CCAMLR

A consolidated summary of information related to the krill fishery, in a similar format to the fishery reports that are completed for finfish fisheries, is presented for consideration by the Scientific Committee. Alternative options for the presentation of time-series of the spatial distribution of catches are included.

Identification of bycatch species for scientific observers can be a difficult task whilst at sea, as freely available resources are limited, and often cover only a selection of common species. In the past year the Secretariat has requested by-catch identification material from Members, and has received several responses, included a Korean guide presented at WG-EMM (WG-EMM-15/06). This paper considers options for the development and distribution of these materials.

The outcomes of the TPRG e-group report for the Australian COTPAS submission of its scientific observer training are presented. The report indicated that the information provided for each of the criteria either met or exceeded the standard required. It is recommended that the Scientific Committee endorse the outcome of the report and consider how an Accreditation Review Panel should be established. 

Data on beach surveys, debris associated with seabird colonies, marine mammal entanglements and hydrocarbon soilings were received for 2015 from South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States and Uruguay. Non-fishing items such as plastics, packaging materials and wood remain the most common type of debris items found in beach surveys. The fishing items found were mostly from longline and trawl origins. Plastic packaging bands continue to be found in beach surveys, with an increase in open bands found at Bird Island. The amount of debris in albatross colonies at Bird Island varies; debris associated with grey-headed albatrosses remains consistent, debris associated with black-browed albatrosses decreased, while debris associated with wandering albatrosses increased considerably from the previous year. The amount of fishing related items (fishing lines and hooks) found in wandering albatross colonies remains the most frequent debris item found in each season. The number of marine mammal entanglements has decreased at Bird Island and King Edward Point, although packaging bands and fishing gear remain the main entangling materials. There were no new hydrocarbon soiling events reported. The results of the ongoing monitoring of marine debris in the Convention Area suggest that while the type and amount of debris varies annually there have been no long-term trends over the past decade. Extrapolation of these findings to areas outside Area 48 are limited by the absence of data on long-term monitoring of marine debris and Members with opportunities to engage in such monitoring are encouraged to submit data to the Secretariat.

The annual random stratified trawl survey (RSTS) at HIMI was conducted during May of 2015, with the completion of 163 stations, an additional five stations compared with previous surveys. The extra five hauls were part of a redesign of the survey on the main trawl ground which consisted of sub-division into two boxes, one having 15 and the second 10 randomly allocated stations. In addition the survey was conducted on a new vessel, the FV Atlas Cove, following the retirement of the previous vessel, the FV Southern Champion, which had been used for all previous surveys. Other sampling protocols, including the net used were identical to previous surveys.

The catch rate of D. eleginoides was twice that of 2014 and two and a half times that of the long-term average for the survey. The C. gunnari catch rate was at about half the average. For the managed bycatch species catch rates were higher than the average for C. rhinoceratus, macrourids and skates, but lower for L. squamifrons. The catch of invertebrates in the 2015 survey was 4.6 t, with the most abundant taxa being jellyfish and the poriferan sponges. Invertebrate catches were smaller the long-term average.

Length measurements were taken for nearly 23,000 fish and biological measurements for nearly half of those. Otoliths were collected from 1,599 D. eleginoides and over 500 toothfish were tagged and released. The extra focus on bycatch species this year meant that 333 sets of otoliths were collected for L. squamifrons,  499 for C. rhinoceratus and 929 for macrourids.

Following advice from WG-SAM-15, a revised version of the reserach proposal for toothfish in Subarea 48.2 is presented (WG-SAM-15/53).  

The Scientific Committee encouraged Members to consider potential ways in which its work could be streamlined. In early September the Chair and the Vice Chairs of the Scientific Committee, and Conveners of the Working Groups and Subgroup, together with the Secretariat held a tele-conference to discuss how to best address this issue at the Scientific Committee this year. The meeting agreed that the Conveners of the Working Groups (WG-EMM, WG-SAM, and WG-FSA) and the Subgroup (SG-ASAM) prepare a joint SC paper summarising priorities of each group for the next 4 years for the basis of the discussion at the Scientific Committee.

Main points of this paper:

• WG-EMM: Progressing the staged approach for developing the Feedback Management for krill fishery must be the priority for the WG-EMM for the next 4 years. This is solely a task for WG-EMM but will require close interactions with other groups to seek evaluations and advice on specific issues under their expertise.
• WG-SAM continues to develop the methods necessary to construct robust integrated stock assessments and implement the decision rules.
• WG-FSA does not have to sit for two weeks every year and a shorter meeting in non-assessment years could enable targeted workshops to be held to address specific topics at other times of the year to enable the broadest participation of experts.
• Developing a clear common understanding of where we are heading with research plans in data poor fisheries could help to free up time for other business.
• The SG-ASAM was established to address the needs for proper acoustic estimation of Antarctic krill and icefish. The current work of SG-ASAM closely links with feedback management, the priority work of WG-EMM and the SC in general.