member State authorities responsible for the catching vessel, trap or farm. B. Presentation and use of the results of the programmes

1. Decisions regarding differences between the catch report and the results from the stereoscopical system programme shall be taken at the level of the JFO or total trap catches, for JFOs and trap catches destined to a farm facility involving a single CPC and/or Member State. The decision regarding differences between the catch report and the results from the stereoscopical system programme shall be taken at the level of the caging operations for JFOs involving more than one CPC and/or Member State, unless otherwise agreed by all the flag CPC and/or Member State authorities of the catching vessels involved in the JFO.

2. Within 15 days from the caging date, the Member State responsible for the farm shall provide a report to the Member State or CPC responsible for the catching vessel or trap and to the Commission, including the following documents:

(a) technical stereoscopical system report including:

— general information: species, site, cage, date, algorithm,

— sizing statistical information: average weight and length, minimum weight and length, maximum weight and length, number of fish sampled, weight distribution, size distribution;

(b) detailed results of the programme, with the size and weight of every fish that was sampled;

(c) caging report including:

— general information on the operation: number of the caging operation, name of the farm, cage number, BCD number, ITD number, name and flag of the catching vessel or trap, name and flag of the towing vessel, date of the stereoscopical system operation and footage file name,

— algorithm used to convert length into weight,

— comparison between the amounts declared in the BCD and the amounts found with the stereoscopical system, in number of fish, average weight and total weight (the formula used to calculate the difference shall be: (stereoscopical system-BCD)/stereoscopical system * 100),

— margin of error of the system,

— for those caging reports relating to JFOs/traps, the last caging report shall also include a summary of all information in previous caging reports.

3. When receiving the caging report, the Member State authorities of the catching vessel or trap shall take all the necessary measures according to the following situations:

(a) the total weight declared by the catching vessel or trap in the BCD is within the range of the stereoscopical system results:

— no release shall be ordered,

— the BCD shall be modified both in number (using the number of fish resulting from the use of the control cameras or alternative techniques) and average weight, while the total weight shall not be modified;

(b) the total weight declared by the catching vessel or trap in the BCD is below the lowest figure of the range of the stereoscopical system results:

— a release shall be ordered using the lowest figure in the range of the stereoscopical system results,

— the release operations shall be carried out in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 41(2) and Annex XII,

— after the release operations took place, the BCD shall be modified both in number (using the number of fish resulting from the use of the control cameras, minus the number of fish released) and average weight, while the total weight shall not be modified;

(c) the total weight declared by the catching vessel or trap in the BCD exceeds the highest figure of the range of the stereoscopical system results:

— no release shall be ordered,

— the BCD shall be modified for the total weight (using the highest figure in the range of the stereoscopical system results), for the number of fish (using the results from the control cameras) and average weight accordingly.

4. For any relevant modification of the BCD, the values (number and weight) entered in Section 2 shall be consistent with those in Section 6 and the values in Sections 3, 4 and 6, shall be not higher those in Section 2.

5. In the case of compensation of differences found in individual caging reports across all cagings from a JFO/trap, whether or not a release operation is required, all relevant BCDs shall be modified on the basis of the lowest range of the stereoscopical system results. The BCDs related to the quantities of bluefin tuna released shall also be modified to reflect the weight/number released. The BCDs related to bluefin tuna not released but for which the results from the stereoscopical systems or alternative techniques differ from those reported caught and transferred shall also be amended to reflect those differences. The BCDs relating to the catches from where the release operation took place shall also be modified to reflect the weight/number released.