meetings of the Commission and Subsidiary bodies in 2005
	Dates Venue Subsidiary body   MAY 30 TO JUNE 3RD, 2005 Seychelles Ninth Session of the Commission   July 18, 19, 21 and 22 2005 Phuket, Thailand Working Party on Tropical Tunas   July 20, 2005 Phuket, Thailand Working Party on Bycatch   September 12 - 14, 2005 Bandar Abass, Iran Working Party on Neritic Tunas   November 7 to 11, 2005 Seychelles Eighth Session of the Scientific Committee Note : the list of the meetings recently held in 2004 can be consulted here.

other meetings involving iotc
	Dates Venue Description

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.