Conservation Measure 32-18 on the conservation of sharks specifies that “directed fishing on shark species in the Convention Area for purposes other than scientific research, is prohibited.” Further, that “any by-catch of sharks shall, as far as possible, be released alive.”  Here, we examine trends in shark by-catch in the CAMLR Convention Area using information reported by vessels and scientific observers from the 1996–2017 fishing seasons. While there appear to be substantial gaps in the shark by-catch reported by both sources, the available data suggests that shark by-catch may have increased during the last 10-year period, with most of the by-catch reported in Division 58.5.2 and substantially lower catches in other statistical management areas. We highlight issues, some of which are in relation to catch in weight vs. numbers, retained, discarded, and released shark by-catch, and in the comparison of data from vessels vs. scientific observers. This paper provides information that could be useful during consideration of CCAMLR-XXXVII/30 by the Scientific Committee and Commission.

This paper summarises data collected by Scheme of International Scientific Observation observers, and vessels for incidental interactions between fishing vessels, seabirds and marine mammals during the course of fishing activities during the 2018 season. Incidental mortality numbers for longline fisheries in which seabird mortalities have been reported are presented with the data from observers and vessel supplied data. Based on data received up to 8 October 2018, the extrapolated total of 87 birds killed is the lowest on record.

This paper provides a summary of data collected by Scientific Observers operating in the Convention Area on board fishing vessels during the 2018 season (based on data received by the Secretariat up to 8 October 2018). Developments in the Scheme of International Scientific Observation Program are discussed with several metrics of observer performance presented, demonstrating an improved performance in species identification by observers, and fewer processing errors from the new longline logbook format.

The ICG on Sustainable Financing (CCAMLR-XXXVII/17) recommended that in order to achieve sustainable financing into the future, notification fees should be increased in line with CPI (inflation) from their baseline in 2016. The fee structure should be simplified to remove the refundable portion, with considerable cost and administrative savings.

The Secretariat proposes changes to the notification fee structure and fees for 2019 to accommodate these recommendations.

The Russian Federation is going to continue investigation for toothfish in Ross Sea. The previous Russian program was undertaken in the Subarea 88.2 in 2010–2012. This paper presents the research program in the frame of the research and monitoring associated with the Ross Sea region marine protected area.

Russian research program have objectives to investigate the life-cycle, distribution and movement, biological parameters and stock structure of Dissostichus species in the eastern part of the Ross Sea over shelf and continental slope within the Subarea 88.2 A. The tagging toothfish and recapture tagged fishes to be in focus. The study area is located in the Special Research Zone of the RSRMPA. Proposals include the priority elements of the research and monitoring plan for the Ross Sea region marine protected area. 

The research program shall be conducted in the Special Research Zone during 2018–2027 or the first reference period for existence of the RSRMPA.  This program provides possibility for collaborative investigations in the Special Research Zone by Russian vessels and vessel from other CCAMLR country-members.

Russian program provides proposals to study the species composition, biology, life cycle, distribution and structure of craboids stock (Anomura, Decapoda) and assess their resource potential in the Bellingshausen Sea (Subarea 88.3) and Amundsen Sea (Subarea 88.2).

Spain and Australia are conducting fishing research in the 58.4.1 Division from 2013 and 2017 respectively, in order to get data and biological samples which enable an assessment of Antarctic toothfish in this so called “data poor” area at the end of the whole experience. From the five surveys completed, the last two have been in coordination between the five proponents, namely Australia, Japan, Republic of Korea, France and Spain.

Spain and Australia are working on the ageing and growth estimates of Antarctic toothfish from 2015 and 2017 respectively. Previous work has been presented to the  FSA-WGs where a von Bertalanffy growth function based on a least-square fitting approach from length-age pair values had been estimated for every season.   An intersessional exchange of 40 “bake and embed” otolith samples, mounted by Spain, has been made in order to compare consistency in ages estimated by different readers. Each otolith were read by 6 readers (4 Spanish and 2 Australian). As a result of these comparative analysis further work about coordination between experienced and new readers is needed.