o 2.12.93 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 297/25 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 19 November 1993 relating to the institution of a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (93/619/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Whereas the implementation of the Community system for fisheries and aquaculture requires the assistance of highly qualified scientific personnel, particularly in the application of marine and fisheries biology, fishing tech- nology, fishery economics or similar disciplines, or in connection with the requirements of research in the fields of fishing and aquaculture ; Whereas that assistance should be obtained from a permanent committee set up within the Commission ; Whereas the powers of the present Scientific and Tech- nical Committee for Fisheries, established by Commis- sion Decision 79/572/EEC (), as amended by the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal, should be amended accordingly ; whereas, in the interests of clarity, that Deci- sion should therefore be replaced, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 A Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, hereinafter called ‘the Committee’, is hereby established by the Commission. Article 2 1. The Committee may be consulted by the Commis- sion on all problems connected with the provisions governing access to zones and resources of Community fgsheries, and regulating the pursuit of exploitation activi- ties. 2. The Committee shall draw up an annual report on the situation as regards fishery resources, and on develop- ments in fishing activities, with reference to biological, () OJ No L 156, 23. 6. 1979, p. 29. technical and economic factors. It shall also report on the economic implications of the fishery resources situation. 3. The Committee shall report annually on work and requirements in the field of coordination of scientific, technical and economic research for the fisheries and aquaculture sector. 4.  The Committee may draw the attention of the Commission to any problem referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3. Article 3 The Committee shall be composed of not more than 28 members. Article 4 Members of the Committee shall be nominated by the Commission from highly qualified scientific persons having competence in the fields referred to in Article 2. Article 5 The Committee shall elect a chairman and two vice- chairmen from among its members. They shall be elected on the basis of a simple majority of the members. Article 6 1. ‘The term of office of a member, chairman or vice- chairman of the Committee shall be two years. It shall be renewable. However, the chairman and the vice-chairmen of the Committee may not be immediately re-elected after being in office for two consecutive periods of two years. Duties shall not be subject to remuneration. After the expiry of the two-year period, the members, chairman, or vice-chairmen of the Committee shall remain in office until their replacement or the renewal of their term. 2.  Where it is impossible for a member, chairman or vice-chairman of the Committee to continue his term of office, or where he resigns voluntarily, he shall be replaced for the remainder of the term in accordance with the procedure under Atticle 4 or 5, as the case may be.