What does this part taken from the text below mean?

Question

Australia, which is coordinating the search in the southern Indian Ocean, said it had established a new body to oversee the investigation and issued countries involved in the search a set of protocols to abide by should any wreckage be found. ..................

I am wondering if my perception is correct?

My perception: ** it had stablished a new body to oversee the investigation and issued countries involved in the search a set of protocols to abide by should any wreckage be found** really means " it had determined a new boss to oversee the investigation and issued countries involved in the search a set of rules to be obeyed if any wreckage would be found.

Answer 1

"Established", set up, created a new "body" organized group of people,

"To abide by' to conform to the set rules.

Answer 2

Establish

_{From google "define: XXX, definition 1"}

to set up (an organization, system, or set of rules) on a firm or permanent basis

Body

_{From google "define: XXX, definition 3"}

a group of people with a common purpose or function acting as an organized unit.

Therefore: "establish a body"

"...set-up a group of people to oversee the investigation..."