This report, for the 12-month period since CCAMLR-38, includes a section on major highlights and staffing matters. It is accompanied by an Implementation Report for the second year of the Secretariat’s Strategic Plan and Salary and Staffing Strategy (2019–2022) (Annex A). 

A successful development of a krill fishery management strategy has become a matter of importance for CCAMLR. The Commission has also noted that successfully implementing the krill fishery management strategy within the current lifetime of CM 51-07 will be a significant challenge. Recently, evidences of changes in krill fishing having effects on penguin population dynamics have suggested that CM 51-07 might not be precautionary enough. The work on a new management strategy is progressing and while the reasons why we urgently need to progress towards a feedback management strategy are clear, during the last EMM virtual meeting, the existence and the need to address some uncertainties, such as the precautionary level of the Risk Assessment and the accuracy of the stock assessment parameters, was acknowledged. Some of the uncertainties can be tackled in a relatively short time while others will need to be addressed over a longer time frame. In this document we argue that the D1MPA proposal is a valid alternative as a tool to guarantee the safeguard of the marine living resources in Antarctica, where conservation includes rational use as required by Article II of the Convention.

This document explains the rationale behind the final changes that were incorporated into the Domain 1 MPA proposal as it was presented to CCAMLR 38 in 2019 (CCAMLR 38- BG/22; SC-CAMLR 38-BG/03). Those changes were then based on the most recent publications, on WG-EMM discussions as well as documents regarding a krill fishery management workplan, and suggestions made during the 2018-2019 intersessional discussions after the D1MPA proposal was formally introduced by Chile and Argentina at CCAMLR 37. The document also addressed the outstanding issues as raised by Members during the SC-CCAMLR 37 Meeting in 2018. This document once again provides detailed information about the rationale behind the modifications included in the D1MPA model, in such a manner that conservation objectives are achieved, while allowing for the fishery to redistribute and avoid further spatio-temporal concentration. The specific changes made to the D1MPA model are described. Since the initial presentation, both Argentina and Chile have been openly available to engage with interested Members so as to address any outstanding concerns. Both Members are nonetheless of the view that the proposal's solid scientific foundations are sufficient for the proposal to be presented for the Commission's consideration in 2020.

Recent and forthcoming reports including the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Reports on Global Warming of 1.5°C (SR1.5) and on Oceans and the Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC), and the SCAR Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment (ACCE) updates, provide valuable information on climate change research findings that are relevant to the work of the Scientific Committee and its Working Groups. We encourage the Scientific Committee to continue progressing the integration of relevant information from such outputs into its work, and to consider recommendations including the reinstatement (with new Terms of Reference) of the climate change e-Group, and the further development of mechanisms to ensure that it remains abreast of the latest climate change research to inform the development of management advice.

We report on our proposed work plan that will provide further input for the implementation of the CCAMLR krill fishery management Risk Assessment framework, based on Constable et al. (2016). We welcome offers of collaboration to expand on the work outlined in this work plan.

The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC) was approved by the 195 member governments (including all CCAMLR Member governments) at the IPCC's 51st Session (IPCC-51) in September 2019 in Monaco. The SROCC constitutes the most rigorous and up-to-date assessment of how the ocean and cryosphere are changing, how they will change in the future under different climate change scenarios, the consequences of those changes, and the potential and limitations of various response options. In this paper, we summarise the findings of the SROCC with relevance to CCAMLR’s Scientific Committee and its Working Groups, particularly Ecosystem Monitoring and Management (WG-EMM) and Fish Stock Assessment (WG-FSA). We focus on Southern Ocean harvested species and on associated and dependent species, and also include information relevant for CCAMLR’s Ecosystem Monitoring Programme (CEMP). Findings from this report can be used to inform CCAMLR’s discussion of possible future monitoring and management actions in the context of climate change impacts on Southern Ocean ecosystems and fisheries, with the aim of ensuring that management is responsive to the effects of change.

As highlighted during the Commission meeting in 2019 (CCAMLR-39, paragraphs 6.6 to 6.14), the designation of a Special Area for Scientific Study under Conservation Measure 24-04 adjacent to Pine Island Glacier would be appropriate and timely. This is an area of significant interest for research on benthic ecology and evolution, past climate, bathymetric controls on glacier calving events, and oceanographic drivers of ice loss. The designation of a Stage 2 SASS would facilitate and encourage such research to be undertaken in this region.

With the information provided in this paper, supplementary to the requirements of CM 24-04, we have addressed the request for further details information set out by the Commission in CCAMLR-38, paragraph 6.13. We encourage Members to review this information and to proceed towards the designation of this area as a Stage 2 Special Area for Scientific Study, in accordance with the provisions of Conservation Measure 24-04.