meetings of the Commission and Subsidiary bodies in 2003
	Dates Venue Subsidiary body 8-12 December  Seychelles Eighth Session of the Commission 3-6 December Seychelles Sixth Session of the Scientific Committee 1-2 December Seychelles Working Party on Data Collection and Statistics 10-12 November Perth, Australia Working Party on Billfish 9-11 June Seychelles Working Party on Tagging 2-13 june 2003 Seychelles Working Party on Tropical Tunas cancelled Seychelles Working Party on Neritic Tunas Note : the list of the meetings recently held in 2002 can be consulted here.

other meetings involving iotc
	Dates Venue Description 21-24 January Seychelles CWP Coordinating Working Party on Fishery Statistics - 20th Session

Commission Meetings, unless specified otherwise, are open to participation by observers. Delegates of FAO Members automatically qualify as observers, and non-governmental organizations may attend meetings if invited to do so by the Commission. Observers may address the sessions and present memoranda but do not vote.

Meetings of the Scientific Committee and other subsidiary bodies are formally considered to be restricted to delegates of contracting parties, but the current position of the Commission is that, in the interest of transparency and within the limits imposed by space and logistic constraints, observers may participate freely.

The Rules of Procedure of the Commission, which also cover its subsidiary bodies, specify that the cost of participation in meetings and inter-sessional activities are not to be covered from the Commission budget.