CCAMLR

SOOS has been recognised by the Scientific Committee as having an important role to play in CCAMLR ecosystem monitoring and observation, and spatial management of impacts on ecosystems, climate change, and data delivery and management. Reciprocally, CCAMLR is important to SOOS as an international, scientific body that advocates for and collects observational data in the Southern Ocean.

In recognition of this, this Background Paper provides an update on SOOS data activities that are relevant to the CCAMLR community.

The working groups and skills of the SOOS community can support the design and implementation of ecosystem monitoring systems for CCAMLR areas, existing and proposed Marine Protected Areas (MPA). SOOS has been recognised by the Scientific Committee as having an important role to play in CCAMLR ecosystem monitoring and observation; and spatial observations of impacts on ecosystems, climate change, and data delivery and management.

This Background Paper provides an overview of SOOS’s regional working groups and observing system design capabilities; demonstrating how they can support the design and implementation of ecosystem and climate change monitoring, to complement CCAMLR and SCAR monitoring systems.

Based on an analysis of legal and scientific aspects regarding the current situation with the establishment of MPAs in the Convention Area, we examine procedural and implementational measures for regulating a unified process by which the CCAMLR Commission can, on a scientific basis, establish and manage MPAs. A Research and Monitoring Plan (RMP) is considered as an integral part of such a unified process.

Currently, CCAMLR's regulatory framework lacks clear and transparent definitions of fishery types, resulting in contradictions related to understanding the essence of different types of fisheries.

The Russian Federation considers it appropriate, as a first stage, to review the procedural and implementational aspects of the Antarctic fishery classification in the regulatory framework, and, as a second stage, to establish the status of existing fisheries (clarification of fishery nomenclature). Our view is that the results of each stage should be approved by the Commission.

This paper discusses the operational fisheries management of toothfish fisheries in the event of delayed retrieval of fishing gear at the time of closure of the exploratory toothfish fishery and overfishing of toothfish.

Almost from the very beginning of this century there was a momentum to establish representative networks of marine protected areas (MPAs) around the world. It is against this backdrop that the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) made a commitment to achieve such a goal in the Southern Ocean, advancing its leadership in the international community.

CCAMLR did make breakthroughs in 2009, 2011 and 2016 respectively by establishing two MPAs and developing a general framework. Meanwhile, divergent views have surfaced and maintained on the issues such as the definition of an MPA, the balance between science and precaution, the formulation of a research and monitoring plan (RMP), and the standardized procedures to develop and adopt MPA proposals. The facts that no RMPs are adopted for both established MPAs and no agreed procedures to develop MPA proposals reinforced the concerns repeatedly expressed by some Members of CCAMLR and prevented CCAMLR from moving swiftly in this regard.

On the occasion of 40^th anniversary of CCAMLR, it is necessary to revisit the establishment of MPAs in the Southern Ocean with an aim of exploring a common understanding. Given that CM 91-04 is developed to give effect to, inter alia, three elements such as political commitments, Article IX.2.f and g of the Convention on Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (the Convention), and ecosystem approach, this paper revisited these elements one by one.

In 2020 CCAMLR agreed under agenda item 8 to establish an e-group aimed at facilitating discussions on reinforcing the objective of the Convention (CCAMLR-39, paragraph 8.10). It turned out that climate change, MPAs, IUU fishing, and the role of science have become the key issues of this e-group discussions. As a matter of fact, these issues are not of the same level in relation to the objective of the Convention and should be discussed in a hierarchical way. In retrospect, CCAMLR has in the past 40 years been exploring approaches to give effect to the objective and principles of the Convention. It has so far accumulated sufficient experience and achieved applauding successes. By reviewing previous CCAMLR and SC-CAMLR reports, we find that CCAMLR categorized the discussions on Article II of the Convention into three groups, from the objective to the approaches and then to conservation measures. Therefore, this paper suggests that the current discussions be built upon the previous CCAMLR practices and agreements, and each issue be discussed within the appropriate category to maintain continuity and coherence and to efficiently solve emerging issues.

This paper summarises information held by the Secretariat in relation to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and vessel activity relevant to CCAMLR from October 2020 to August 2021. Instances of unidentified fishing gear retrieved in the Convention Area are detailed in Table 1. Communication to non-Contracting Parties and responses received are detailed in Table 2. Proposed updates, amendments inclusions and removals to IUU Lists and vessel particulars are explained with recommendations to SCIC and the Commission.

During CCAMLR-39 the Commission agreed to establish an e-group aimed at facilitating discussions on reinforcing the objective of the Convention, to pave the way for the Commission’s 40th meeting, where the Commission may wish to send a clear signal of unity and cooperation to fulfil its obligations for the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources. The e-group launched in February 2021 and nine Commission members participated in these discussions: Argentina, Australia, Chile, the European Union, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, United Kingdom, and the United States. Most contributions to the debate included references to climate change, marine protected areas (MPAs), Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and compliance, strengthening of the Scientific Committee (SC), rational use of Antarctic marine living resources and, finally, the future of CCAMLR. This document proposes several recommendations in these areas, aimed at reinforcing the objective of the Convention, as well as a draft proposal of a Declaration to mark the occasion of CCAMLR-40.

Since 2005 a total catch of Antarctic krill in the Subarea 48 was constantly increasing, remaining, however, below the trigger level of 620 000 tons. Analysis of the catch data shows that an intensity of krill fishing was slightly growing with use of traditional (conventional) trawls (krill catch by conventional trawls in 2019 is up to 46% higher than such catch in 2008), however, the increase was much more significant in terms of the use of the continuous fishing system (the catch for krill in 2019 using the continuous fishing system was recorded at 460% of that in 2008).

Taking into account a step by step expansion of the continuous fishing system in the CCAMLR area, which can be considered as a strong factor for possible degradation of krill fishery by traditional (conventional) trawls, there is proposed to implement to the Conservation Measure 51-07 a limitation for the continuous fishing system fishery within the Area 48, establishing that only up to 70% of the total allowable krill catch can be harvested with the continuous fishing system.