The first session of the Scientific Committee of the South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission was attended by delegates from Comoros, European Community, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia and the United Republic of Tanzania. Representatives of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Project, the Regional Seas Programme of the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Wide Fund for Nature also attended the session as observers. The Scientific Committee elected its first Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson and examined: the status of fisheries resources in its area of competence; the ecosystem approach to fisheries management; the relationship between the Scientific Committee and regional fisheries research and assessment activities; and working parties.