A revised approach to the estimation of longline fisheries footprints is presented. The method uses a data-derived estimate of the uncertainty around the locations of longlines to define a buffer around these lines. Within a georeferenced framework, buffered lines are then matched to a 10km grid. The proportion of the area of each grid cell that is covered by buffered lines is then used as a footprint index.

The paper combines Member reports on 2017/18 pre-season vessel activity in Subarea 88.1 as requested by SCIC-18, which were provided 45 days ahead of the annual meeting (by 6 September 2019).

The “Expert Workshop on Pelagic Spatial Planning for the eastern subantarctic region (Domains 4, 5 and 6)” was held in Cape Town ( South Africa) between 26th and 30th August 2019. The workshop developed a scientific work program that will result in both pelagic abiotic and biotic classifications of the Planning Domains using geographic, biological and oceanographic features. Distributions of plankton, mesopelagic fish and top predators were considered to be relevant to future ecoregionalization showing latitudinal patterns of communities for the pelagic species. The importance of frontal zones such as the Antarctic Polar Front, Subantarctic Front and the Subtropical Front were highlighted. The latitudinal zonation of bioregions (based on abiotic and chlorophyll clustering) according to frontal zones may be influenced by climate change and will influence the spatial distribution of pelagic assemblages. This will have consequences for marine bird and mammal populations as it will change the habitat of their main pelagic prey species (e.g. euphausiids, squids, mesopelagic fish, etc.).

The workshop highlighted that ecoregionalisation which combines abiotic regionalisation (or bioregionalisation) and species biogeographical distributions has to be conducted at the scale of plateaus and oceanic zones between them which includes areas outside the national jurisdiction i.e. a more detailed level than what has been done to date. High productive pelagic areas must be considered in relation to the bathymetry, iron enrichment, fronts and island mass effects, which contrast with high nutrient low chlorophyll areas farther south.

The subantarctic islands are known to support substantial colonies of seabirds and seals, which for several species have global importance. The high productivity in the vicinity of the islands, together with the large aggregations of seabirds and seals found at the islands, attract various other animals, e.g. several cetaceans, to their vicinity. The populations of several seabirds that breed at the islands have decreased. Although there is cumulative evidence that decreases of albatrosses and petrels have been substantially influenced by by-catch mortality in fisheries, the decreases in some penguins are probably attributable to decreased availability of prey. Thus, the workshop reported herein represents the logical progression of previous work conducted (WG-EMM 12/33) towards addressing these considerations. Specifically, the workshop developed a detailed and logical plan of scientific work that will lead to a regional (i.e. pan-subantarctic) overview of ecosystem structure and function which can be used in any future spatial conservation planning or risk assessments in such a dynamic pelagic environment.

We examined movements of tagged Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) for subarea 48.6 in relation to life history hypotheses. Most of long-distance movements occurred in westward direction along continental shelf, which may be consistent with the single Atlantic population hypothesis (Söffker et al., 2018). Meanwhile, no migrations of tagged fish between northern seamounts (research blocks 48.6_2 and 48.6_3) and southern shelf areas (blocks 48.6_4 and 48.6_5), which correspond to spawning and feeding grounds, respectively, have been observed to date. The lack of tag movement between the two areas is similar to those observed in the Amundsen Sea region (SSRUs 88.2C-H) where few tags move between northern seamount area and shelf area. Therefore, population dynamic modelling approach developed for the Amundsen Sea region would provide useful information to understand tag movement patterns in subarea 48.6.

This paper reports that toothfish offal was found by observers in the stomachs of toothfish caught by the FV San Aspiring while operating in the Convention area, South of 60ºS. Hooks and snoods were attached to some of the offal.   

This paper contains the revised version of the proposed draft Conservation Measure establishing a Marine Protected Area in Domain 1 (Western Antarctic Peninsula and South Scotia Arc) as presented in last year’s paper CC-CCAMLR-XXXVII/31.

The revised version of the D1MPA proposal addresses outstanding issues as raised by Members during the 37th Scientific Committee Meeting (Hobart, 2018). The rationale underlying the modifications in the D1MPA Model, aimed to achieve conservation objectives agreed during the two CCAMLR International Workshops (2012 and 2015) while also seeking to adequately consider the krill fishery distribution. A background paper with the rationale of the changes has also been presented (CCAMLR-38/BG/22).

For clarity a clean version of the revised Conservation Measure is presented, followed by a track-change version which is contained as an Appendix.

It is shown that   the proposals for the establishment of an MPA in the Weddell Sea should be complemented by information on the commercial potential and future rational use for dominant fish species and krill  in the Subarea 48.5 and 48, 6.  

The areas for fishing activity and protection areas  in the Weddell Sea  should be managed by separate Conservation Measures.